21st Precinct 56-06-21 (142) The Brother

Summary

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Podcast Summary: 21st Precinct 56-06-21 (142) The Brother

Podcast: Harold's Old Time Radio
Host: Harolds Old Time Radio
Episode Date: February 28, 2026
Show Original Air Date: June 21, 1956

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Overview

This episode of "21st Precinct," part of the Golden Age of Radio police drama series, offers a gripping dramatization of a police shooting and the subsequent investigation, focusing on themes of truth, tragedy, and family. The story unfolds over the course of a foggy night in New York, beginning with a police-involved shooting and spiraling into a tense inquiry as officers and detectives seek clarity amid uncertainty and grief.

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Key Discussion Points & Story Highlights

1. The Shooting Incident

[00:05–11:15]

• A Mysterious Call: The episode opens at the 21st Precinct with Captain Vincent P. Cronin, Sergeant Waters, and Patrolman Ballard responding to a frantic report of a police officer shot near 104th Street and Park Avenue on a foggy night.
• On Scene: Upon arrival, officers find a young man (Harry Malenki), seriously wounded, and confusion arises over whether he had a gun or posed a real threat.
• Standard Tensions: The dialogue quickly sets up tension over visibility issues due to the fog, the pressure on officers, and the challenge of making split-second decisions.

Memorable Quote:

“You better hope for something else, too, Ballad. You better hope we find that gun.”
—Captain Cronin ([10:25])

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2. Search for the Truth

[11:15–15:44]

• Detective Work Begins: Detectives and officers conduct a thorough search for the alleged firearm in the debris surrounding the scene but come up empty-handed.
• Family Notification: Detective Novak is dispatched to locate the suspect’s family. In a poignant scene, Harry’s mother is told of her son’s involvement and injury.
• Emotional Fallout: Mrs. Malenki struggles to accept what has happened, insisting her son is innocent; the confusion is compounded when her other son, George, appears, having just returned home.

Memorable Quotes:

“Not my Harry. My Harry’s asleep in there.”
—Mrs. Malenki ([12:59])

“He wouldn’t. Not Harry.”
—Mrs. Malenki ([15:02])

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3. Internal Investigation and Doubts

[15:44–19:03]

• Accountability: Back at the precinct, tension mounts as Sergeant Waters and Captain Cronin discuss Ballard’s account. Doubts arise about whether Harry actually had a gun and whether Ballard’s actions were justified.
• Scratching for Evidence: They find no physical evidence that Harry tampered with the car or had a criminal record matching his alleged actions.

Memorable Quotes:

“I think Ballard jumped the boy, took out after him, pulled his own gun, let fire. He hit him and thought better of what he’d done and told the story about getting fired at himself by three shots.”
—Sergeant Waters ([18:01])

“The worst of it is, captain, we can’t find any evidence the boy was trying to break open that car. Not a mark on it. I examined that window personally. Not a scratch.”
—Sergeant Waters ([18:13])

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4. The Tragedy Deepens

[19:03–22:17]

• The Difficult Conversation: Captain Cronin and Lieutenant King bring Ballard in for questioning, pressing him to revise his story or come clean if he’s withholding the truth.
• Bad News: News arrives that Harry Malenki has died in surgery ([20:04]). His mother, now shattered, demands answers at the precinct, further intensifying the episode’s emotional weight.

Memorable Quote:

“What am I gonna do? I don’t have any money to bury him. ... You tell me. A young boy like that.”
—Mrs. Malenki ([22:38])

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5. The Shocking Admission

[22:17–26:00]

• George’s Confession: Faced with evidence and mounting pressure, George confesses that he was with his brother, Harry, on the night of the shooting. George admits to giving Harry the gun and leading him into the situation for a ‘score.’
• Sequence Clarified: George reveals it was Harry who fired at the officer after being cornered, and it was George who fired a subsequent shot, further clarifying the series of chaotic, tragic misjudgments that led to Harry’s death.
• Resolution: The story ends with the family in grief, the officers resigned, and Captain Cronin reflecting heavily on the night’s events.

Notable Confession:

“I took him over there ... I had a gun. I told him to hold it ... Then this cop comes along ... Harry turned and shot.”
—George Malenki ([24:47])

“Thanks for getting me off the hook. How did you know?”
—George Malenki ([25:47])

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Timestamps for Pivotal Segments

• Initial Shooting Report: [00:05–03:05]
• Fog and Precinct Life: [01:12–02:55]
• On-scene Investigation Begins: [04:25–07:03]
• Patrolman Ballard’s Account: [07:43–09:59]
• Search for the Gun/Evidence: [10:10–15:15]
• Family Learns News: [12:13–13:59]
• Internal Investigation: [15:56–19:03]
• Notification of Harry’s Death: [20:04–20:24]
• Family Faces Officer Ballard: [21:26–22:38]
• George’s Confession: [24:43–25:47]

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Notable Quotes & Speaker Attribution

1. Captain Cronin, warning Ballard:

   "You better hope for something else, too, Ballad. You better hope we find that gun." ([10:25])

2. Mrs. Malenki, about her son:

   "Not my Harry. My Harry’s asleep in there." ([12:59])

