21st Precinct 55-01-05 (078) The Trade

Summary

Podcast Summary: Harold's Old Time Radio

Episode: 21st Precinct 55-01-05 (078) The Trade

Date: February 25, 2026

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Overview

This episode of "21st Precinct," presented by Harold's Old Time Radio, immerses listeners in the procedures and gritty realities of a New York City police station during the mid-1950s. The episode, titled "The Trade," centers on an urgent, potentially explosive allegation: a known narcotics pusher, Augie Bookham, claims that a police officer extorted $700 from him during a stop, exchanging money for leniency after discovering heroin in Augie's possession. Through procedural detail, sharp dialogue, and tightly wound tension, the precinct’s leadership investigates the claim, uncovering not only the truth of the incident but also deeper themes of trust, desperation, and bureaucracy within the NYPD.

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Key Discussion Points & Segments

1. Initial Incident & Augie Bookham’s Claim

Starts at [00:53]

• Precinct Scene Setting: Listeners are brought into the bustle of the 21st Precinct. The night is cold and unusually quiet, but drama brews beneath the surface.

• Augie Bookham’s Arrest: Detective Fitzpatrick chases and apprehends Augie Bookham, a familiar narcotics dealer, who immediately claims he’s been robbed by a cop.

• Augie alleges that while standing near a movie house, a police officer stopped him, searched him, and uncovered $700 and heroin. The officer, Augie claims, offered a choice—trade the $700 for avoiding a felony charge ([04:39]):

  • Quote:
    "He said, 'Augie, this time you get the book. No more Rikers Island. This is a big time rap for sure.' And I said, well, what can I do? So he said, 'Go on, get in the car.'... Then he said, 'Wait a minute.' ...'How would I like that wish to come true?' ...'Supposing we only take a quarter into the station house.' ...He wondered, 'Wouldn't I like to trade the 700 for about seven years?'"
    —Augie Bookham [05:44]

• The detectives interrogate Augie, pressing for details. He insists he can identify the officer and outlines the trade in remarkably detailed fashion.

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2. Investigation Launches: Checking Records and Alibis

From [11:46]

• Captain Kelly's Methodical Approach: Captain Kelly commands a review of sector car logs, switchboard records, and officer meal breaks to determine who could have interacted with Augie at the alleged time.
• Sergeant Waters and Lieutenant King meticulously piece through records to eliminate officers from suspicion:
  • Sector cars were all accounted for, except for Officer Baulny, whose partner was at a meal during the window; Baulny was thus on solo patrol and near the location ([15:42]).
  • Baulny claims to have broken up a fight at a local candy store, which the logs do not substantiate.

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3. Corroborating Alibi: Visiting the Candy Store

From [18:37]

• Lieutenant King and Captain Kelly visit Mrs. Portilla, the candy store proprietor, to confirm Baulny’s story.

  • Quote:
    "Ms. Portilla. Was there a fight in here tonight?"
    —Lieutenant King [19:18]

  • Mrs. Portilla affirms only a minor scuffle took place and confirms a police officer (alone) did indeed break up the fight, staying approximately twenty minutes—directly supporting Officer Baulny’s story ([21:55]).

• The officers carefully align these details with radio show timings, newspaper delivery, and her memory to confirm Baulny's presence and innocence within the time frame described by Augie.

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4. Confronting Augie With Evidence

From [24:32]

• Return to the Station House: Captain Kelly, Lieutenant King, and Detective Fitzpatrick confront Augie with inconsistencies in his story:

  • All patrol cars and officers are accounted for; Baulny’s alibi is confirmed by a civilian witness.
  • Pressed for the truth, Augie finally breaks, admitting to fabricating the entire story about the $700 to cover his own loss in a dice game.
    • Quote:
      "Okay, you want the truth? I'll give you the truth. Nobody took any 700 off me."
      —Augie Bookham [24:38]
    • Augie confesses he lost the money gambling and made up the police theft to explain it to an intimidating acquaintance expecting bail—"he's gonna get the 700 out of my jaw one tooth at a time" ([24:48]).

