Podcast Summary: Harold's Old Time Radio

Episode: 21st Precinct 54-12-08 (074) "The Jump"
Original Air Date: December 8, 1954
Podcast Release Date: February 25, 2026
Host: Harold's Old Time Radio

Episode Overview

This episode of "21st Precinct," titled "The Jump," immerses listeners in a gritty night in New York City’s 21st police precinct. The story unfolds as patrol officers respond to a violent mugging, leading to a tense manhunt for the suspects through city blocks and up tenement rooftops. Through realistic dialogue and procedural detail, the episode exposes the dangers faced nightly by police officers and the human stories lurking behind each crime report.

Key Discussion Points & Plot Breakdown

Setting the Scene (00:01–02:30)

• Narration introduces the station house atmosphere and recent incidents: a three-alarm fire, a fatal car accident, a robbery, and a mugging.
  • Captain Kennelly’s narration: “You are in the muster room at the 21st Precinct. The nerve center... the security of their homes, their persons and their property is the job of the men of the 21st Precinct.”

The Mugging Incident (02:30–06:20)

• Patrolmen Vaccaro and Coley encounter a mugging in progress while on Second Avenue.
  • The assailants, two teenagers, are attacking an elderly man.
  • The officers intervene; Vaccaro apprehends one suspect (Carl Bord, 17), while Coley chases the second (Ernie).
  • Carl Bord protests: “It was Ernie’s idea. Doesn’t make any difference whose idea it was. I didn’t mean to hurt him.”
  • The victim, Mr. Philip Silken, is traumatized and injured, wishing only to go home to his ill wife.

Immediate Aftermath and Arrest (06:20–15:00)

• Carl is confronted about the attack and their previous mugging, denies intent to cause serious harm.
• Officers radio for an ambulance and back-up.
  • Carl, about the radio: “Hey, that’s pretty good how that works… That’s like a telephone to the house, huh?”
• Mr. Silken offers a poignant observation: "If you wanted the money, you should have asked... I'd have given it to you... A dollar, twenty cents."
• Carl fears being blamed alone and repeatedly calls for Ernie, stating it was all Ernie’s idea.
• Ongoing debate about handcuffs being too tight, Carl’s age (17), and regret for the crime.

Escalation: Officer Coley Missing (15:00–25:30)

• Coley does not return; concern grows that he may be in danger, having pursued a possibly armed suspect.
• Search intensifies, with detectives and additional officers conducting a block-by-block and building-by-building sweep.
• Sgt. Waters, worried: "That boy he was chasing could have been armed. Might have turned on him. Might have."
• Captain Kennelly: "In 20 minutes he should have come back to the car or sent someone back… Or he should have rung into the station house."

The Roof Chase & Discovery (25:30–36:00)

• Witness Mrs. Protea (top floor resident) reports sounds of running on the roof.
• Officers ascend the tenement, searching rooftops in the cold night.
  • Mrs. Protea: “Somebody was running up the stairs, yelling… I was scared. I didn’t move from the bed.”
• Coley is found, wounded and unconscious, having been ambushed and stabbed by Ernie with a switchblade.
  • Coley, regaining consciousness (33:30): "I’m cut... Stuck me three times, that I remember… Chased him up here about 10 yards ahead... When I got over here, he was laying for me."
  • Immediate medical attention is summoned for Coley.

Chase’s End: The "Jump" and Resolution (36:00–40:00)

• Ernie is believed to have jumped a large gap between rooftops (about 12-14 feet) in an attempt to escape.
  • Detective: “He didn’t run over to the next roof, man. He jumped. That’s some jump. Good 10 feet across there at least.”
  • Using flashlights, police locate Ernie’s body in the courtyard below—his escape attempt was fatal.
• Wraps up with Captain Kennelly’s narration, reflecting on the perpetual cycle of crime and policing in the city.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Regret and Youth:
  • Officer to Carl (03:34): “Well, in 17 years you ought to have gotten some sense into your head.”
  • Carl Bord (10:45): "I didn't want to kick him. It was Ernie's idea to kick him. He said kick. Kick him good."
• Victim’s Humanity:
  • Phillip Silken (12:10): “If you wanted the money, you should have asked. I'd have given you all I had. A dollar twenty cents.”
• Police Procedure Realism:
  • Captain Kennelly (after finding Coley injured, 34:40): "All right, you can tell us about it later… The ambulance is on the way."
• Atmosphere & Tone:
  • Captain Kennelly, closing lines: “Every day, every year, a 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.” (39:55)

Important Segment Timestamps

• 00:03: Captain Kennelly introduces himself and situational overview
• 03:00: Patrol cars witness and respond to the mugging in progress
• 09:00: Carl is interrogated by police; remorse and blame emerge
• 14:45: Ambulance called for Mr. Silken, tensions among arrested and officers
• 18:30: Concern grows over missing Officer Coley; search mobilized
• 26:30: Interview with resident witness (Mrs. Protea)
• 33:30: Discovery of wounded Officer Coley on the roof
• 36:40: Ernie’s attempted escape and fatal fall detected
• 39:55: Philosophical closing narration by Captain Kennelly

Episode Tone & Style

• The dialogue is naturalistic, urgent, and laced with dry police wit.
• Language is period-authentic, carrying the clipped, street-wise exchanges of 1950s New York.
• The story is procedural but humanized, focusing as much on the regrets, fears, and frailties of the young offenders and their victim as the police’s professionalism and worry for each other.

Conclusion

"21st Precinct: The Jump" exemplifies the classic radio police procedural—showcasing the unpredictability, danger, and emotional impact of a single night’s crime. Its blend of realism, authentic speech, and attention to procedure provide a gripping snapshot of mid-century urban policing, with a narrative arc that underscores both justice and tragedy.