21st Precinct 54-04-07 (039) The Collar

Summary

Podcast Summary: 21st Precinct 54-04-07 (039) “The Collar”

Podcast: Harold’s Old Time Radio
Episode Date: February 22, 2026
Original Air Date: April 7, 1954
Episode: 21st Precinct - “The Collar”
Show Host: Harold’s Old Time Radio (curator, limited speaking role)
Featured Characters: Captain Frank Kennelly, Sergeant Burns, Patrolmen Hanneman and Conlon, Lt. King, Annabelle Henley, John Henley (aka Holtz)

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Episode Overview

This episode of 21st Precinct, a classic radio police procedural, dramatizes a single case within the daily life of a New York City police station. "The Collar" follows the investigation and arrest stemming from a domestic disturbance that escalates into a felony gun charge, and delves into the professional and personal pressures on the officers involved. The episode provides a realistic portrayal of police work—its protocols, internal politics, and human complexities—drawing listeners into the workings of the precinct and the struggles of its officers.

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Key Discussion Points & Story Breakdown

1. Disturbance Call and Domestic Incident

• [00:35-05:00]
  • A call comes into the precinct about a family fight—neighbors suspect a man is beating his wife.
  • Officers arrive to find John Holtz (later revealed as John Henley) fleeing the scene; he is caught on the roof in possession of a gun.
  • His wife, Annabelle, refuses to admit any violence occurred, minimizing the incident:

    “He didn't touch me. It was just an argument. ... Why do people have to call the cops?” (Annabelle Henley, 04:39)

  • Captain Kennelly tries to reason with her, highlighting the seriousness:

    “You ought to be thankful. He could have killed you.” (Captain Kennelly, 04:46)

2. Arrest and Preliminary Investigation

• [05:00-08:00]
  • John is arrested, the officers recover a revolver, and there’s suspicion about his mental state and drinking.
  • Annabelle’s conflicting loyalties (fear for her husband versus fear of being left alone) and the complexity of domestic violence are evident:

    “What am I supposed to do, die in silence?” (Annabelle Henley, 06:23)

  • Captain Kennelly explains the gravity to her:

    “He's in worse trouble than that.” (re: John’s gun charge, Kennelly, 07:27)

3. Paperwork, Identity, and the Officers’ Burden

• [08:00-12:00]
  • After booking, detectives realize “John Holtz” is actually John Henley, with a criminal record.
  • A procedural issue arises: Patrolman Hanneman, not Conlon (who actually disarmed Henley), is listed as the arresting officer. This exposes flaws in officer routine where “pinches” (arrests) are swapped to accommodate personal obligations.
  • Captain Kennelly admonishes Hanneman:

    “...you couldn't testify of your own knowledge that the defendant was carrying a gun… It’d be dismissed then and there. That'd be a fine impression for a police officer to make in court, wouldn't it?” (Kennelly, 12:05)

4. Broken Protocol and Personal Confessions

• [13:00-17:00]
  • Conlon is summoned and confesses he wanted to get out of court to reunite with his estranged wife and kids:

    “If I called her again and said I couldn't be there and it got as a job, she'd probably say, don't come at all.” (Conlon, 16:20)

  • Kennelly is sympathetic but firm:

    “That's the job, to go to court. ...You were the only competent witness. Why did you ask Hanneman to take the pinch?” (Kennelly, 15:45)

5. Internal Consequences and Moral Dilemmas

• [20:48-27:30]
  • The officers await word on whether they’ll face punitive action for breaking protocol.
  • Both vent about the demands and frustrations of police work:

    “This is a stinking job. You break your back and what do you get out of it? Nothing. Besides losing your family.” (Conlon, 21:40)

  • Kennelly leverages his authority to resolve the procedural mess—he arranges legal coverage for court so Conlon can help his family, but not without a lesson:

    “Next time, do it according to the book, will you?” (Lt. King, 27:15)

6. Closing Reflections

• [27:30-End]
  • The episode closes reflecting on the rotating grind of police life. The job’s personal cost and the thin line between duty and burnout are left resonating:

    “The police precinct in the city of New York is a flesh and blood merry go round. Anyone can catch the brass ring or the brass ring can catch anyone.” (Narrator, 28:20)