• The officers express their frustration about nearly ruining a policeman’s life and note that Augie’s heart of gold is not his only trouble ([25:50]).

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Augie painted into a corner:

  • "You guys just want to protect this cop..." —Augie [24:37]

• Captain Kelly’s principle:

  • "But I'm telling you that I'm not going to stand for a bum like you coming in here and giving us some line of bull about something that never happened that he dreamed up. I wasted a lot of time on this, Augie. I want the truth right now." —Captain Kelly [24:36]

• Augie’s fatalistic humor:

  • "What do you think he's gonna do to me when I show up in the same jail? He's going to get the 700 out of my jaw one tooth at a time." —Augie [24:50]

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Thematic Insights

• Procedural Integrity: The episode foregrounds the painstaking processes the police must follow when one of their own is accused. Relying on logs, witness statements, and rigid adherence to protocol, the officers demonstrate both the vulnerability and resilience of organizational trust.
• Desperation Breeds Deception: Augie's confession illustrates how individuals—especially those enmeshed in crime—may fabricate stories that, if believed, could unjustly wreck another’s career.
• The Karen Bureaucracy of Justice: Listeners are reminded of the volume of routine, paperwork, and checks accompanying any credible accusation against police in such a vast metropolis.
• Gallows Humor and Camaraderie: Amid the tension, moments of levity and warmth emerge, especially in Mrs. Portilla’s scene, who tries to sell sodas and recounts past police heroics.

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Important Segments and Timestamps

| Segment | Description | Timestamp | |---------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-----------| | The initial incident & Augie's story | Augie recounts his version of the "trade" with a cop | 04:30–09:00| | Detective work: Reviewing records | Kelly, Waters, King search for alibis and piece together logs | 11:46–17:45| | Witness interview at the candy store | Mrs. Portilla confirms Baulny's story; comic relief and crucial clarity | 18:37–23:19| | Confrontation & confession | Augie admits he lied, officers reveal evidence clearing Baulny | 24:32–26:00|

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Tone & Style

True to the radio drama roots, the episode is dialogue-heavy, full of terse exchanges, deadpan camaraderie, wry humor, and echoes the hardboiled spirit of '50s crime fiction. Characters’ language is colloquial and tough-edged, lending both authenticity and immediacy.

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Conclusion

"The Trade" shows the day-to-day grind at the 21st Precinct where both life-changing allegations and petty dramas can play out at any moment. Through sharp police work and a blend of suspicion and procedure, the detectives clear a fellow officer and expose how desperation can lead to serious, even dangerous accusations. The episode ends on a somber reminder that, in the NYPD, the line between trouble and order is thin—and patrolled round the clock.

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For listeners who missed the episode:
This plot-driven, realistic procedural drama offers not only suspense but also a window into policing as it was—bureaucratic, relentless, and always human.

Transcript

[A]

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[B]

21st Precinct. Sergeant Waters chasing him. Where now? Who is it? A police officer. Yeah, yeah. What building did he run into? What is that? 452 or 492?

[C]

What?

[B]

Was the man armed? You are in the muster room at the 21st Precinct, the nerve center. A call is coming through. 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. All right, I'll send the officers right over there. No, you just stand there in front of the building. Show them where to go. Okay? Yeah, thanks.

[D]

21st 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 a 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.

[B]

