Legacy and Redemption (34 page)

“Yes, Commissioner. We’re on the way there now as well.”

Santoro called ahead to a group of officers wearing suits—his security detail, assumed Keegan. One of the officers walked to the curb in front of One Police Plaza and held open the passenger side door of a black Chevy Tahoe with blacked out windows. Santoro climbed inside and the officer closed the door. The rest of the team filed in, and the car pulled from the curb. Keegan turned his attention back to Castillo. “Are you guys coming back to the precinct?”

The Castillo’s looked at each other tentatively before Louis Castillo would respond. “We really can’t, Tim. Our flight is in a few hours, and we promised Sharon’s parents we’d stop by before we left. We haven’t seen them since we moved in March,” he lied.

Keegan accepted the story without as much as a second thought. “Okay, Louie, I understand. Thanks again for coming. You don’t know how much it means to me that you came to see me honored at Medal Day.”

Castillo smiled. It was a genuine and warm smile. “It was my pleasure, Tim.” He reached out and shook hands with each member of the Keegan family as he couldn’t help but to think back to the picture of them in the newspaper so many years ago. He held his look on Kerry Keegan probably a bit longer than the rest. Castillo could remember her wails during her father’s funeral service just like it was yesterday.

Castillo brought himself back to the present. “It was so nice to meet you all. I’m sure you’re all quite proud of Tim.”

Castillo put an arm around Tim Keegan’s shoulder and escorted him away from the group. “Do you remember what I told you in the hospital?”

Keegan nodded. “I remember.”

“Well I want you to know that I meant every word of it. You’re twice the cop your dad ever was.” With that, Castillo gave him a pat on the back and shook his hand. He reached for Sharon and took her by the hand and they began to walk away. Keegan then turned to Galvin. “What about you, Sarge? Are you coming back to the station house for the ceremony?”

“I sure am, Tim. It’s long overdue.”

*

At 3:15, the temperature was up to eighty-eight degrees. Police Commissioner Ray Santoro ignored the heat and refused to take off the jacket of his custom made navy blue suit. He stood on the steps of the Snyder Avenue station house, under the overhang to shelter himself from the sun. On a normal day, the Sixty-Seventh Precinct would have cars parked in front of the precinct and all along Snyder Avenue…but this was not a normal day. There was not a car anywhere on the block. Blue wooden barriers with while lettering warning ‘
POLICE LINE DO NOT CROSS
’ were set up along the sidewalk in front of the private homes across the street. Santoro looked over to the members of the press who were stationed behind the metal police barriers set up as a temporary press pen for the event.

Santoro scanned the crowd before he would begin. There were thousands of police officers in uniform and plain clothes. There were also uniformed firefighters looking on from the firehouse next door. In Santoro’s mind, he thought that only for Inspector’s funerals would a crowd of police officers of this size turn out. Of course, he had ordered a mandatory minimum of eight officers from each precinct, transit district, housing police service area, (as well as four officers from each detective squad in the city) to appear, making sure it was a well attended event. Still, the number of officers who had showed up on their own was incredible.

Santoro stepped out from the protection of shade and took his place in front of the podium set up on the top of the precinct’s stairway. He was joined by the Mayor, the President of the local Community Board, as well as the President of the Precinct Community Council. Santoro looked to the end of the block in each direction, shielding his eyes from the sun as he did. He could see members of the New York City Department of Highways stationed at each corner. He gave a nod and the bucket truck on each end lifted a Department of Highway worker into the sky.

Santoro welcomed the crowd as the members of the press began to take notes. “At this time, I’d like to invite the Keegan family to join us at the podium.”

Santoro turned to the front door of the station house and motioned towards it as the entire Keegan family emerged in single file. He made the introductions. “By now, I’m sure you’re all familiar with Tim Keegan. This lovely lady is Kate, his mom, and the widow of Lieutenant James Keegan; his brother, Kevin and sister, Kerry.”

There was a polite round of applause. Santoro soaked it in. Any shortfalls that his administration may have had to date would quickly fade away. He was sure of that. The response from the press and the public was so glowing that he hoped it would never die down. Of course, he knew that it would, and that’s what made it even so much more important to take advantage of the opportunity to exploit the positive news story while it was still fresh in the minds of every New York City resident.

Santoro produce a large pair of sheers with blue handles from the shelf in the back of the podium. He along with the other dignitaries approached the yellow ribbon tied off on the hand rail on either side of the steps leading to the precinct’s entrance. The Keegan clan followed closely behind. “It is not very often that you come across not one, but two highly distinguished members of law enforcement in the same family. I’ve consulted with NYPD historians, who have assured me that in the entire history of the NYPD, there has never been a father and son to have both been awarded the department’s highest honor.”