3. Sergeant Waters, doubting Ballard’s story:

   "I think Ballard jumped the boy, took out after him, pulled his own gun, let fire. He hit him and thought better of what he’d done and told the story about getting fired at himself by three shots." ([18:01])

4. Captain Cronin, on lack of evidence:

   "There’s no evidence that the car was tampered with. We can’t find the gun. Now, how about giving us a straight story on what happened there?" ([19:42])

5. Mrs. Malenki, in grief:

   "What am I gonna do? I don’t have any money to bury him ... A young boy like that." ([22:38])

6. George Malenki, confessing:

   "I took him over there ... I had a gun. I told him to hold it ... Then this cop comes along ... Harry turned and shot." ([24:47])

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Tone and Style

• The tone is tense, somber, and rooted in the gritty realism characteristic of mid-century police dramas. Characters speak plainly, often in understated, staccato exchanges loaded with meaning and suppressed emotion, reflecting both the era’s radio style and the seriousness of the events.

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Summary of Themes & Takeaways

• Policing Under Pressure: The episode explores how difficult conditions—both environmental and emotional—can lead to tragic misunderstandings or errors.
• Ambiguity and Doubt: Key to the narrative is the uncertainty surrounding Ballard’s actions and the challenge of uncovering the truth with limited evidence.
• Family and Loss: The Malenki family's pain forms the emotional core, highlighting the human costs of street-level crime and policing.
• Accountability and Conscience: The story ends with hard questions of responsibility, both moral and legal.

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For Radio Drama Fans: This episode is a hallmark example of police procedural in classic radio, illustrating the dramatic tension and moral complexity of real-life law enforcement.

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Transcript

[Captain Vincent P. Cronin]

21st Precinct.

[Sergeant Waters]

Sergeant Waters.

[Patrolman Ballard]

Who shot?

[Captain Vincent P. Cronin]

Well, where?

[Patrolman Ballard]

All right, just take it easy.

[Captain Vincent P. Cronin]

Talk slower so I can understand you. Now, where is this where yeah, you are by transcription 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, don't worry about that part of it.

[Sergeant Waters]

We'll take care of it.

[Patrolman Ballard]

Yeah, we'll send the ambulance right away. That's right, right away.

[Narrator]

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.

[Captain Vincent P. Cronin]

The 21st. 160 patrolmen, 11 sergeants and four lieutenants, of whom I'm the boss. My name is Cronin, Vincent P. Cronin. I am captain in command of the 21st Precinct. I was doing night duty 4pm to 8am it was dark, foggy night and between dusk and midnight when I returned to the station house from patrol to turn out the platoon for the 12 to 8 tour, we were plagued with automobile accidents. When I walked into the muster room behind the desk to sign the blotter, the 52 men who would patrol the streets of the precinct on post and in sector cars for the next eight hours were being assembled for inspection in the back room. On a signal from the desk officer, the platoon was brought to attention and marched into the muster room in a military manner. There, as they faced the desk, the official roll was called for entry in the blotter. The event by event record of occurrences in the precinct.

[Sergeant Waters]

Jacoby?

[Captain Vincent P. Cronin]

Yes.

[Patrolman Ballard]

Weber.

[Captain Vincent P. Cronin]

Yes.

[Patrolman Ballard]

Benjamin.

[Captain Vincent P. Cronin]

Yes.

[Patrolman Ballard]

McKenna.

[Narrator]

Esposito.

[Sergeant Kenny]

All right, man.

[Captain Vincent P. Cronin]

It's extremely foggy to. During the quarter 12, we had eight motor vehicle accidents. Two of them involved pedestrians who were both seriously injured. Now, those of you assigned to sector cars, be on the alert for vehicle speeding and without proper light. Also, I want to warn you about the operation of your own cars. Visibility is extremely limited. Pedestrians are almost impossible to see until you're right on top of them or use utmost caution. The clerical man tells me that a number of you are delinquent in paying your house tax. Any man who isn't paid up by the 4 to 12 on Wednesday will get a forthwith. And so silent post the platoon.

[Sergeant Waters]

Platoon, attention.

[Sergeant Kenny]

Right fate. Forward march.

[Captain Vincent P. Cronin]

I'll be in my office, Sergeant. Yes, sir.

[Sergeant Kenny]

20 place briefing. Sergeant Waters.

[Captain Vincent P. Cronin]

Oh, 21st Precinct. Captain Cronin.

[Lieutenant Matt King]

Sergeant Waters aren't there, Captain. We got a report of a policeman shot at 104th street in Park Avenue.

[Captain Vincent P. Cronin]

I'll be right out. Yes, sir.

[Sergeant Waters]

I'll tell you why.

[Sergeant Kenny]

That's all I got.

[Sergeant Waters]

CB yeah. 104 can park. Okay.

[Captain Vincent P. Cronin]

What do you got, sergeant?

[Sergeant Kenny]

Class 681.

[Patrolman Ballard]

Putting it out on the air now, captain.

[Sergeant Kenny]

Class 681 at 93rd and Jack at 104th street in Park Avenue at signal 32, report of a police officer shot. Ambulances responding.