The 21st. 160 patrolmen, 11 sergeants and four lieutenants, of whom I'm the boss. My name is Kelly. Frank Canelli. I'm captain in command of the 21st. I was working my night tour, 4pm to 8am the weather had turned exceedingly cold and consequently it had been a quiet night in the precinct. Cold weather, like rain, keeps the troublemakers off the streets. After my meal, I had gone out on patrol of the precinct in sector car number two with Patrolman William Coley as operator. And I remained away from the station house until nearly 10pm Inspecting various conditions in the precinct and responding to several radio calls along with the sector cars and the sergeant. At 9:50 a call came over the air to ring into the station house. I instructed Patrolman Coley to stop at the nearest call box. Lieutenant Gorman, the desk officer, informed me that Lieutenant Matt King, commander of the 21st Detective Squad, wanted to see me as soon as possible. On an urgent matter. I told the desk officer to inform Lt. King that I was on my way in. I instructed Patrolman Coley to drive to the station house where after stopping at the desk to sign the blotter, I walked through the back room, up the stairs to the second floor and into the office of the 21st Detective Squad. Hello, Captain. Hello. Where's Lieutenant King? And it's ours, Captain. He asked me to ring in there when you got here. Okay. Who's with him? Fitzpatrick, Captain. And a suspect. Sergeant, would you ring Lieutenant Kings Line? Yeah. Thank you. What's going tonight, Pete? Oh, nothing too much, Captain. It's been pretty quiet. Battalion, Lieutenant. Captain Kelly's out here. Okay. Yes, sir. He's coming right out, Captain. All right. Three guys went here within an hour. Every one of them had his overcoat stolen. That's a sure sign of winter veep. Yes, sir. It's better than the calendar. Well, I'm glad you come in, Captain. Looks all right, Matt. What have you got? You come over here a minute? Yeah. Fitz brought a boy in here. The boy's got a pretty wild story. About what, Matt? About a cop taking $700 off him? No. Where up on Lexington Avenue. Can he identify the cop? He says he can. He'll be on at 8 o'. Clock. Who's he supposed to be? He just says he can identify him. He doesn't know who it is. Who is this boy? Man, his name's Augie Bookham. Yeah? He's been pushing narcotics up there as long as we know him. He's done two bits on it. Fitz spotted him on the street and went over to talk to him. He lit out. Fitz chased him into a building and collared him on the roof. Well, how does a cop taking $700 off him figure into it? Maybe you ought to hear that from Auggie. I'd like to. You think he's giving you a straight story? Man, I don't know. Captain Vitale. Yes, sir. Hold up my calls for a while. Yes, sir. Go ahead, Captain. Oh, Vince. Captain. Captain, this is Audrey Bookham. Captain Kennelly, commanding officer of the precinct. Go ahead. And are you, Captain? You told these detectives a cop took $700 off you, is that right? I wouldn't have told him if it wasn't. When was it? Tonight, about 8:30. Just a little while before he jumped me and Mr. Fitzpatrick. Where? Right up there, near there. He said he was standing under the marquee of that old picture house there. Captain, I was waiting to meet a fella the Car drove up and the cop got out to talk to him. The police officer was all alone? Yeah, all alone. Fine stuff. And he was in a car? Yeah, squad car, you know. Do you know who this police officer is? Well, I don't know his name. I've seen him around the neighborhood. He's been around a long time. Was he in uniform? Yeah, he's in uniform. What kind of car was it? Regular police car. I told you that. What'd it say on the side of the car? What do you mean? What was written there? Oh, 21 precinct. I saw that. 21 precinct. All the men in cars ride with partners. Where was the other police officer? Listen, don't ask me. There was only the one. How come he stopped to talk to you? Were you causing a disturbance there? No, I was just standing there waiting for this friend of mine. Well, then how come he stopped? Listen, I'm the kind of a guy, when a cop sees me, he stops to talk to me. Ain't that right? Ask Mr. Fitzpatrick here. I got a natural attraction for cops. All right, the cop pulled up and he got out. What happened then? Listen, I told these fellas all about it. Let them tell you I don't feel like going over and over. You'll go over it plenty. You've come in here, Augie, and made a statement about a police officer being guilty of misconduct. The captain's job to find out the identity of that police officer. Oh, you answer his questions. All right. Have I got her? I got her. You got her? He got out of the car and walked over to you? Yeah. What'd he say? I said, hello, Augie. He knew your name? I told you, everybody knows my name. But you didn't know his. No, I didn't know. I didn't care. All right, then what'd he say? He said, when'd you get out? You see, I've been doing this bit over Rikers Island. What for? Possession. Same old thing. Misdemeanor. Captain reduced him a felony and a pleiad guilty. Then what? Well, I told him when I got out. So he said, maybe I'm going back. He said, stick my hands up against the wall there. And I did. He looked me over. Oh, what did he find? He found the $700 and what else? He had 6/4 of H in my shed. He found them. An ounce and a half of heroin. Yeah. So he said, augie, this time you get the book. No more Rikers Island. This is a big time rap for sure. And I said, well, what can I do? So he Said, go on, get in the car. I started to go over. Get in the car. Then he said, wait a minute. So I waited a minute. Yeah. And a cop said to me. He said, look, Augie, you're an idiot. I told him I agreed with him because I can counter myself to get in a jam like this every time. So he says, why do I lay myself open for a felony by carrying more than a quarter ounce? You see, the guy's collared with more than an ounce. They got some gimmick that he's got it to sell. Prime of Facey, something like that. Yeah, we know what the lawyers. Well, that's two to 15 years between a full ounce and a quarter ounce is still a felony possession, but under a quarter is a misdemeanor. Just another couple months at Riker's island. So. So I agreed with him. I was an idiot. But I had to carry all that. Good, because I was just going to make a meep. It was only my wish. I had less than a quarter on me, preferably none at the time. So he says, how would I like that wish to come through? I said, what do you mean? Then he says, supposing we only take a quarter into the station house. I was beginning to get the idea. I said, how could that be arranged? So he wondered, wouldn't I like to trade the 700 for about seven years? No, he asked. Well, that didn't seem like too bad a trade to me. So he took five of the quarters and threw them in a pile of junk there. Then he took the other quarter and the seven bills and put them in his pocket. And he said, come on. So we walked over to the car. Why didn't he bring you in? Wait, I'm coming to that. We walked over to the car. He opened up the door. He was thinking, I guess when we walked over there, he had the seven bills. He didn't need me. So he put his foot up in the car. He said to me with a wink, like, he said, augie, I gotta tie my shoe. When I got my back turned. Don't you go walking away. Well, the way he said it, I figured that was just what he wanted me to do. Well, Rikers island is better than 2 to 15. But nothing is better yet than Rikers Island. So by the time he got through, tired of shoe, I was halfway down the block already. Then what did you do? Well, I stood in the door down the block there till I saw him get in the car and take off. So I figure I'm out seven bills But I'm off cheap. The five quarters was still laying there in a pile of junk. Where? He threw it under the old movie house there. So I walked back to get it. Why shouldn't I? I just picked it up. I'm heading back out and somebody hollers, augie. I looked around. It's him, Mr. Fitzpatrick. There I was with five quarters on me and not another cent to make a trade. So what was I going to do? I lit out him after me.

