New York Chief of Detectives (28 page)

“You need to come to my office immediately, Mike. Chambers is on the way in to talk to me. I would bet my life that none of this is true. Chambers is our DA on the Rodriguez investigation. Someone is trying to frame him. I have a good idea who is behind it.”

“Okay, Pat, I’ll be there shortly.”

In about half an hour, there was a knock at the door, and Pat opened it to find a very shaky Richard Chambers.

“Come in, Richard, what’s going on?”

“I don’t know what to say, Pat. I was in my office this morning and I was visited by two New York State Police Investigators. They told me that they were investigating me for criminal malfeasance in office, involving taking money for dismissing cases. They told me that they were asking a judge in Albany to suspend me from office, pending their investigation. The hearing is scheduled for 3:00 this afternoon. I’ve never taken a penny, Pat.”

“I know that, Richard. I also received a call from the FBI this morning, and they’ve received a package with lots of allegations in it. My guess is that Mr. Harrison is now getting really nervous since his attempt to get the mayor and Senator Clancy to stop this investigation hasn’t worked. He went to his plan B, which is to attack you.”

“I know that has something to do with it.”

Pat’s desk phone rang, and Angie Wilson told Pat that Mike was waiting. Mike walked in, and Pat introduced him to Richard Chambers. Pat quickly laid out the scenario.

“Mike, I’m going to cut to the chase. Richard has been assisting us in the Rodriguez murders and a couple of other cases in Queens County that are related to this case. We’ve developed information that Donald Harrison is involved in this case.”

“I knew you were looking at him from our previous conversations.”

“Mike, I’m certain these allegations are deliberately aimed at getting us distracted and giving Harrison some cover. We’ve already gone round and round with the mayor and Senator Clancy’s Chief of Staff. We were practically ordered not to investigate this case until DA Chambers here threatened to prosecute everyone for obstruction of justice.”

“It makes sense that they’d go after the DA, and they’ll also go after you and your detectives.”

“Probably so, but they’ll regret it. Richard has also been contacted by the state police and told they have a motion before a judge today at three to get Richard suspended from office pending this investigation. We can’t allow this to happen.”

Pat looked in his desk, and found the number for state police headquarters in Albany. He was well acquainted with the superintendant, John Patton. He reached the superintendent’s office, but was told that the superintendent was busy in a personnel hearing and had left orders not to be disturbed. Pat insisted that this was a matter of most urgency, but was told that the superintendant wouldn’t be disturbed. Pat looked at the clock on his desk. It was now 0945. Albany was over one hundred and fifty miles away. Pat was very frustrated.

“We cannot let this order be signed, Mike. It would paralyze our investigation, and Donald Harrison knows it.”

“What can we do, Pat?”

“We can go to Albany!”

“We’ll be pushing it close in noontime rush hour traffic.”

“We have no choice, Mike. We can’t let these thugs push the system against us. I’ve had about enough of this.”

“The FBI still has to do an investigation, Pat, even if this is a set-up. It’s absolute Bureau policy.”

“Is it also Bureau policy to let an innocent man be framed?” Pat barked.

“Of course not, but we still have to cover the bases.”

“Fine, Richard can stay here and be interviewed by your agents for the record. You and I are taking a trip.”

Pat’s cell phone buzzed.

“Pat O’Connor.”

“Good morning, Pat, it’s Caroline Rodriguez.”

“Good morning, Caroline. How are you?”

“I’m still taking it a day at the time. The reason I called is that I found something last night that I think you need to know about, Can you come by the house?”

“I can come by tonight if that’s ok. I have a busy afternoon.”

“That would be great, Pat. This may not mean anything, but I just thought you should see it.”

“Of course I should! I’ll see you tonight.”

Pat picked up the desk phone and called Dickie Davis.

“Yes sir, Chief?”

“Meet me at the car. We need to roll ASAP!”

“I’m on the way.”       

CHAPTER 59

Thursday, April 15-Day 14

Parking Garage-One Police Plaza

Borough of Manhattan, New York

1015 Hours

Pat
got into the Chrysler, with Dickie driving and Mike Wilson in the back seat. As they pulled out of the One PP garage, Dickie spoke. “Where to, Chief?”

“Floyd Bennett Field. Light her up, Dickie! We need to get there quickly.”

Dickie hit the red and white strobe lights and siren.

Pat pulled a card out of his pocket and dialed a number on the cell. The siren was bouncing off the buildings.

“Aviation Unit, Sergeant Palmer.”

“Sarge, this is Pat O’Connor.”

“Yes sir, Chief.”

“I need a chopper standing by. I need to go to Albany ASAP. I have an FBI Agent with me. We’re leaving One PP now.”

“Okay Chief, we’ll have a bird ready to go.”

Mike Wilson spoke quickly. “We’re flying to Albany?”

“It’ll be the quickest way.”

“I have to let my office know.”

“Just wait till you take a leak, I’m sure you have to notify them about that, as well.”

Pat was convinced that the FBI would have to get permission to change a roll of toilet paper in the men’s room. He loved to bust their chops about them being bureaucratically paralyzed, but he also realized that it was truer than a joke.

Floyd Bennett Field was an old Coast Guard base. As they pulled up to the hanger, Pat could see one of the new beautiful blue and white Koala helicopters on the tarmac with the rotors turning. Pat and Mike Wilson got out and hopped in the back of the chopper. Within a minute they were airborne. Sgt. Palmer was the pilot. An observer, Sergeant Jensen was in the right seat. Palmer spoke first.

“Where are we headed, Chief?”

“The State Police Barracks in Albany.”