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Notable Quotes & Moments

• On domestic violence and intervention:

  • “Why do people mind their own business? Why do they have to call the cops?” (Annabelle Henley, 04:39)
  • “What would you do if you were dead?” (Captain Kennelly, 05:58)

• On internal police procedure:

  • “Do it according to the book and you won't get in any jams.” (Captain Kennelly, 12:50)
  • “Without a proper arraignment, there’d never be a trial.” (Kennelly, 12:30)

• On personal sacrifice:

  • “That's the reason for all our trouble in the first place. The job. Most of them, anyway. Working nights and being delayed getting home by going to court.” (Conlon, 16:25)

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Timestamps for Important Segments

• [00:35-05:00] — Disturbance call, domestic confrontation, suspect flees to roof.
• [05:00-08:00] — Arrest and emotional aftermath, Annabelle’s denials.
• [08:00-12:00] — Processing Holtz/Henley, initial hint of protocol breach.
• [13:00-17:00] — Captain’s investigation of officers’ conduct.
• [20:48-22:26] — Officers vent about professional pressures.
• [22:26-28:20] — Consequences, resolution, and closing moral reflection.

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Tone & Style

The episode is marked by the clipped, realistic, and occasionally world-weary dialogue of mid-century police dramas. The officers toe the line between duty, procedure, and personal obligation. The script pulls no punches in showing the strain police work places not just on suspects, but on the police themselves and their families.

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Conclusion

“The Collar” is a prime 21st Precinct drama—tight, resonant, and character-driven. It exposes both the procedural inner workings of police investigations and the messy reality of human behavior, in the public and on the force. Through deft storytelling, it reminds listeners that the law is carried out by flawed people under difficult circumstances, and upholding it by the book is both a necessity and a burden.

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For anyone interested in how radio drama captured everyday heroism and the frailties behind the badge, this episode is both compelling and sobering.

Transcript

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[Captain Frank Kennelly]

21st Precinct. Sergeant Burns. What is this? Yeah, yeah. Well, who is it? His wife. Hitting her with what? Oh. All right, I'll send the office. You are in the muster room at the 21st Precinct nerve center. A call is coming through by transcription. You will follow the action taken pursuant to that call from this minute until the final report is written in the 124 room at the 21st Precinct.

[Annabelle Henley]

Okay.

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

The officers will be right there. You wait out in front. Show them what flat it is. Yeah, yeah, out in front. All right. Okay. 41st Precinct. It's just lines on a map of the city of New York. Most of the 173,000 people wedged into the 9/10 of the square mile between Fifth Avenue and the east river wouldn't know if you asked them that they lived or worked in the 21st. Whether they know it or not, the security of their homes, their persons and their property is the job of the men of the 21st Precinct. The 21st. 160 patrolmen, 11 sergeants and four lieutenants, of whom I am the boss. My name is Kelly Frank Kennelly. I'm captain in Command of the 21st. I was working my night tour, 4pm to 8am the weather was unusually mild for the time of the year. At 10:45pm I was on patrol of the precinct in sector car number one. I had instructed the operator of the car, Patrolman Charles Lasky, to stop at a garage on First Avenue in the 90s so that I could verify the investigation by Sergeant Waters of an application for a towing car license. While I was inside the garage talking to the night manager, Patrolman Lasky entered and informed me that a signal 30ambulance responding had been broadcast over the car radio. The address was 710 E. 78th St. We left the garage, got in the car and made the run. A signal 30 denotes an armed felony, and all patrol cars in the vicinity, regardless of precinct boundaries and other less pressing assignments are required to respond. As we pulled into the block, I could see two sector cars, the Sergeant's car and an emergency service car were already on the job. A crowd was beginning to gather on the sidewalk in front of 7:10, a converted brownstone. There's a spotlight. Keep pulling.

[Annabelle Henley]

All right, help him.

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

Keep the sidewalk clear. Sir. Sergeant. Sergeant Burns. Hello, captain. What have we got? You been up there? Yes, sir. I just came down to call in, let CB Know what it was. Original call was a disturbance. Family fight. All right, get back off the soup there. I told you before, there's nothing to see here. There's a man beating up his wife. Neighbors called in with it. They were making so much noise. Yeah. Now, I'm not gonna tell you again. You got no business here. Now, stay off the stoop. Lasky. Yes, sir. Get on the job here. Keep the sidewalk and the stoop clear. Yes, sir. Clear. All right, go ahead. Come on. Why? Signal 30 over a family fight. Third Fortune, Conlan and Hanneman answered the original call. They came in here. Neighbor who called in pointed the way. They could hear the screaming in the hall. They ran up and knocked on the door.