[C]

Ain't that right?

[B]

I took out icrt. Yeah? How far did you chase him, Fitz? Around the corner, Captain. I saw him duck into this tenement building. Started up the stairs and went all the way to the roof. I'd have been all right, too, except I didn't know the building. There was this big iron railing on the roof, so I couldn't jump the next roof. Did he still have the evidence on him when you called on him? Yes, sir. That's the shame of it. I was so worried about getting away, I forgot all about. I was carrying a load. What did he say to you when you called him? He wanted to know why we couldn't leave him alone. I told him if he'd stop pushing H, we'd leave him alone. Did he mention the $700 then? No, sir. Not until I was on the way back to the station house with him. What'd he say? He said he'd take care of me if he had the money. But he didn't have the money just then, and he got high and mighty. So I told him about the other cop. What time was it that you called him, sis? About 10 minutes after 9, captain. Then it would have been approximately between 8:45 and 9:00 clock that he met the officer under the theater marquee? Yes, sir. Proxima. Would you say that's right, Augie? About right, yeah. Approximately. Auggie, would you be able to recognize this officer that took the $700 off you? Any place, any place in the world. Fitz. Take him outside, Fitz. Get it down on paper. Again? Yeah, again. Come on, Auggie. Listen, what's all this gonna get me? What do you want it to get you, Auggie? I mean, I'm entitled to some consideration, don't you think? You were collared with an ounce and a half of heroin in your possession. You know what that'll get you, all right? You got a cop that took $700 off me. You want to get that straightened out? You got me with an ounce and a half of H on me. I want to get that straightened out. I'll help you on that, you help me on this. We can trade out a little bit, Auggie. You've done enough trading for one night. Take him outside. Yes. Outside where? Come on, Augie. Come on. Listen, I'm talking. Yeah. Looks like a rough one, Captain. Yeah. I don't know. He tells a pretty straight story. With these bums, you can't believe a word they say. Don't kid yourself, Matt. He was pretty convincing. Oh, can I use this? Yes, sir. 25 placing. Sergeant Waters. This Captain Canali. Sergeant. Yes, sir. How long have you been on ts duty? Since 8 o', clock, captain. Have you taken your meal? Yes, sir. Seven. Eight. All right. Tell Lieutenant Gorman to get a man to leave you on the switchboard. Yes, sir. Then bring the radio log and the telephone switchboard record up to Lt. King's office. Right away, Captain. Yes, right away. Okay, Captain. Have you got any idea who it might be, Captain? We will have, Matt, as soon as we find out who it couldn't have been.