[Captain Vincent P. Cronin]

Who's on post over there?

[Patrolman Ballard]

Ballot, Captain.

[Sergeant Waters]

He was there for the 4 to 12, and his relief hasn't had a chance to get over yet.

[Captain Vincent P. Cronin]

I better notify the detectives. Go ahead. This is Sergeant Waters on T.S. we've got a report of a police officer shot at 104th street and Park Avenue. I don't know.

[Sergeant Waters]

That's all we've got.

[Captain Vincent P. Cronin]

Okay. How'd you get it, Sergeant? The civilian used a call box on the corner there. He told me there was a policeman shot.

[Patrolman Ballard]

He was excited, hung up. I couldn't get any more out of him.

[Captain Vincent P. Cronin]

All right, I'll go on over. Go out and hold one of the cards for me. Yes, sir. I signed the blotter, went into my office with my cap and then back through the muster room to the front door of the station house. Patrolmen Egan and Lewis were waiting at the curb to relieve the operator and recorder of sector car number three, who were due to go off duty within a minute. The car came around the corner and stopped in front of the station house. I got in and gave instructions to make the run to 104th street and Park Avenue. The weather was still foggy and visibility extremely poor. If we neared the scene, I could make out two sector cars parked along the curb. The shooting had occurred on the site of a new housing project where old Lord tenements were in the process of being wrecked to make room for the new multiple dwellings. You're choking on a job.

[Sergeant Kenny]

Watching people like those blue stones. Over here, Captain. L. Where are you, Sergeant Kenny? Over here, Captain, with the light. Okay, some of you men take a look at that pile of bricks over there.

[Captain Vincent P. Cronin]

You Vaccaro Baron, Want to decide on who shot?

[Sergeant Waters]

We don't know yet, Captain.

[Captain Vincent P. Cronin]

He's unidentified.

[Sergeant Waters]

Why?

[Captain Vincent P. Cronin]

He's not from the 21st?

[Narrator]

No sir.

[Captain Vincent P. Cronin]

He's wasn't a cop.

[Sergeant Kenny]

Oh no, Nothing over here Sergeant. Not a thing. Well look on the other side there.

[Captain Vincent P. Cronin]

Who is it? Policeman. Shot a thief.

[Patrolman Ballard]

Ballard.

[Captain Vincent P. Cronin]

Oh, over there, Captain. He's pretty bad all right. Watch your step on these loose stones. They're treacherous.

[Sergeant Waters]

Yeah, civilian. He sent the ring in.

[Captain Vincent P. Cronin]

Got us all mixed up by.

[Sergeant Waters]

Watch it, watch it.

[Captain Vincent P. Cronin]

Real rough walk here. Especially on a night like this. You can't see anything. Okay, Captain.

[Sergeant Kenny]

We never did get over this far, Sergeant. I will look the other way then.

[Captain Vincent P. Cronin]

What are you looking for, Sergeant? Gun the boy had. Wasn't it right with him? No sir.

[Sergeant Waters]

Just watch it here.

[Captain Vincent P. Cronin]

Did they have a gun? The ballot said there were three shots fired at him.

[Sergeant Kenny]

All right, let the captain in there. Let him in there, huh?

[Captain Vincent P. Cronin]

Put your light on him there.

[Sergeant Waters]

Uh huh. See?

[Captain Vincent P. Cronin]

Pretty bad, Captain. Did he say anything? No sir.

[Sergeant Waters]

He was unconscious when I got here.

[Sergeant Kenny]

But Carol Barron got here.

[Sergeant Waters]

When you go to the car, ring

[Sergeant Kenny]

in again for the ambulance.

[Captain Vincent P. Cronin]

Pretty young, sergeant.

[Sergeant Waters]

Yes, he's about 6, 17, I'd say maybe 16.

[Captain Vincent P. Cronin]

How many shots did he fire at Ballard?

[Sergeant Waters]

Three, captain, according to Ballard.

[Captain Vincent P. Cronin]

Any identification on him?

[Sergeant Waters]

Yes, he had a wallet in his pocket. Says he's Harry Malenki.

[Captain Vincent P. Cronin]

733 east on at 7. How many times was he hit? Just once it looks like. That's all I can see. Get Ballard over here.

[Narrator]

Yes sir.

[Captain Vincent P. Cronin]

Ballard, you two stick with him until

[Sergeant Waters]

the amulets comes up.

[Sergeant Kenny]

Ballard. Yes Simon? Come on over here.

[Sergeant Waters]

Where?

[Sergeant Kenny]

Over here. Captain wants to see you. Yes sir.

[Captain Vincent P. Cronin]

Who was next on the scene after Ballard, Sergeant? Well I was Captain. My operator and I. Underwood, what'd you find?

[Sergeant Waters]

Well, we stopped the car on the

[Captain Vincent P. Cronin]

street out there, saw a flashlight back

[Sergeant Waters]

in here and I called. Ballard answered and I come on back.

[Captain Vincent P. Cronin]

He was over there trying to do

[Sergeant Waters]

something for the boy.

