When I went to college I took a homicide course at John Jay College. This was back in 1984, before I became a police officer. The professor said something I never forget. "It takes two to tango." One is the suspect. The other is the victim. The professor taught about crime scenes, surveillances, interagations, ect.. That's when I said I want to become a police officer. I want to solve cases.
I joined the police force on January 9, 1986 and solved my first homicide two years later as a rookie in the 40 Pct. A homicide on 141 street Beekman ave. A male perpetrator shot another man multiple times while the victum was holding his 6 year old son. The victim was pleading, "No, not in front of my son!". The suspect continued shooting with rage. The suspect kept shooting until the victim died holding his child's hand.
The suspect then jumped in a car with 2 others and sped off northbound on St. Anns Ave. in which the suspect disposed the weapon by St. Mary's park. I was in a sector car with a partner and heard it over the radio. We spotted the car with the perpetrators inside and apprehended them on East 149 st. just before Park Ave. in the Bronx. "Three under to the house central"
Took the perpetrators to the 40 precinct detective squad. The detective who was catching the case told me the arrest was mine because I deserved it. This is very unusual since uniform officers do not do homicide arrests, it goes to the detective in the squad. The detective enhanced the case in which I learned alot that day. The shooter was convicted to 40 years but then it was appealed and only recieved 15 years.
I then went to OCCB, narcotics division in which I received my gold shield. I became a detective and a couple of years later was transferred to the 34 squad up on Washington Heights. I learned from the best.
In the 34 squad their were a lot of old timers with a lot of experiences under their belts. I picked their brains. I observed and listened. Did what they said and closed a lot of violent crimes cases. There were shootings, stabbings, murders, missings, domestic violence, burglaries, robberies, and the lists goes on. Most of these cases I work on my own. If I needed help they will help but most of the time I was on my own.
Except when there is a homicide. A homicide the whole team joins in to work on your case. Even a special unit comes in called the Homicide Squad to give their assistance. Most of the time you make an arrest. Not always right away but an arrest happens. But sometimes cases becomes cold. It's called a Cold Case. It could and does sits there for years, even decades. Family members at first calls for any updates then eventually they give up calling. The cases dies in a storage room. But the truth is a homicide case doesn't die. A homicide never closes. It only closes when an arrest is made and a conviction is done. So yes a homicide never dies.
There is a unit called the Cold Case Unit. They go around the squads throughout the city and check on old homicide cases. The detective then takes the cases and works on them.
Then you have people like me. I use to go and check on the cases myself in the squad and worked on them. I don't give up. I do get breaks and made arrests. I also helped others on their cases the same way as they helped me.
I retired in January 2006. I love the job but hate the politics. The NYPD Detectives are the best in the world and proud to be a part of it. I still work on cases even though I'm retired. I still work on missings, homicides, grand larceny. Not only I work cases on humans but l also work on cases on animals. Working cases on animals is interesting. I compare it like a homicide. Animals don't have a voice, and neither does the dead. Animals needs a voice and l use my experiences to become that voice as a retired NYPD detective. I now have a Licensed Private Investigation company in New York for people and animals. I use my experiences and solve cases.
I would also want to say is if you have a family member who was murdered or missing and is not solved please don't give up. It doesn't matter how old the case is. Never give up. I once saw on craiglist regarding a person pleading for help on her deceased sister. The victim was killed on 1964 in Brooklyn. I reached out to her. I comfort her and reopened the case. Gave her the detectives name with a number. I pray that case be solved, for the victim and for the victim's family. I quess a cop is always a cop.
Angel Nieves
Retired NYPD Detective
Active NY Licensed Private Investigator
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