Murder Cop: A Profile of Vernon J. Geberth
Shoot-Out
"In 1971," says Geberth, "detectives didn't get overtime, so I was released for the day after appearing in a Manhattan court on a robbery case.� I was heading home in my car and was stopped at a light on Canal Street when I saw two men grab another man off the street and yank him into their car.� He was screaming for help.� It was a typical New York scene: Nobody sees anything.� I blew my horn to get the traffic cop's attention.� But he was directing traffic so he couldn't be bothered.� I thought the poor guy was going to get killed."�
Geberth managed to maneuver his car closer and saw the guy struggling in the back of the car as a third man drove away.� He thought the man who'd been grabbed might be a gangster and was going to be killed.� "But I couldn't let that happen.� Suddenly they spotted me and they sped up.� So who has a siren in his family car but Vernon, the supercop. After all, you never know when you'll need it.� I activated the siren and we got into a car chase and started firing shots.� They shot first, and I shot back at them.� It was like something out of a movie.� We're racing through the streets of Little Italy, and they lose control of the car. It goes up on the curb and smashes into a building.� All the doors open up and the three men bail out.� I come racing up from behind, I jump out, and I shoot at the man with the gun.� I knew I hit someone because there was a plate glass window behind and there's no hole in the glass.� Meanwhile, they all split in different directions, so I went after the biggest guy running down the street.� I yelled, 'Police!' and he looked around and I was just about to fire when a woman and child walked out in front of me.� I put the gun into the air and the shot went up.� So I tackled him. I didn't even realize that I was right behind city police headquarters.� That's how much the adrenaline was pumping.� All of a sudden, I heard, 'Drop the gun. We're going to shoot!'"
He was faced with a group of cops with their guns out, ready to shoot him.� "I put down my gun, held up my shield, and told them 'Detective!� Detective!� This guy is under arrest!'� I then ran back to where the car had been and there was no one there.� I was worried I'd get demoted or go to jail.� But then I see this gentleman brushing himself off.� He says, 'My diamonds.� Did you get my diamonds?'� He was a diamond dealer and had over $100,000 worth of gems.� Apparently it was an inside job.� He'd gone to a jewelry store to show them what he had and they didn't want it.� It was a set-up.� He called me his guardian angel.
The borough commander was annoyed with Geberth, but Geberth was convinced that he had done the right thing.� "I was doing what I was supposed to do.� It went to court, and I was hero for a day.� But all of a sudden that changed when the case was dismissed. I got a call from the DA's office.� The Racket's Bureau of the District Attorneys Office was investigating me.� Then I found out that the plaintiff had been threatened.� Another judge dismissed the case. The courts never notify the complainant or me to appear.� The whole thing 'stunk.'� However, because of my records and reports the offender was re-indicted and I received a letter of commendation from Frank Hogan, the District Attorney himself."
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A few years later as a result of a court approved wiretap someone from the DA's office finally let Geberth know who one of the other persons in the car was that day:� "One of the guys I was chasing that day was none other than John Gotti."
Years later, he also got involved in another infamous case, but this time there was no shoot-out.� Nevertheless, it dug up some difficult memories for New York.���������