[Captain Vincent P. Cronin]

Did he tell you what happened? Yes sir. He said he jumped him trying to

[Sergeant Waters]

break into a parked car. Chased him back in there.

[Captain Vincent P. Cronin]

There was some shots fired at him

[Patrolman Ballard]

and he fired back. Uh huh.

[Sergeant Kenny]

Watch him.

[Mrs. Malenki]

Is that here?

[Sergeant Kenny]

Yeah, right here.

[Captain Vincent P. Cronin]

Any sign of the gun?

[Patrolman Ballard]

No sir.

[Captain Vincent P. Cronin]

You better go help him look for it, Sergeant. Yes sir, right away. And Sergeant. Yes sir. Check on that ambulance again. Yes sir.

[Sergeant Kenny]

Is anyone taking a look over here?

[Captain Vincent P. Cronin]

Well, what happened, Roland?

[Patrolman Ballard]

Well, I was walking my post, Captain.

[Sergeant Waters]

It was just about 12 o', clock, almost exactly.

[Patrolman Ballard]

I turned the corner on the park. Yes, There was this car parked on the street about 35 or 40ft from the corner. I saw this fella standing right at the door there. Looked to me like he was trying to pry open the vent window.

[Captain Vincent P. Cronin]

35 or 40ft.

[Sergeant Waters]

Yes, sir.

[Captain Vincent P. Cronin]

How could you see that far ahead in this fog?

[Patrolman Ballard]

Well, the car was parked right under a street lamp. It was that one there, Captain. I could see what he was doing, all right. And I saw him, but he didn't see me. So I figured I'd get up on him and catch a thief in the act. So I started to him?

[Captain Vincent P. Cronin]

Yes.

[Patrolman Ballard]

Well, he spotted me when I got within 15 to 20ft of him, and he took off. I hollered at him to hold up, but he kept on going. He cut right into here. Into the rubble? Yeah, I came after him. Well, I didn't see exactly which way he went at first. Then I spotted him again. He was hiding over around here someplace. So I called to him to stand up. He stood up, all right. Stood up and he fired two shots at me.

[Captain Vincent P. Cronin]

I thought it was three shots.

[Patrolman Ballard]

Well, it was three, Captains. See, I had my gun out and I fired at the flashes. The fog was so thick, that's all I could see. I started to come in on him, and then I saw him up on the top of that pile of bricks over there.

[Captain Vincent P. Cronin]

Yes.

[Patrolman Ballard]

And he took another shot at me from there, see the third one. So I fired two shots back at him. And I heard him scream. So I examined him.

[Sergeant Waters]

He looked pretty bad.

[Patrolman Ballard]

I looked around for the gun. I looked on his person and on top of the pile of bricks. Wasn't anywhere around, so I left him. I ran back out the street and I stopped the first civilian I saw. I told him to go to the call box and ring in. Hey, that must be the ambulance.

[Captain Vincent P. Cronin]

Yeah, must be. Ballard. When you spotted him working on the car window, didn't you see how young he was?

[Patrolman Ballard]

Well, it was pretty hard to see anything, Captain.

[Captain Vincent P. Cronin]

It was far enough to convince you he was trying to break into the car, didn't you? Yes, sir. And you didn't see how young he was?

[Patrolman Ballard]

No, sir.

[Captain Vincent P. Cronin]

He chased him off the sidewalk and under here over this rubble? Yes, sir. That returned. Fired two shots?

[Sergeant Kenny]

Yes, sir.

[Captain Vincent P. Cronin]

And it wasn't until after he fired the first two shots that you returned the fire? No, sir. When he got to the top of that pile of bricks, he fired a shot again?

[Patrolman Ballard]

Yes, sir.

[Captain Vincent P. Cronin]

And you fired two more shots?

[Patrolman Ballard]

That's right, Cap.

[Captain Vincent P. Cronin]

There's no possibility you could be mistaken about him firing the shot?

[Sergeant Kenny]

No, sir.

[Captain Vincent P. Cronin]

It's not possible that what you thought were shots from Frankton automobile on Park Avenue back, sir, I saw the flashes. All right, let's go over.

[Sergeant Waters]

He was shooting at me.

[Patrolman Ballard]

All right, Captain.

[Sergeant Kenny]

Come on. Underwood for Carol Baron. Let's have a little help getting him on his way. Get his legs.

[Patrolman Ballard]

He was shooting at me, Captain.

[Sergeant Kenny]

There's no question about that. Is it clear of the headache. I'm going to watch the loose stones.

[Patrolman Ballard]

I sure hope that kid makes a captain.

[Captain Vincent P. Cronin]

You better hope for something else, too, Ballad. You better hope we find that gun.

[Narrator]

You are listening to 21st Precinct, a factual account of the way police work in the world's greatest city. How slick can a sleuth be? Well, frankly, it would be difficult to find a detective with more savoir faire and that mystery solving mastermind, Johnny Dollar, who moves along from clue to clue with an impressive amount of ease. Right now, yours truly, Johnny Dollar, is looking into a baffling little matter of, shall we say, mischief. Listen for every thrilling episode in his current case and make yours truly, Johnny Dollar a Monday through Friday night habit over most of these same stations. And now back to 21st Precinct and Captain Cronon.