[Annabelle Henley]

Right.

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

Stop the occupant, A fellow named Holtz opened the door. He ran out between them and up the stairs. They chased him up to the roof, collared him just as he was going out the door. Meanwhile, the neighbor phoned in the Gantt. He started to fight them and they finally got him quieted down, searched him. They found a gun on him. Oh, they fed into the hall. Kent, what is he, a psycho? I don't know, captain. I haven't had much chance to talk to him. There's that door there. Or would you rather go up to the roof? They've still got him up there. Oh, let's take a look in here. First of the wife.

[Annabelle Henley]

I don't know what I'm gonna do. I don't know.

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

All right, fix the car. Number four, resume patrol.

[Annabelle Henley]

I don't know.

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

He won't hurt you now, Mrs. Holt.

[Annabelle Henley]

I don't know what I'm gonna do.

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

Well, we'll take care of him.

[Annabelle Henley]

It's the trouble.

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

What's the trouble?

[Annabelle Henley]

He'll go to jail, and what'll I do? How am I gonna live? Why don't people mind their own business? Why do they have to call the cops?

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

You ought to be thankful. He could have killed you.

[Annabelle Henley]

It was just an argument. A family argument. But what people have to call a cop. He didn't touch me.

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

Then what happened to your face?

[Annabelle Henley]

Nothing the matter with my face. He didn't touch me. Just an argument. That's All?

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

Well, it might have started out as an argument, I suppose, but it's a little more now. The officers took a gun off of him up on the roof.

[Annabelle Henley]

I don't know why people have to butt in. Always butting in where it isn't any of their business.

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

The neighbors called the cops because they thought he was killing you.

[Annabelle Henley]

He wasn't killing me. It was just a little argument. Likes to argue. Gets a couple of beers in him. He likes to argue.

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

Is this what he was drinking? Doesn't look like beer.

[Annabelle Henley]

He had a couple of beers before he got home. Then he had some of that whiskey here. Wasn't killing me. Where is he? Where's John?

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

They still got him up on the roof.

[Annabelle Henley]

What are they doing with him up there?

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

They're talking to him. Waiting till he calms down.

[Annabelle Henley]

He's calm. He was never anything but calm. I don't know why he keeps coming around here bothering people. He's calm.

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

If we didn't come around, Ms. Holtz, he might have shot you.

[Annabelle Henley]

He wouldn't shoot me. Not John. People butting in. What am I gonna do that for? I'd like to know. What am I gonna do with him in jail?

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

What would you do if you were dead? They've brought him down, captain. All right, John.

[Annabelle Henley]

Inside, John?

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

Just about. Miss Holt, baby. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. All right. Stay away from her. Stand there, John. I wanna talk to my wife. Just stand right there. Where's your coat, John? Stand in the closet. Which closet? Yeah, that was it. You see, Annabelle? You see? If you kept your mouth shut, I wouldn't have this.

[Annabelle Henley]

What am I supposed to do, die in silence?

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

All right. Touch her. And she hollered. Okay. Oh, look, this isn't any picnic, John. You're in a big jam. You don't want to go down into the station house with the cuffs on. Calm down. I'm calm.

[Annabelle Henley]

You should have seen him before.

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

All right, Mrs. Holman. I'm calm. You want a hat too, John? No, I don't need a hat. Good work, Hanneman. Yes, sir. Let's see the gun.38 revolver, Captain. Spanish made. What were you doing with this, John? I had it. I thought I might need it. Easy. Coat, John? What do you want? That's not the one I meant. It don't go good with the pants. Nobody will notice the difference. I guess not. What do you think you might need the gun for, John? For protection. Protection? Out of the house. From your wife? From anybody. Are you taking the pinch, Hanneman? Yes, all right, get him in. Come on, Justin. Come on. See you in the States. Now, Sergeant, take him right up to the detectives. Okay?

