At approximately 1:00 a.m. on September 21, 1952, a large team of members of the force engaged in an elaborate operation to enter an apartment at 500 West 140th Street in upper Manhattan where it was learned three of the FBI’s Most Wanted were holed up. The three criminals had escaped from Lewisburg Federal Penitentiary in Pennsylvania and went on an 11-day crime spree that included kidnapping, bank robbery, and the hold-up of a gun shop in The Bronx. The operation was based on a tip from a jealous boyfriend of one of the women holed up with the fugitives in an apartment they were renting on stolen loot. The precision raid included 31 Officers of several ranks: 23 Detectives, ESU members, and a machine gun. ESU forcibly opened the door of the apartment. One of the perps standing on a bed held up his arms and declared he was giving up, but then he suddenly produced a revolver from behind his back and pointed it at the Officers. During the ensuing gun battle, 45-year-old Det. Philip LaMonica of the 42 Squad tried to deflect a gun from being aimed at his partners, but was fatally shot, and Det. First Grade Nicholas Cotter was critically wounded. Two of the suspects — brothers from Warbranch, Kentucky — were killed and the third perpetrator was apprehended at the scene when he was dragged out from under a bed with a naked woman. The remaining proceeds from the robberies — including a stick-up of the Manufacturers Trust Company branch on Third Avenue in the Bronx — was found in the apartment, along with a number of women, who were also taken into custody. Police also recovered a cache of firearms and knives, along with a Pontiac, parked outside, that had been stolen from a family in Pennsylvania. It was one of six cars the perps had boosted. They had been living large with booze and prostitutes since escaping prison. Eventually, the surviving perp was given another long prison sentence. LaMonica was a 14-year veteran of the Police Department. He joined the force in July of 1938, and was promoted to Detective in June of 1949. He died within minutes of being taken to Columbia-Presbyterian Medical Center. His funeral included full Inspector’s honors and he was buried at St. Raymond’s Cemetery in The Bronx. Det. LaMonica was survived by his grieving wife and two children. LaMonica was honored on April 6, 1953, during a Medal Day Ceremony. Detectives Nicholas Cotter, Frank T. Weber, Clinton Thomas, Jr., all of the 42 Squad, and P.O. Vincent Grant of ESU Truck 5, along with P.O. Nicholas Matarazzo of the 25 Precinct (who was temporarily assigned to ESU 5) were also given Departmental honors. Critically wounded Det. Cotter was forced to retire from the NYPD because of his injuries, but had a subsequent 40-year career in the wine and spirits industry. You can read more about the case and Detective LaMonica on the DEA’s website.