[Captain Vincent P. Cronin]

The badly wounded suspect was driven straight downtown to Bellevue Hospital. Meanwhile, detectives of the 21st Squad under the command of Lt. Matt King, arrived on the scene to take over the investigation. They and the uniformed officers continued to search the area for the gun which patrolman Francis Ballard said had been fired at him. An emergency truck was sent for and giant floodlights were set up. The search of the rubble was still in progress when Detective William Novak was sent by Lt. King to the address found in the wounded suspect's pocket. 733 East 107th Street. Detective Novak walked to the stoop of the old rundown tenement building and found the name Malenki on the mailbox. He tried the hall door. It was open. He walked up three flights of stairs and approached the door in front of the building.

[Sergeant Kenny]

All right.

[Mrs. Malenki]

Yeah, just a minute.

[Sergeant Waters]

Okay.

[Mrs. Malenki]

Who is it?

[Sergeant Waters]

I'm a detective.

[Mrs. Malenki]

Who?

[Narrator]

Police officer.

[Sergeant Waters]

Oh. Does Harry Malenki live here?

[Mrs. Malenki]

Yeah. Yeah, I'm his mother.

[Sergeant Waters]

Can I come in?

[Mrs. Malenki]

What is it?

[Sergeant Kenny]

What's the matter?

[Mrs. Malenki]

Did he do something? What did he do?

[Sergeant Waters]

Let's sit down, Mrs. Malenki. We'll talk about him.

[Mrs. Malenki]

What did he do?

[Sergeant Waters]

He was stealing from cars.

[Mrs. Malenki]

Oh, no. No, not Harry. No, it couldn't be.

[Sergeant Waters]

Suppose we sit down and talk about it?

[Mrs. Malenki]

Not my Harry.

[Sergeant Waters]

And he got hurt, too.

[Captain Vincent P. Cronin]

Hurt?

[Sergeant Waters]

Yes, shot.

[Mrs. Malenki]

I'm sorry, he couldn't.

[Narrator]

He's in Bellevue.

[Mrs. Malenki]

Not my Harry. My Harry's asleep in there. I heard him come in, did you? I was in bed. Not asleep, just in bed. I heard him come in.

[Sergeant Kenny]

Go to his room.

[Mrs. Malenki]

I'll show you. Not my Harry.

[Sergeant Waters]

Yeah. I'd like to see him.

[Mrs. Malenki]

He's asleep. I'll show you. Harry. Harry.

[Sergeant Waters]

What is it, Ma? George.

[Mrs. Malenki]

Where's Harry?

[Sergeant Waters]

How should I know?

[Mrs. Malenki]

Harry isn't here.

[Sergeant Waters]

What's this all about? Who are you?

[Mrs. Malenki]

My son. My other son, George. Harry's hurt. Shot.

[Patrolman Ballard]

Where?

[Narrator]

In Bellevue.

[Mrs. Malenki]

No. No.

[Sergeant Waters]

All right, Mr. Malenki, why don't you sit down?

[Mrs. Malenki]

My poor Harry.

[Sergeant Kenny]

My poor Harry.

[Patrolman Ballard]

Sit down.

[Mrs. Malenki]

Is he all right? Tell me. Don't lie to me.

[Sergeant Waters]

What happened to him?

[Mrs. Malenki]

He's dead, isn't he?

[Sergeant Waters]

No, he's not dead. He's hurt pretty bad, but he's not dead.

[Mrs. Malenki]

Oh, no?

[Sergeant Waters]

Will you tell me what's going on here? You answer a few questions first. You live here? I used to. Hey, Ma, cut it out, huh? He'll be all right.

[Mrs. Malenki]

I know.

[Sergeant Kenny]

I know.

[Mrs. Malenki]

He won't. He won't.

[Sergeant Waters]

You don't live here now. Where do you live in Jersey? I live over there with my aunt.

[Captain Vincent P. Cronin]

I work there.

[Sergeant Waters]

Hey, Ma, cut it out.

[Sergeant Kenny]

My poor Harry, Ma.

[Mrs. Malenki]

My room. Bellevue. Can I go? Can I go to him?

[Captain Vincent P. Cronin]

Yes, you can go. If you work in Jersey and live there.

[Sergeant Waters]

What are you doing here? I come here and stay once in

[Patrolman Ballard]

a while when I'm in New York.

[Sergeant Waters]

Late, huh? Ma, don't I.

[Mrs. Malenki]

Don't you watch, George?

[Sergeant Waters]

Don't I stay here when I'm in New York?

[Mrs. Malenki]

Yeah, yeah, you stay. It must have been George. Come in. I thought it was Harry. That's what I thought. How bad? Very bad.

[Sergeant Waters]

Pretty bad.

[Mrs. Malenki]

Oh, my Harry. Poor Harry.

[Sergeant Waters]

Hey, listen. What happened, huh? He was shot. Yeah, yeah, I know that, but how? A police officer caught him breaking into a car. He ran and fired a couple of shots at the office.

[Mrs. Malenki]

Not my Harry. No, Harry wouldn't do that, would he, George?

[Sergeant Waters]

How should I know more? How should I know what he'd do?