[Annabelle Henley]

I don't want him to go to jail. Not for hitting me. You can't send him to jail for that.

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

He's in worse trouble than that.

[Annabelle Henley]

The gun, you mean?

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

Yes, the gun.

[Annabelle Henley]

He told you what that was for?

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

Just for protection while he's carrying the gun. What's supposed to protect everyone else from him? As in all felony cases, the suspect was taken directly to the 21st Detective Squad on the second floor of the station house to be fingerprinted and questioned by detectives under the command of Lieutenant Matt King. Although the investigation was now in the hands of detectives, the prisoner remained in the custody of Patrolman Frank Hanneman, the arresting officer, who would be responsible until he was booked and lodged in a cell. Patrolman Hanneman's platoon was relieved at midnight, but he was obliged to stay with the suspect until the investigation was completed and then appear in felony court in the morning. At 12:45am I was in my office reading and signing reports when Sergeant Burns on TS rang in and told me that Lieutenant King requested that I come upstairs to the 21st Squad on an urgent matter. I walked out of my office, through the muster room and into the back room where two plainclothesmen from the 6th Division were questioning a suspected policy rider. Then I went upstairs to the second floor and into the detective's squadron. Hello, Captain. Hannah. Listen, could I bum another cigarette off of you? Haven't you smoked enough, John? Don't begrudge me my little pleasures. Yes, much obliged. You know what, Captain? Turns out his name isn't John Holtz at all. It's John Henley's. Oh, and they had him down in the 5th Precinct last week on an armed robbery deal. I didn't do it. The victim couldn't identify him, so they had to turn him out. He didn't have the gun then. I didn't do it. And he's done a bit in Sing Sing. Grand larceny. Isn't that right, John? That's right. Yeah. You got a match? Police. You don't have anything, do you? The good caller, Hanneman. Does Conlan know about his record? No, sir. He went on home at midnight. We didn't hear about this till 15 or 20 minutes ago. Well, Lieutenant King wanted to see me. Is in. Is he in his office? Yes, sir. He's got John's wife in there and a couple of detectives. I don't know what they want with Her. Okay. Give me back my matches, John, come on. Yes, Captain Kennelly. Come in, Captain. Hello, Matt. Goldman, Gap. Good. Hi, Captain. You met Mrs. Holtz, or Mrs. Henley is over at the scene?

[Annabelle Henley]

We met, yes.

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

What is it, Matt? Goldman and Kirk have been talking to her, Captain. Turns out that when the officers hit the door and John broke and ran to the roof, Conlon took out after him. Hanneman had his hands full with Annabelle.

[Annabelle Henley]

Well, I told you I didn't like the idea of anybody buttin into our business, that's all. We're entitled to have our spots without

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

cops coming in from all over Annabelle. Patrolman Hanneman, the officer who's outside with your husband now was busy with you while the other officer chased your husband up to the roof.

[Annabelle Henley]

Well, I was trying to keep him busy.

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

How long was it before Patrolman Hanneman went up to the roof?

[Annabelle Henley]

Him out there with John and me?

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

Yes, that's right.

[Annabelle Henley]

A couple of minutes. He took me.

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

And when you and Patrolman Hanneman got up there, what did you see?

[Annabelle Henley]

There was nothing to see. John was sitting down there by the side of the wall. And this other cop, what's his name?

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

Patrolman Conlon?

[Annabelle Henley]

Yeah, the other one. He was standing there.

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

Did Patrolman Conlon have anything in his hand?

[Annabelle Henley]

You know what he had in his hand with the gun he took off John? In his hand.

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

And then what happened?

[Annabelle Henley]

I don't know. Nothing. A cop came right away and they took me back downstairs to the Flyer. The new ones.

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

One of them, Hanneman and Conlon, remained up on the roof. With your husband?

[Annabelle Henley]

Yeah. Him out there now. And the other one. It's a big idea. I don't get it.

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

You don't have to. Annabelle Hanneman. Yes, sir. Bring John in here a minute. Yes. They did a good job, Captain. Nice color. I know it was. All right, get in there, John. They treating you all right?

[Annabelle Henley]

Baby, that isn't you.