[D]

You are listening to 21st Precinct, a factual account of the way police work in the world's largest city. Now back to 21st Precinct and Captain Kelly.

[B]

Allegations of misconduct by members of the force are handled according to established procedure. In an organization of more than 20,000 men and women. Incidents of this sort are anticipated and appropriate action is provided in the event of delinquency, a delinquency that is of a minor nature. Machinery is provided for disciplinary action following a departmental trial presided over by a deputy commissioner on a determination of guilty at this trial, the punishment can range from a reprimand to dismissal from the department, depending on the nature of the complaint. If, as in this case, the allegations are of a criminal nature, a full investigation is made and the facts turned over to the district attorney concerned. In one of the five counties that make up the city of New York. When the charges against a member of the force originate with a civilian, the desk officer of the precinct enters the complaint in the blotter exactly as recited. A transcript is then prepared and forwarded to the inspector commanding the division who assigns a superior officer above the rank of lieutenant to make an investigation. When the identity of the police officer concerned is unknown or uncertain, the commanding officer of the precinct must conduct a preliminary investigation to determine the identity. It was in this connection that I instructed Sergeant Waters to bring the telephone switchboard record and radio log to Lieutenant King's office. Yes? Sergeant Waters. Sergeant. Come in. Oh, come in, Sergeant. Yes, sir. Sit down here. Where do you want these captains on the table, sir. Okay, Lieutenant. All right. Let's see your entries in the telephone switchboard record for this tour. Yeah. Yes, sir. You've got five sector cars on the street. Yes, sir. Who's in them? Meister and Farrell are number one. Coley and Micado are number two. Hein and Ziegler, number three. Kane and Scully are number four. And Boney and Bar are number five. Who is the operator of the sergeant's car? Lamont.

[A]

We're lost. I'm gonna pull over and ask that man for directions. Hi there. We're looking to get to the campground. Well, you're gonna take a left at the old oak tree end of this here road. No, I'm just kidding. Let me get my phone out. How are you getting a signal out here? T Mobile and US Cellular decided to merge. So the network out here is huge. We're getting the same great signal as the city. And saving a boatload with all the benefits. Oh, and a five year price guarantee. Okay, here's. Actually, can you point us in the direction of a T Mobile store?

[D]

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[A]

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[B]