[Mrs. Malenki]

He wouldn't. Not Harry.

[Sergeant Waters]

I'm sorry, Mrs. Malenki, but it looks like he did.

[Captain Vincent P. Cronin]

While the mother and her other son got dressed to go to Bellevue Hospital, where Harry Malenki was in a critical condition, the search for the weapon continued at the scene of the shooting. While the fog had lifted somewhat, the gun could not be found. And at 2:15am more than two hours after the original call, the search was abandoned for the night. The patrolman was assigned to a fixed post to guard over the scene until detectives could resume their search in the daylight I returned to the station house with Patrolman Ballard. It was 2:30am when we walked into

[Sergeant Waters]

the Mustang Room 24th.

[Captain Vincent P. Cronin]

Briefing Ballard.

[Sergeant Waters]

Yes, sir.

[Captain Vincent P. Cronin]

Can you talk to the desk officer, give him all the information on this? Yes, sir. As soon as you're finished with that, report to me in my office. Yes, sir.

[Patrolman Ballard]

Oh, captain.

[Captain Vincent P. Cronin]

Yes?

[Patrolman Ballard]

Can I call down to the hospital and find out how the boy is doing?

[Captain Vincent P. Cronin]

You go talk to the desk officer. I'll let you know how he'd get on there.

[Patrolman Ballard]

Yes, Captain.

[Captain Vincent P. Cronin]

Hello, Skipper.

[Sergeant Waters]

Sergeant.

[Captain Vincent P. Cronin]

You're here from Bellevue on that boy? Yes, sir. What about him? Not so good, Captain. That was right through the back and into the stomach. They got him on the operating table now. What about his family? The mother's been notified. Novak was up there. You know, he told me he had a time making the mother believe it was her boy. Yeah, she insisted he was home in bed. Turned out it was another son she heard come in. Lives in Jersey and stays there once in a while. All right, sighting. Keep me informed.

[Patrolman Ballard]

Can I see you a minute, Captain?

[Sergeant Waters]

Oh, hello, Max.

[Captain Vincent P. Cronin]

Sure. Senator King. As soon as I sign the blotter map, I'll be right with you.

[Patrolman Ballard]

Yes, sir.

[Captain Vincent P. Cronin]

That was a rough deal tonight, huh, Lieutenant?

[Patrolman Ballard]

Yeah.

[Captain Vincent P. Cronin]

I heard from the hospital. He's not so good.

[Sergeant Waters]

I know.

[Patrolman Ballard]

I've got a detective down there.

[Sergeant Waters]

Oh, yeah?

[Captain Vincent P. Cronin]

You want to go into my office, ma'?

[Sergeant Waters]

Am? Yes, sir.

[Patrolman Ballard]

That'd be all right.

[Sergeant Waters]

Rough deal, Captain, when he played three things I knew.

[Captain Vincent P. Cronin]

Go ahead. Yes, sir.

[Patrolman Ballard]

Yeah.

[Sergeant Waters]

Who told you that?

[Captain Vincent P. Cronin]

Sit down, huh?

[Sergeant Waters]

Thanks. I don't know Ballard very well, Captain. What kind of a.42 has he got?

[Captain Vincent P. Cronin]

Well, he's a St. John's graduate. Been on the precinct since he got out of the academy. It's more than a year now. His brother's in the job. So was his father. Father retired about four years ago. No complaints on his.42. Made one good car. About two months ago, he got suspicious of a car that he pulled to a stop on a signal light up town. Turned out was stolen.

[Sergeant Waters]

Oh, yeah. Yes, sir, I remember. He was a quiet boy.

[Captain Vincent P. Cronin]

Not a particularly good mixer around the house.

[Sergeant Waters]

Any reason to think he'd be trigger happy?

[Captain Vincent P. Cronin]

No, not to date.

[Sergeant Waters]

I hate to say this, Captain.

[Patrolman Ballard]

Do you know what I think?

[Captain Vincent P. Cronin]

I've got an idea.

[Sergeant Waters]

Matt, there's no sign of a gun around there anyplace. We don't need daylight. We went through that pile of junk with a fine tooth comb. I don't think that Malenki boy ever

[Patrolman Ballard]

did have a gun.

[Sergeant Waters]

I think Ballard jumped the boy, took out after him, pulled his own gun, let fire. He hit him and thought better of what he'd done and told the story about getting fired at himself by three shots.

[Captain Vincent P. Cronin]

I'm afraid that's the way it looks, Smith.

[Sergeant Waters]

The worst of it is, captain, we can't find any evidence the boy was trying to break open that car. Not a mark on it. I examined that window personally. Not a scratch.

[Captain Vincent P. Cronin]

Yeah.

[Sergeant Waters]

I checked the boy out through bci. There's nothing on him.

[Captain Vincent P. Cronin]

No one's ever been arrested in the

[Sergeant Waters]

city of New York under the name of Harry Malenki.

[Captain Vincent P. Cronin]

That doesn't necessarily mean he's not a thief.

[Sergeant Waters]

No, sir, but it certainly doesn't mean that he is. The closest BCI shows under the name of Malenki is the arrest of a boy named George Malenki. He couldn't be the same. This other one is over 20.