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

Sit down over there. John didn't want to talk to you. Hanneman. Yes, sir. Goldman, keep your eye on him. Over here. Hanneman. Yes. Okay. Yes. Hanneman, were you present when the gun was taken off of John? Well, were you? I was on the way up. Is it true that Conlon took the gun off his person when you were still down in the hall with a wife? Yes, sir. Then how come you took the pinch in this case? It's Conlon's case. We're partners. Everybody splits up their pinches. I know they do when they're both present. But you Weren't. Why did you take the pinch? Conlon asked me to. He didn't want to go to court in the morning. Oh, he didn't? No, sir. Well, he will. Matt. Is this phone to T.S. ethan, 21st Precinct. Sergeant Burns. This is Captain Canelli. Yes, sir. Get out the residence record on Patrolman Conlan. Notify him to report to the station house forthwith. While we awaited the arrival of Patrolman Conlon from his residence. In response to the forthwith, the suspect, John Henley's, was taken downstairs and booked in on charges of felonious assault and violation of section 1897 penal law. I instructed Patrolman Hanneman to report to my office after the prisoner was lodged in a cell. Yes? Patrolman Hanneman, Captain. Come in. Is your prisoner booked and in a cell, Hanneman? Yes, sir. Did Conlon tell you why he didn't want to appear in court tomorrow? No, sir. Was it that he didn't want to appear in this case or didn't want to appear in general? In general, Captain. Before the tour, he asked me if I'd take any pinches tonight. He had something to do tomorrow. What? I don't know, Captain. He asked you to take the pinch, didn't he? Yes, sir. But I've asked him to take pinches on certain nights because I've had something to do the next day. We were over that before. And that's perfectly all right when you share in an apprehension, either one of you could appear. But would you kindly tell me how you would expect to qualify as a competent witness in this case when you couldn't testify of your own knowledge that the defendant was carrying a gun? Well, usually a cop doesn't have to testify at arraignment, captain. Bail is usually set for hearing at a later date. Supposing you got into court. Supposing John Henley's had his lawyer there, which he will. And supposing John told his lawyer that you weren't the cop who took the gun off him. The lawyer would insist on your testimony. What could you testify to? Nothing. It'd be dismissed then and there. Yes, sir. That'd be a fine impression for a police officer to make in court, wouldn't it? To appear as the complaining witness in a gun case when you couldn't even say whether he had a gun or not. All I can say, Captain, is that I didn't see any harm in it. It's not a trial or anything. It'd only be an arraignment. Remember this, Hanneman, without a proper arraignment There'd never be a trial. 21st Precinct. Captain Kennelly, Sergeant Burns on TF. Captain. Yes? Patrolman Conlon's out here at the desk camp and he just came in. All right, send him in here. You've been a good cop, Hanneman. You made a good collar tonight. Don't spoil these things. Do it according to the book and you won't get in any jams. Yes, Come in. Hello, Frank. Mike. Leave the door open, Coleman. Yes? Hanneman's going out. Yes, sir. You wait in the back room, Hanneman. Yes, sir. Excuse me, Lucelle. That's all right. I wanted to see you a minute, Jess. Come in, man. Yes. Would you shut the door? Hello, Conlon. Lieutenant King. Sit down over here, man. Thanks. You know why you're here, Conlon? Nothing. I got the fourth with and I came. That's all. You have any idea? Nothing. Well, you should. You and Hanneman handle the case tonight. Henley's. Henley's. We found out who's the Venelias. The name is John Henley's. Oh, yes, sir. Is it correct that you and Henley's were alone on the roof when you took the gun off him? Hanneman was down in the hall. Yes, sir, that's correct. It was your case. You were the only competent witness. Why did you ask Hanneman to take the pinch? I wanted to get out of going to court in the morning, Kenneth. Oh, you did? Yes. That's the job, to go to court. You've been in it long enough to know that, haven't you? Yes, sir, but he's been taking the pinches one night and me the next. He's captain of a bowling team. I don't care what you thought or what you've done in this case. Hanneman isn't worth a nickel in court. You're the only one. You knew that, didn't you? Yes, sir. Usually the hearing is set down for another date. What was so urgent to keep you out of court? I was supposed to be in Albany at noon, Captain. And back on the job by the 4 o' clock turnout? No, sir. I'm swinging. Why? We are supposed to be in Albany. What's so important there? Personal Medicare. It might be personal, but it better be good. My wife, Dan, my kids. My two kids. On a pleasure trip? No, sir. We met me there for six, seven weeks with my mother in law. We've been separated. Oh, I had her patched up. I spoke to her on the phone yesterday. She agreed to come home. Try it Again. I was going up, driving them home. She knows you've got a job. He could have called her and told her you had to go to court. She'd be there later in the afternoon. No, sir, I couldn't. Why not? That's the reason for all our trouble in the first place. The job. Most of them, anyway. Working nights and being delayed getting home by going to court. That's how it all started. She said she had enough of it. She's sick of staying alone at night. She wanted me to quit the job, get into something where my time's a little more my own. With. With her brother. He's got a bar and grill and wanted me to come in as a partner, practically. I liked the job. I wanted to stick with it. We broke up, I guess, after six or seven weeks. She missed me as much as I missed her and the kids. Captain, I called her. I asked her to come home. She said okay, and I was going. Now, if I called her again and said I couldn't be there and it got as a job, she'd probably say, don't come at all. Why didn't you tell the captain on the scene over there? You know, we probably could have worked something out. Yes, the lieutenant. I know he probably could have, but I wasn't taking any chance. I thought it would work out okay with Hanneman taking pinch. But it didn't. No, sir. Now I'm gonna jam with her and jam with you. All right, Conlon. You'll find Hanneman in the back room. Wait there with him. Yes, Carlin. Yes. Well, never mind. I'll talk to you later. Yes, Conrad. Yes, Sergeant. Come here. What's the trouble? You're next to sling back there, sergeant. 21st, please. Thanks, sergeant. Brandon lost your. What? What the. You phone in? Yeah, yeah. Oh, it's. It's like a tuba, huh? But where'd you lose it? What? Subway. Yeah, I see. Yeah. Well, the first thing I suggest that you do is call the transit Lost and found. That's Ulster 2, 5000. Ulster U. L? That's right. Then you come in here and we'll take a lost property report. Yeah, that's right. That's between Lexington and Third. You're welcome. Now, there's a guy with real troubles, Conlon. He lost his euphonia. You ought to be happy. He had one to lose. It couldn't be that bad, Conlon. Ah, don't try to cheer me upside. All right? You want to suffer? I'll be in the back room. My first. What do you Think, cousin Bren. All right. You take care of me or what do you think? Hi, Frank. What do you say? All right. I got us jammed up, didn't I? Ah, it's nothing. What do you mean, nothing? If I had any sense, I wouldn't have asked you to take the pinch. You want to smoke? Yeah. Yeah. Thanks. Thanks. So what happened?