Lieutenant, was the sergeant's car on the job between say 8:30 and 9:15? Look in the radio line. Yes, sir. Yes, sir. They were down at Bellevue on an aid at case. An auto accident on our First Avenue child engine. They were at Bellevue from 8:40 to 9:5. Then back in service. Well, that puts the sergeant's car out of it. Captain. Yep. Sectors 24 and 5 come together pretty close up there. Sergeant, were any of the men, Inspector cars two, four or five taking a meal around that same time? Yes, sir. Car. And car number five was on his meal period from eight to nine. Well, that means that Balny was on patrol alone in the car during that time. Yes, Sir. Oh, and McCarter was also taking a meal eight to nine. Coley was number two. And I was on patrol with Coley during that time. Oh, yeah? Yes, sir. What about number four? Well, neither of them had a meal during that time. As a matter of fact, they were on a job. Had a case on 93rd Street. An old lady overcome from a gas case. One of those defective hot water heaters. Well, that kept them pretty well tied up until about 9:15. Yes, I was over there for a while. I saw them. Sergeant, you had these two jobs, the gas case and the child injured. You didn't instruct any of the other cars to move up into that territory during that time? No, sir. We were adequately covered up there. And see that telephone record, Sergeant? Yes, sir. See this shows car fire's ringing. Time is 35. Boldy rang in five minutes late. 8:40. Yes, sir. What was his explanation? Told me he was on a job. There was a fight in a candy store and he had a time breaking it up. His partner was taking his meal. Then Boldy was alone in the car? Yes, sir, that's right. Did he make any arrest? No, sir. He said it was just three or four kids. He broke it up and sent him on home. That's why he rang in five minutes late. That's what he said. Captain, that call box, Fort Page, that's up on Lexington near the closed movie house there, isn't it, Sergeant? That's right, Lieutenant. This fight. Did you get a call on that job, Sergeant? No, sir. Well, it wasn't broadcast. Doesn't show in the radio log. Boney told me he was riding by and someone flagged him down. What candy store was it? Did he say? Yes, sir. He mentioned it was Mrs. Proteas up there on 98th Street. You know the one, Captain? Yes, I know it. Okay. Get back on the job, Sergeant. Yes, sir. Should I take these with me, Captain? Yeah, take them along back to Captain. Okay. Shut the door with you, Sergeant. Yeah. You figure it might be Balney, eh, Captain? Well, from the records it couldn't have been anyone else. And he was alone in the car at the time. Partner was taking a meal. It all fits. Yes, all fits. All fits too well with Lt. King. I went downstairs into the muster room and around behind the desk where I signed the blotter. On the street, Lt. King directed me to the spot where the detective squad car was parked. We got into it and drove uptown on Park Avenue, past block after block of fine apartment houses until we reached the point where the New York Central tracks emerge from the 50 block tunnel to Grand Central Terminal. There, Park Avenue becomes a thoroughfare through the slums. We turned into 98th street and drove until we came to the small candy store run by Mrs. Angelina Portilla, a middle aged widow who succeeded her husband in the business. Yeah, she's still open, Captain. Good. You want to talk to her or should I? Oh, I'll talk to her. Okay. What about Balnate? Any previous complaints against him? No, nothing of any kind. Good. He's alone in there. No, Go ahead, man.

[C]

Hello. How have you been?

[B]

Hello. Miss Portier. Miss. Lieutenant King.

[C]

Lieutenant King. Lieutenant King. We've met. We've met. When you caught the robbers, it came in here and took my money. And I came to police station last year, remember? Remember when you caught the robbers of two men?

[B]

Oh, yes, I remember.

[C]

Not the last time when there was only one robber with a knife. It was a time before when there were two robbers, one with a gun.

[B]

The two boys from 113th Street?

[C]

That's right. What's the matter? You could never find the one robber with a knife, huh? He got more money from me.

[B]

Maybe we'll still get him someday, Ms. Portilla.

[C]

Yeah. Yeah, Captain. Oh, a nice soda, gentlemen?

[B]

Huh?

[C]

A plain chocolate or with ice cream?

[B]

No, no, thank you.

[C]

Oh, go on, have a soda.

[B]

No, thank you, Ms. Portillo.

[C]

All right.

[B]

Ms. Portilla. Was there a fight in here tonight?

[C]

A fight?

[B]

Yeah, in the store here. Was there any kind of disturbance?

[C]

Not a fight exactly. The boys were in here. The boys from the block. An argument?

[B]

There wasn't a fight.

[C]

All right, it was a fight. They didn't fight much. They didn't hit hard. The boys fight almost every night.

[B]

Did a policeman come in and break it up?

[C]

A policeman?

[B]

Yeah. Was there a policeman in here tonight?

[C]

No, no policeman came in here. Excuse me. The telephone.

[B]

You're sure?

[C]

I'm positive. Hello? Who? Oh, he don't live here. This is the candy store. He lives upstairs, next door. What? Yeah, sure, I'll tell him.

