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An up close and personal interview with U.S. Police Veteran and Togetherweserved.com Member:
CPT Joe Lisi (1968-1992)
New York Police Department
WHAT INFLUENCED YOUR DECISION TO MAKE A CAREER IN LAW ENFORCEMENT?
As far back as I can remember, I wanted to be a New York City cop. I think it began in the 1950s watching Robert Stack portray Eliot Ness in "The Untouchables." Playing on the streets as a young lad, most of my friends wanted to be Al Capone. I always wanted to be Eliot Ness.
Growing up in NYC, I had lots of interaction with cops. Most of it was very positive. For example, the cops used to raid our stick ball games. Some of the older people in the neighborhood used to complain about the kids making too much noise playing ball and worse, sometimes breaking windows with the ball. (This was long before the days of safety glass.) The cops would swoop down on us in their police car, jump out with the lights and sirens on, then confiscate our gloves, bats and Spauldings. As they were making a big show of it for the old ladies, they were whispering to us that we should meet them down near the railroad tracks a few blocks away. The officers threw our gloves into the back of the police car and drove off. Seemingly dejected, we dispersed, in all directions. The old ladies looking out their windows smirked and waved their fingers in victory at us. Fifteen minutes later we met up with the officers and they gave us our gloves back with the proviso we wait until the next day to resume our stickball activities.
WHAT WAS YOUR CAREER PATH AND WHAT ARE YOU DOING NOW?
I entered the NYPD as a Police Trainee in 1968, ten days before my 18th birthday. The Police Trainee Program, much like the Cadet programs of today was designed to attract young people to police work. Trainees were all under 21 years of age and as such to young to be sworn police officers. They were utilized in administrative assignments until the reached 21 when they would be sworn in as police officers. When I was hired Police Trainees were paid $4000.00 a year.
My first assignment was the Recruit School at the Police Academy. It was a four month training program. From there I was assigned to the Information Section at HQ. The Information Section handled many of the files containing data field officers and detectives needed during the course of their duties. For example, hard copies of registrations for every vehicle in New York State. This was well before the advent of computers. Going through the files was back breaking and labor intensive.
In May of 1969, I applied for and was granted Military Leave from the NYPD and enlisted in the United States Marine Corps Reserve. I reported to boot camp at Parris Island, South Carolina, then on to Radio School at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. I finished my active duty for training with the 8th Communications Bn and transferred to the 11th Communications Bn, a reserve unit in Brooklyn. I reported back to the NYPD and was reassigned to the Information Section.
In September of 1971, I turned 21, and was sworn in as a police officer and transferred to the 88th Precinct, in the Fort Greene section of Brooklyn. The first full year I spent as a New York City cop was 1972. If my memory serves me correctly, in that year, 12 NYPD officers were killed in the line of duty.
I remained at the 88th Precinct from September 1971 until February 1978. During that time I performed patrol duty in uniform, street crime duty in civilian clothes, and investigative duty with the precinct detective squad.
In February 1978 I was transferred to the Narcotics Division, part of the Organized Crime Control Bureau. After training, I was assigned to the Manhattan South Narcotics Area. There I conducted narcotics investigations.
In September 1979, I took a six month hiatus from Narcotics and taught a recruit class at the police academy. My specialty was Police Science. After graduating that class I returned to Narcotics.
In April of 1980 I was assigned to the Special Projects Unit of the Narcotics Division. That unit was responsible for audio and video surveillance support for field narcotics units as well as the DEA and other task forces.
I was promoted to sergeant in July 1981 and retained in the very special and elite SPU where I assumed duties as a field narcotics supervisor.
I was promoted to Lieutenant in April 1983 and returned to uniform. I was assigned to the 17th Precinct in midtown Manhattan as the Integrity Control Officer.
 In October 1983 I was reassigned to the Special Projects Unit and designated the commanding officer. I was promoted to captain in June 1989 and retained at SPU as the commanding officer. By that time, the unit had grown from 1 Sgt and 3 Detectives to 1 Captain, 2 Lieutenants, 6 Sergeants, and 40 Detectives. In addition to the surveillance duties, we also trained all the new narcotics investigators and supervisors and coordinated the undercover program. It was a great job.
In December 1990, I was transferred back to uniform and designated the Commanding Officer of the 17th Precinct on the fashionable East Side of Manhattan. The precinct covered the richest congressional district in the USA as well as the entire United Nations Complex and many foreign consulates.
In late 1992 while at a large demonstration at the UN I was injured. After surgery, the police surgeons determined I was no longer fit for duty, and I was medically retired from the NYPD. In the blink of an eye 24 years had passed. Every single day of it was fun. In fact, for the entire run I had, "A front row seat to the Greatest Show on Earth!!"
In 1979, while still a young cop I began studying acting. I got my first professional acting job in 1983. I made my Broadway debut in 2003 at age 52. As the saying goes, "Only in America." I am still an actor today.