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[Captain Frank Kennelly]

The guy turned out to be a pretty hot customer. He did some big time. And they think he's right for a couple of armed robberies downtown. Yeah. Yeah. They're tickled to death to have him right on the gun deal. They're tickled to death. And I'll probably be up on charges. I'll be right there with you. What could they stick us with? They'll find something in the rules or in the manual or conduct to the prejudice of good order, efficiency and discipline. That covers everything else. Ah, this is. This is a stinking job. You break your back and what do you get out of it? Nothing. Besides losing your family. Don't cry on my shoulder, Mike. I'm not the PBA delegate. I'm in the same boat you're in. Lieutenant King was in there with him. Yeah, he went in as I was going out. Oh, yeah. He's probably helping the captain draw the charges and specifications. And I quit a good job on the New York Central to join the cops. Hi, Mike. Frank. What do you think? How you doing? Has my shoe like job. Yeah. We're married to him. Big deal. If I've got any sense, I'll go into that bar and grill with My brother in law. What are they keeping us waiting around here for? Don't they know we've been on the job since 4 yesterday afternoon? What time is it? 2 o'. Clock. 2:10, it's worse. Kind of waiting for us to tell them we're sorry. Maybe they're getting the deputy PC up here to suspend us on the spot. No, they wouldn't be doing that. That's all I need.

[Annabelle Henley]

There you are. You put down in jail. They keep me upstairs with questions for three hours.

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

Did they tell you you could go home?

[Annabelle Henley]

Yeah, they told me. Cops are supposed to help people. Tell me, what am I gonna do with him and J R back in Sing Sing?