[B]

What?

[C]

Wait a minute. I've got to write it down. Academy 2. What? Academy 2. 3098. I've got it. Who? Jose. All right, all right, I'll tell you.

[B]

Very important.

[C]

I won't forget. Goodbye. Goodbye. Telephone numbers. I've got a text. All I've got to do. Telephone numbers?

[B]

No. Let me get this straight, Ms. Portilla. You said that no policeman came into the store tonight.

[C]

That's right. No policeman came into the store.

[B]

Now, what about the fight in here?

[C]

It was no fight. Didn't get to be a fight until it was out on the sidewalk.

[B]

Was there a policeman there?

[C]

Yes, sure. Who do you think stopped the fight? They would have been dead, those boys.

[B]

The fight started in here.

[C]

In here. It wasn't a fight yet. It was still an argument. It was between Phil and Ricardo.

[B]

Only.

[C]

Listens, Little Fernando butted in. Fernando was always turning an argument into a fight, A big fight. I said, boys, boys, not in the store. So they went out on the sidewalk and they hit and they poked. They were killing each other with little Fernando right in the middle. I was out there, I tried to stop them. Man from next door tried to stop them. Nobody could stop until the policeman came.

[B]

How did he come? In a car.

[C]

I saw the car come down the street. I got out in the middle and yelled and screamed. He stopped the car and he got out. He stopped the fight.

[B]

Was he all alone?

[C]

You mean any other cops?

[B]

Yeah, more than.

[C]

No, no, himself, that's all. Just himself.

[B]

How long did he stay here?

[C]

Oh, a long time still. And Ricardo, as soon as he said stop, they stopped. But this little Fernando, he wanted to fight. He wanted to fight still. He wanted to fight. Ricardo, he wanted to fight with everybody.

[B]

Was the officer here 15 minutes? Would you say more? More.

[C]

He had to first get still to go home and then Ricardo, Fernando, he didn't want to go home. Policeman had to stand there with him and talk to him and talk to him. 15 years old and he wants to fight like a bull. So little like this. And all he wants to do is to punch and fight. And.

[B]

Yes, he was here about 20 minutes.

[C]

You'd say the policeman or Fernando?

[B]

The policeman.

[C]

At least. At least 20 minutes.

[B]

You remember what time this was, Ms. Putin?

[C]

Tonight?

[B]

It was tonight, yes. But do you happen to remember exactly what time?

[C]

Exactly what time? Now, let me see. Oh, the news in the mirror weren't up yet.

[B]

What time did the papers get here?

[C]

Quarter to nine. Nine o' clock usually. Sometimes in between. Oh, when the boys came in, I was listening to the radio, to that Mr. Mrs. North. You know who I mean, Pam and her husband.

[B]

What time is that program? It's 8 to 8:30. Catch.

[C]

Yeah, yeah, 8 to 8:30 is right. And the fight started and they ran outside and I ran outside. I didn't get to hear who killed the lady of the program. Did you hear it?

[B]

You know. No, I couldn't hear it. Were you out on the sidewalk until the policeman left?

[C]

Then he left. Everybody left. I came inside the store and Arthur Godfrey was on already, you know, with the contestants. I missed the first contestant. Beginning of the first contestant. I heard the last of him.

[B]

That must have been about 25 minutes to 9.

[C]

About? Yeah, about.

[B]

You know this policeman that was here?

[C]

Not here on the sidewalk outside?

[B]

Yeah. Do you know him?

[C]

Say hello. Not his name.

[B]

Okay. Matt, you're a captain. I Don't think we need anything else. Thanks a lot, Ms. Patea. You have a lot of help.

[C]

Are you sure, no soda?

[B]

Positive. Thanks. Bye.

[C]

You keep your eye on that little Fernando, huh?

[B]

We will, Ms. Patea. You better come along. Bye, Ms. Patel.

[C]

Goodbye.