Santoro, holding the sheers in his left hand, reached out with his right and shook Tim Keegan’s hand. “As you all know by now, this morning, Timothy Keegan was awarded the Department Medal of Honor, the same medal his father was awarded exactly nineteen years ago tomorrow. Tim has clearly been influenced by his father. He wears the same shield number and even patrols the same neighborhood.” After a brief pause, “but this afternoon we are not here to celebrate Tim’s accomplishments.”

He motioned for each of the Keegan’s to place a hand on the sheers as he put them to the yellow ribbon. It was uncomfortably crowded, but Santoro would not let such a small detail be a detractor for him. He continued. “This afternoon we are making a gesture that is so long overdue. I’d like to thank the Mayor of the City of New York as well as Brooklyn Community Board Seventeen for their efforts to make this well deserved honor come to fruition. From this day forward, the south side of Snyder Avenue between Nostrand Avenue and Rogers Avenue will be renamed in honor of a true hero to the NYPD.”

Kate Keegan and the others cut the ribbon; both ends floated to the ground. She watched as the Commissioner motioned to each end of the block where the Department of Highway workers one at a time yanked a white sheet from the previously covered street sign. The sign was green with white lettering. A tear slowly rolled down her cheek.

Kate took her youngest son by the hand and slowly walked to the nearest corner. Members of the press were blurting out questions, and the sound of cameras taking pictures filled the air. Kate hadn’t really noticed any of it. As she drew close enough to the corner, she looked up and read the sign. She gave Timothy a tight hug and began to weep in memory of her love lost so many years earlier. The sign read:

Lieutenant

James P. Keegan Way

(-)(-)(-)(-)(-)(-)(-)(-)(-)(-)(-)(-)(-)(-)(-)(-)(-)(-)(-)(-)(-)(-)(-)(-)(-)(-)(-)(-)

First and foremost, I’d like to thank Jasmine, my wife of over twenty-three years and our two children, Erin and Ryan. If not for Jasmine encouraging my writing nearly two decades ago, none of my books would have ever been written. Erin has helped me over and over again with an occasional suggestion or critique. She’s a fantastic writer and I’ve learned a lot from her. Ryan is my biggest fan and inspiration to continue writing. He is always asking about the progress of my stories and eager to read them and share with his friends and teachers at school. Thank you buddy!

As in any book, I feel being accurate on details is very important. I have over twenty years experience in the NYPD and I feel that the police procedural aspects of my stories are point on. However, I was a street cop my entire career. While I have a better understanding than the average person of many situations that the police deal with, I am not an expert on all police related matters. It’s for reasons like this that I had to call in the help of some very dear friends who were able to lend their expertise in specific areas of policing that I am not as well versed in.

I worked with Retired NYPD Sergeant Larry Zacarese in the 113 Precinct in Queens. Larry was one of the sharpest street cops that I ever had the pleasure to work with. Larry left the 113 Precinct and moved on to the elite Emergency Service Unit and also worked in the K-9 unit before being promoted to Sergeant. I was able to draw on Larry’s expertise from his ESU days to help me with the details regarding the procedures of the Bomb Squad and removal of explosives from a scene.

His expertise is not however, limited to Emergency Service. Larry is also a Paramedic, and since retiring from the NYPD, has taken a position as the Assistant Chief of Police at Stony Brook University. He is also an Adjunct Professor at the University, and the Director of Emergency Management. Oh, and by the way, shortly before going to press, Larry passed the New York State Bar exam. As you can guess, Larry may be the most versatile person that I have ever had the pleasure to call a friend. I can’t thank him enough for answering my endless amount of questions on the phone and via e-mail. Best wishes on whatever the future holds with the law degree.

I’d also like to thank NYPD Detective Chris Connolly. I met Chris while we were both assigned to an Evidence Collection team. I quickly learned that Chris was not only a sharp street cop but he was extremely savvy with computers. Chris moved on to the NYPD’s Crime Scene Unit for a while before settling down in Computer Crimes.

As I am self proclaimed technologically challenged, Chris has been my go to guy regarding computers for quite some time. When I needed to learn the procedure for tracking down a person through their computer, I knew that Chris was once again, my go to guy. While I may have taken some literary license regarding what can be done with computers, the only reason my explanation is anywhere near accurate is because of his tutelage and guidance.

His help didn’t end there though. When I was having a hard time designing a cover for
Legacy and Redemption
, Chris took the reins and designed the cover for me. I can’t thank him enough, not only for the amount of time he took out of his busy schedule for my phone calls and texts but also for taking the time to create a fantastic book cover. Thank you!