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

Lady, I don't know what you're gonna do. As far as I'm concerned, I wish I'd never seen you or John. I wish you lived on the west side. I wish I'd had enough sense of staying the Coast Guard.

[Annabelle Henley]

I don't know what I'm gonna do. I don't know what.

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

Now listen, Mike. Yeah? Why did you want me to take the paint? Oh, I. I've got to go up to Albany tomorrow to bring my wife and kids home. For good? Yeah, I hope for good. We got it straightened out. Congratulations. Thanks. Hey, you know, even if we get that 720 more a year, the job isn't worth it. You think they'll give it to us? I don't care. I'll be tending bar on my own store. Roy. What are they waiting for? Suspense. Yeah, that's part of the technique of command you learn. They're the Delahantys. Wear them down by cooling their heels. Then even bad news is relief to get. How long was your wife away? And the kids? Six, seven weeks. That's a long time too. Yeah. That uniform allowance in addition to the 720 a year is a good thing there. Yeah, but that's a bargaining point. I think the PBA would settle for the $720 and let the uniform allowance go by the board. Well, whether we should. Mike, Here they come. Uh huh. Skipper and Lieutenant King. Bad news. On your feet, Mike. Yes. Hannah man. Yes. Come on back at the cells with us and want to talk to Henry's. Yes. You wait here. Colonel. Yes. Let's go. You been out for a meal yet, man? No, sir. We'll have to walk around Election Avenue after we get this settled and grab a sandwich. Sure. I. Captain. Go ahead. Hannelman. Yes. The attendant's out for his meal, Captain. Do you want me to go back and get the keys from the Desk officer. No, we can talk to him through the bars. There's where we put him. Number three. John. John, wake up. On your feet, John. Come on. What is it? Come here. Can't you even let a guy sleep in peace? John, you told us you did a bit for grand larceny. Yeah. So? The DCI records show you were released in 1951. April. You only short time now. Yeah, I owe my gear almost. Not quite a year. All right. In addition to the charges you're booked in on you being held for parole violation. We'll notify the parole board that you're here when the office opens in the morning. Is that all you got on your mind? Can I go back to sleep? Do what you want. Okay, let's go. Thanks for the good news. Go ahead. What's this door? You'll see. I've got a captain. Thanks. Okay. All right. Conlon. Yes, sir. Kevin, notify the desk officer that you, instead of Hanneman, are the arresting officer in the case. Yes. Then I do have to go to court in the morning. Is that right, Captain? You go to Albany, you'll be notified. One to a Baron court. Yes, I'll be in my office. Matt, when you want to go out for that sandwich. Yes, sir. Captain? Yes? What about me? You get out of here, Hanneman. Go on home. Yes. Good night, Captain. Okay, Conlon, you're off a tough spot. Next time do it according to the book, will you? I will, Lieutenant. Thanks. Who's going to take John to court? He's got to go, doesn't he? I really appreciate it, Lieutenant. He's talking to the wrong man, Conlon. Am I? It was the captain who pulled you out of it. He's fixed it so John can be held on a short affidavit. Do they do that? I thought the police officer or a complaining witness had to be injured and unable to appear. They'll do it. The captain got in touch with the DA's office. The assistant on the job told him the magistrate would hold you on without arraignment for 4, 48 hours. He appeared to be a parole violator. Also, the captain, as the commanding officer, would appear and make a short affidavit that he had reason to believe the defendant guilty. But the arresting officer was unable to be in court. And the captain's taking him to court. Oh. Have a good trip to Albany, Colin. Yes. Well, I guess we're off the hook. Yeah, I guess so. How about the skipper? Is that part of the technique of command? I don't think so, Frank, you don't learn that at Delaherty. So it goes around the clock through the week, every day, every year. The police precinct in the city of New York is a flesh and blood merry go round. Anyone can catch the brass ring or the brass ring can catch anyone. 21st Precinct transcribed a factual account of the way the police work in the world's largest city is presented with the official cooperation of the Patrolman's Benevolent association, an organization of more than 20,000 members of the Police Department, City of New York. Everett Sloan in the role of Captain Kennelly. Tim lynch as Lieutenant King. Written and directed by Stanley Nist Produced for CBS Radio by John Ives. Art Hannah speaking.

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