[B]

Well, Captain, it just about puts everybody in the clear. Sure does. You got a match? Yes, I should. You know what I think, man? Yeah, thanks. I think Augie was telling one great big lie from beginning to end. There's no doubt about that, Captain. I'd just like to know why. What do you say we go and find out? We walked to the car, got in and drove back to the the station house. I stopped at the desk to sign the blotter, and Lieutenant King went on upstairs to the 21st Detective Squad, where Detective Fitzpatrick had Augie Bookham in custody at the desk. Lieutenant Gorman told me that things were quiet in the precinct. And I walked through the back room, up the stairs and into the Detective Squad office. Did Lt. King go into his office deep? Yes, sir. He and Fitzpatrick and that suspect. Okay, thanks. Yes, sir. Yes, Captain.

[C]

Canary.

[B]

Come in, Captain. Hello, Fitz. Captain. Captain. Auggie's got a one track mind. He still says the cop took $700 off him. Isn't that what you say, Augie? What's the truth? He honestly got his truth. Now, look, Augie, you came in here with a wild story. We wasted an awful lot of time looking into it. There are five cars in this precinct. At the time you said you talked to that cop. Every one of them was on a job or otherwise occupied. It's all a matter of record, black and white. Now, how about telling us the truth? You guys just want to protect this carpet, so. I don't want to protect anyone, Auggie. But I'm telling you that I'm not going to stand for a bum like you coming in here and giving us some line of bull about something that never happened that he dreamed up. I wasted a lot of time on this, Augie. I want the truth right now. How about it? Okay, you want the truth? I'll give you the truth. That's what we want. Nobody took any 700 off me. They didn't, huh? No. All right. Tell me how you happened to dream it up. I was supposed to have 700. I was holding it for some guy, but I dropped it in a crap game. The tough guy, the real brute. I didn't know what I was going to tell him. So you figured the best thing to tell him was a cop tip it off of you? Well, that'd Be reasonable for him to believe, wouldn't it? I don't know. Would it? Yeah, he'd believe that. See, he got collared yesterday. He's down to Tombs now. I was supposed to take the 700 to a bondsman to make his bail. He's laying down there in the Tombs, getting madder and madder. What do you think he's gonna do to me when I show up in the same jail? He's gonna get the 700 out of my jaw one tooth at a time. I gotta have a reasonable story for him. Yeah, sure. And almost ruin an officer's life. Well, I'm sorry about that, Augie. You've got a heart of gold. That's my big trouble, you know. But not your only trouble. You're telling me I'm up to here with troubles? I'm sorry. What more can I say? Nothing. Augie, I think you said just about enough for one night. 21st preaching. Sergeant Waters. Well, what do you mean, he's missing? Missing from where? Yeah. Yeah. Well, how old is he? 12 years or 12 months. Well, is that the residence there? What apartment number? What? All right, take it easy. Talk into the phone. All right, I'll send the officers right over there. And so it goes around the clock, through the week, 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.

[D]

21st Precinct. 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. Ken lynch as Lieutenant King. Harold Stone as Sergeant Waters. Featured in tonight's cast were John Shea, Bill Quinn, John Sylvester and Abby Lewis. Written and directed by Stanley Nist. Produced for CBS Radio by John Ives. Artana speaking.

[A]

We're lost. I'm gonna pull over and ask that man for directions. Hi there. We're looking to get to the campground. Well, you're gonna take a left at the old oak tree end of this here road. No, I'm just kidding. Let me get my phone out. How are you getting a signal out here? T Mobile and US Cellular decided to merge. So the network out here is huge. We're getting the same great signal as the city and saving a boatload with all the benefits. Oh, and a five year price guarantee. Okay, here's those directions. Actually, can you point us in the direction of a T Mobile store.

[D]

America's best network just got bigger. Switch to T Mobile today and get built in benefits the other guys leave out plus our five year price guarantee and now T Mobile is available in US Cellular stores.

[A]

Best Mobile Network based on analysis by Ooklev Speed test intelligence data at 2H 2025. Bigger network the combination of T Mobile's and US cellular network footprints will enhance the T Mobile network's coverage price guarantee. On talk, text and data exclusions like taxes and fees apply. See t mobile.com for details.