DID YOU SERVE IN THE MILITARY PRIOR? AND IF SO, IN WHAT BRANCH OF SERVICE? IN WHAT WAYS HAS MILITARY SERVICE INFLUENCED YOUR CAREER IN LAW ENFORCEMENT?
 I served in the USMC Reserve from 1969 to 1972. I was honorably discharged in the rank of Corporal.
Becoming a Marine was the defining experience of my life. Any and all the success I have had since earning the title Marine is due to the values and principles I learned as an 18 year old Boot on Parris Island.
WHICH, OF THE AGENCIES OR DEPARTMENTS YOU WERE ASSIGNED TO, DO YOU HAVE THE FONDEST MEMORIES OF AND WHY?
While part of the NYPD, I worked directly with; The White House, FBI, DEA, ATF, NCIS, Armed Forces Police, Victoria Police (Australia), LAPD, Boston PD, and the National Intelligence Academy.
FROM YOUR ENTIRE LAW ENFORCEMENT CAREER WHAT PARTICULAR INCIDENT HAD THE BIGGEST IMPACT ON YOU AND WHY?
 I saw way too many people die, most long before their time. I have seen the aftermath and carnage created by ruthless human beings. I saw a snow covered sidewalk red with the blood of two of my brother officers, both Marine veterans soon after they were gunned down by a radical group and left to die in the street.
OF THE MEDALS, AWARDS OR BADGES YOU RECEIVED, WHAT IS THE MOST MEANINGFUL TO YOU AND WHY?
Being inducted into the NYPD Honor Legion.
WHICH INDIVIDUAL PERSON FROM YOUR CAREER MADE THE MOST POSITIVE INFLUENCE ON YOU AND WHY?
 Chief Frank Hall, one of my bosses in Narcotics Division had the greatest impact on me. An Army veteran of the Korean War, he taught me quite a bit about leadership. He set very high standards and led by example. With all the intense pressure of his job, I never saw him lose his temper or raise his voice. He was the kind of leader you would follow into fray without question.
CAN YOU RECOUNT A PARTICULAR INCIDENT FROM YOUR CAREER THAT WAS FUNNY AT THE TIME AND STILL MAKES YOU LAUGH?
One night when I was assigned to the 88th Detective Squad, an old women came into the station house ranting and raving. She told the desk sergeant that earlier she had warned her husband that if he fell asleep, she would, "Slit his throat!" Well she said he fell asleep and she SLIT HIS THROAT. My partner and I were on our way out to eat when the sergeant directed the old lady to us. She told her story all over again, still ranting and raving. Finally calming her down we put her in our unmarked car and drove to her residence. She lived alone with her husband of over 50 years in a run down brownstone. I asked her for her house keys and instructed her to wait for us in the car.
 Believe me, she was too old to run away. My partner and I climbed the stoop and I put the key into the lock. I had trouble unlocking the door, and was shaking it with the key still in the lock. I was making quite a ruckus. Suddenly, the front door swung open and standing before us was a little old man with a BLOODY TOWEL WRAPPED AROUND HIS NECK! The old lady did in fact cut her husband's throat. However, thank God, the cut wasn't deep enough to do any real damage. Just a lot of blood. We got the old guy and ambulance. The husband refused to press charges, so we let the woman back into her house and went for dinner. Of course today, with the domestic violence laws enacted, we would have to arrest the wife. But, back then there was no such mandatory action required.
WHAT DO YOU CONSIDER THE MOST IMPORTANT LESSON YOU HAVE LEARNED AS A LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER?
Don't jump to conclusions. Everyone lies, or at least tells their version of the truth.
WHAT LAW ENFORCEMENT ASSOCIATIONS ARE YOU A MEMBER OF, IF ANY? WHAT SPECIFIC BENEFITS DO YOU DERIVE FROM YOUR MEMBERSHIP(S)?
NYPD Honor Legion
NYPD Captain's Endowment Association
NYPD Marine Corps Association
Marine Corps Law Enforcement Foundation
FBI-Marine Corps Association (formerly)
International Association of Chiefs of Police (formerly)
International Police Association (formerly)
HOW HAS SERVING AS A LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER INFLUENCED THE WAY YOU CONDUCT YOUR PERSONAL LIFE AND YOUR RELATIONSHIPS WITH OTHERS OUTSIDE OF THE DEPARTMENT?
 I always watch my back.
WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU HAVE FOR A ROOKIE WHO HAS JUST PUT ON THE BADGE?
Keep your mouth shut and your eyes and ears open. Listen to your training officer.
IN WHAT WAYS DO YOU FEEL THIS WEBSITE CAN BENEFIT THE LAW ENFORCEMENT COMMUNITY?
As an excellent resource for communication, education and fraternity.
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TWS VOICES
TWS Voices are the personal stories of men and women who currently serve, or who previously served as a US Police or Federal Officer, and conveys how serving their Country and Community has made a positive impact on their lives. If you would like your story to be featured in a future edition of Voices, or know someone else who may be interested, please contact TWS Voices HERE.
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