[Captain Vincent P. Cronin]

He's done a bit.

[Sergeant Waters]

No, Myra. He's on parole now, living and working in Jersey.

[Captain Vincent P. Cronin]

Oh, is that so?

[Sergeant Waters]

The records show nothing else.

[Sergeant Kenny]

Yes, Ballard.

[Captain Vincent P. Cronin]

Captain.

[Patrolman Ballard]

Come on, Ballard.

[Captain Vincent P. Cronin]

Close the door there, Ballard. Yes. Hello, Lieutenant King.

[Sergeant Waters]

Ballard.

[Patrolman Ballard]

Well, I gave Lieutenant Snider the information on the arrest, captain.

[Captain Vincent P. Cronin]

All right,

[Sergeant Kenny]

Ballard.

[Captain Vincent P. Cronin]

Yes, sir. Lieutenant King and I have been talking about this. Yes, sir. If you haven't told us the truth about what happened, I suggest you change your story right now. It'll be a lot easier all around.

[Patrolman Ballard]

I have told you the truth, captain.

[Captain Vincent P. Cronin]

You said three shots were fired at you. Where's the gun?

[Patrolman Ballard]

I don't know. It must be there someplace.

[Sergeant Waters]

We looked for two hours, Mallory. It must be there.

[Captain Vincent P. Cronin]

Ballard, a policeman carries a revolver for his own protection. Protection of the public and for use in apprehension of fugitives. This boy was not a dangerous fugitive.

[Patrolman Ballard]

He fired three shots at me. I was entitled to defend myself.

[Captain Vincent P. Cronin]

The boy's 17 years old. He had no previous record. You say you jumped him trying to break into a car. There's no evidence that the car was tampered with. We can't find the gun. Now, how about giving us a straight story on what happened there?

[Sergeant Waters]

I told you exactly what happened, captain.

[Captain Vincent P. Cronin]

I don't think you did.

[Sergeant Kenny]

I did, sir.

[Captain Vincent P. Cronin]

Just a second. My voice. Precinct.

[Lieutenant Matt King]

Captain Cross, Sergeant Waters on T.S.

[Captain Vincent P. Cronin]

yes, Sergeant?

[Lieutenant Matt King]

We just heard from Bellevue that boy died on the operating table. Oh, the mother was down there. She insists on coming up here and seeing you. She's on the way.

[Captain Vincent P. Cronin]

Shall I send her up to the detectives? No, I'll be here. Sergeant. Yes, sir.

[Sergeant Waters]

The boy died all right. It's too bad I'm sorry, Captain.

[Captain Vincent P. Cronin]

You should be, Ballard. The mother's on her way up here now. What am I gonna tell her?

[Patrolman Ballard]

I don't know, Captain.

[Captain Vincent P. Cronin]

Neither do I. Lieutenant King and I spoke to Patrolman Ballard further in regard to the events leading to the death of 17 year old Harry Malenki. He stuck to his story without a variation. After a few minutes, Lt. King left my office to return to the Detective squad upstairs. I instructed Patrolman Ballard to take a chair across from my desk and wait. As I tackled some of the paperwork that had accumulated on my desk, he sat looking straight forward out the open door leading to the muster room. It was a long wait, 25 minutes to 4 in the morning. Patrolman Ballard saw the front door of the station house open and Mrs. Malenke walk in. Captain. Yes?

[Patrolman Ballard]

I think the mother just came in.

[Captain Vincent P. Cronin]

If it's her, we'll know about it. Yes, my vice president. Captain Cronin.

[Lieutenant Matt King]

Sergeant Waters. Captain, Mrs. Malenki is out here ask

[Captain Vincent P. Cronin]

you to come in, Sergeant. Yes, all right.

[Patrolman Ballard]

Just a second, Captain.

[Captain Vincent P. Cronin]

What?

[Sergeant Kenny]

Well, who is he?

[Lieutenant Matt King]

Oh, she has her eldest son with her, Captain. She wants to bring him in, too.

[Captain Vincent P. Cronin]

All right, Sergeant.

[Sergeant Waters]

Yes, sir.

[Captain Vincent P. Cronin]

Yes, sir.

[Sergeant Waters]

Valent.

[Captain Vincent P. Cronin]

Yes, sir. He still fired three shots at you? Yes, sir. Coming.

[Sergeant Waters]

Go on, Mark. You don't have to be afraid of him.

[Mrs. Malenki]

I'm not afraid.

[Sergeant Waters]

Mrs. Malone?

[Mrs. Malenki]

Yes.

[Sergeant Waters]

How'd you.

[Captain Vincent P. Cronin]

This is Patrolman Ballard. I'm Captain Cronin, Mrs. Malenki.

[Mrs. Malenki]

I came here so you could tell me what to do. My boy is down there. Down there?

[Patrolman Ballard]

Dead.

[Mrs. Malenki]

What am I gonna do? I don't know. Cop shot him. Is that what a cop is for? To go around shooting boys?

[Sergeant Kenny]

Is it?