“Yes sir.”

The view from the chopper was extraordinary. They were flying amongst the high rise buildings, not over them. Something about riding in a chopper was always an adrenaline rush for Pat.  The flight to Albany took about forty minutes. Sgt. Palmer asked a question. “There’s an airport about three miles from the barracks, Chief. Do you want to land there and have someone pick you up at the airport?”

“I don’t want to waste any time. Sit her down on the lawn in front of the main building.” 

“Roger that!”

CHAPTER 60

Thursday, April 15-Day 14

New York State Police Barracks

Albany, New York

1345 Hours

Superintendant
John Patton was finishing his personnel hearing. His secretary has passed him a note, letting him know that NYPD Chief of Detectives Pat O’Connor needed to talk with him immediately. John knew Pat well, but in New York law enforcement; there was the NYPD with 35,000 cops and everyone else. Even the New York State Police were dwarfed in size in comparison to the enormous size of the NYPD. John would return the phone call in a few minutes. It was a little like two roosters strutting around the barnyard, trying to establish who would be in charge.

The water glasses on the table began to vibrate and the roar became deafening. Patton looked out the window and saw the chopper sitting down beside the flag pole. He saw the big NYPD on the side of the chopper and had no doubt that it would be Pat O’Connor. He ended the hearing quickly.

Pat and Mike Wilson walked into the main building. John Patton was in the lobby to greet them.

“Do you ever do anything low key, Pat?” Superintendant Patton asked.

“Sleep!”

“I somehow doubt it occurs very often. How are things in the ‘Big Apple, my friend?”

“Covered up, but we have a situation that I need your help on, John.”

“Let’s go to my office.”

Pat introduced Mike Wilson as they walked into the superintendant’s office. They sat down in front of his desk.

“How can the State Police be of assistance to New York’s finest?”

“Two of your investigators contacted the Queens County District Attorney, Richard Chambers this morning in reference to an anonymous allegation that he was accepting pay-offs for dismissing cases. They told Chambers that they were presenting an order to a judge here in Albany at three o’clock pm today to have him suspended from his duties pending an investigation.”

“That is fairly common procedure, Pat, with such a serious allegation.”

“I’m sure it is, but this is a complete frame-up. Mike received a similar package at the Bureau this morning and even had account numbers with large deposits in Chambers name.”

“That was included in ours, as well.”

“We’re working a homicide of one of our OCCB detectives and Chambers is the prosecutor, John. One of our primary suspects is an entrepreneur by the name of Donald Harrison. He has been shooting political torpedoes at us since we tried to talk to him yesterday morning. We’ve gotten grief, not only from the New York City Mayor but also from US Senator Clancy’s staff. Richard Chambers took the hard line, and essentially threatened to charge the mayor with obstruction of justice. Harrison’s political muscle isn’t working and he’s running scared. His fingerprints were found at the scene of our guy’s murder. We also have a snitch who was murdered and an unknown
burned body in a car.  Harrison’s lawyers got some judge to sign an order granting an injunction that prevents the NYPD from even talking to Harrison or going on his property without a warrant. I’ll stake 100% of my reputation that Chambers is a stand up prosecutor. He has handled this case by the book.”

Mike Wilson added details. “Chambers is being interviewed by my agents now, Superintendant, and he came in on his own, contacting Pat, who called us. We have to investigate it, and we will, even though it is complete bullshit. This is to protect the Bureau as well as to protect Chambers.”

“So what do you want me to do, Pat?”

“Call off the suspension order and let Chambers remain in office with full authority. We really need him. If Harrison is able to pull the strings to get him suspended, it may give him too much cover. We feel like we’re getting close on this one.” 

Patton looked at his watch.

“We have an hour before the hearing. I need to make some calls.”

John made a few calls while Pat and Mike Wilson grabbed a cup of coffee. After about twenty minutes, Patton motioned them back into his office. “Pat, this case is being handled by the Special Deputy Attorney General for Public Integrity, Jonathan Barnhart. He’s hardcore and a little reluctant to openly delay this order until the investigation has been conducted. However, he’ll be willing to meet with us at the courthouse to discuss it.”

“Can you take us over there?”

“Yes, let’s go!”

A young State Trooper Sergeant pulled up out front in an unmarked silver Crown Vic. The three of them got into the car. It was a fairly short ride to the courthouse.

They went to the District Attorney’s Office where they were met by Jonathan Barnhart. They went into a large law library to talk. Pat presented his case to Barnhart, who seemed reluctant to change his mind. Barnhart responded with a degree of doubt in his tone.

“Gentlemen, we have to maintain the integrity of our judicial processes and even if Chambers is innocent, it is in his best interest to step away.”

Pat responded quickly. “But it’s not in the best interest of justice. These suspects are involved in at least three homicides in New York City. Chambers is a key participant in this ongoing and very complicated investigation. The suspect gets scared and uses part of his seven hundred million dollar fortune to frame one of the people who pose the greatest threat to him. Suspending him falls right into their plans. We must not allow that to happen!”

“And what does the FBI say?”

“I agree with Chief O’Connor. I’m certain Chambers is being framed.”

“Very well then gentlemen. I will not get the order signed unless the situation changes, but the State Police will still have to conduct an investigation into the allegation.”

“That’s okay with me.” Pat said.

Pat and Mike Wilson stood up and shook hands with the Special Deputy Attorney General, thanking him for his help. They returned to the State Police Barracks, where they saw a large group of troopers on the lawn, looking at the shiny NYPD helicopter. Before getting in the chopper, Pat called Bryan Flannery.