[Mrs. Malenki]

What am I gonna do? I don't have any money to bury him. Even poor Harry? Poor boy? I don't know. You tell me. A young boy like that.

[Sergeant Waters]

Don't worry, Ma. You'll get this taken care of. There's laws about something like this. What about those laws?

[Captain Vincent P. Cronin]

We're making a thorough investigation, mister. I understand you're Mrs. Malunky's oldest son.

[Mrs. Malenki]

That's my George. He's the only one left now. First my husband, now Harry. Only my Georgie.

[Captain Vincent P. Cronin]

How. George.

[Patrolman Ballard]

Hi.

[Captain Vincent P. Cronin]

You live at home, George?

[Mrs. Malenki]

No, no, he lives in Jersey. Over with an aunt. Maybe he'll come home now. Won't you, George? Will you come home now?

[Sergeant Waters]

I think about it, Moore. I told you, I think about it. Is this the cop that shot Harry? Yes.

[Captain Vincent P. Cronin]

I'm the one.

[Sergeant Waters]

What's gonna happen to him?

[Patrolman Ballard]

Nothing.

[Sergeant Waters]

I'll Bet.

[Mrs. Malenki]

How could you do it to my boy? How? Tell me how.

[Sergeant Waters]

Don't talk to him, Maury. You won't get any satisfaction.

[Mrs. Malenki]

Please, George.

[Sergeant Kenny]

Cold blood, just like that.

[Captain Vincent P. Cronin]

Yeah, I guess you ought to know about cold blood, huh, George?

[Sergeant Kenny]

After I get a lesson from you.

[Captain Vincent P. Cronin]

I ran away. Left your brother dying tonight.

[Sergeant Kenny]

What are you talking?

[Captain Vincent P. Cronin]

You were with him, weren't you?

[Mrs. Malenki]

Me?

[Sergeant Kenny]

I know you were.

[Captain Vincent P. Cronin]

You thought you got rid of the

[Patrolman Ballard]

gun, but we found it.

[Mrs. Malenki]

You did not.

[Sergeant Kenny]

I threw it at.

[Captain Vincent P. Cronin]

No, no, we didn't find it, George. Not yet, but we will.

[Mrs. Malenki]

George, you were with Harry.

[Sergeant Waters]

Oh, Ma.

[Mrs. Malenki]

You were with him.

[Sergeant Waters]

Yeah, Ma. I was with him.

[Captain Vincent P. Cronin]

See what's on him, Ballard. Sir. All right, hold still.

[Sergeant Waters]

George.

[Mrs. Malenki]

George, why didn't you tell me? You've come home and you didn't tell me. You didn't say a word. Harry was dying. You didn't say a word.

[Patrolman Ballard]

He's clean, Captain.

[Captain Vincent P. Cronin]

Okay. What happened, George?

[Sergeant Kenny]

Not a word.

[Sergeant Waters]

It wasn't my fault.

[Captain Vincent P. Cronin]

I don't care whose fault it was. Tell me what happened.

[Sergeant Waters]

Oh, it's me and Harry together. We had a few beers and I said, come on, I'll show you how to make some money.

[Mrs. Malenki]

My Harry. My poor boy.

[Sergeant Waters]

I took him over there. I stood him on the lot there off the sidewalk where they were taking down a buildings. I had a gun. I told him to hold it. I said, watch me. And I went to open the car. Then this cop comes along and I run into where Harry was.

[Sergeant Kenny]

Oh, no.

[Mrs. Malenki]

No, my boy.

[Sergeant Waters]

We lit out across the place together. The cop hollered. Harry turned and shot.

[Patrolman Ballard]

I only saw one, Captain. Just one.

[Sergeant Waters]

Cop shot back and hit Harry. He dropped and I tried to see if he was all right. I picked up the gun and ran to the top of that big pile of bricks. Cops saw me up there and hollered again. I took a shot at him.

[Mrs. Malenki]

He took a shot back.

[Sergeant Waters]

It missed me, but I hollered anyway so he wouldn't shoot anymore.

[Mrs. Malenki]

What am I gonna do?

[Sergeant Kenny]

I don't know.

[Sergeant Waters]

Then I ran out into the street. I don't know what to do. I went to Ma's house. I was gonna tell her before I went back to Jersey, but I couldn't. I just couldn't. So I went to bed.

[Mrs. Malenki]

You should have told me. You should've.

[Sergeant Waters]

Ma, please. I'm telling you now, Georgie.

[Mrs. Malenki]

What am I gonna do? What?

[Sergeant Waters]

I don't know, Ma. I got my own trouble.

[Patrolman Ballard]

Thanks, Captain.

[Sergeant Waters]

Thanks for getting me off the hook. How did you know? Tell me how you knew. If he didn't. He saw only one. That's all I'm entitled to know.

[Captain Vincent P. Cronin]

Sure, George, I'll tell you. I had a little information and I took a great big guess. 21st Precinct, Sergeant Waters. What kind of a ring?

[Patrolman Ballard]

A diamond. Yeah. Yeah, I understand.

[Captain Vincent P. Cronin]

Well, how do you know she's a thief?

[Sergeant Waters]

Yeah, I see.

[Narrator]

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.