Family, Friends & Fellow Officers Remember...

hello Lieutenant.

the 115th anniversary of your death will be here in a couple of days. Thank you for all you did in the fight against the Mafia in the early 20th century. You might have lived long enough to retire from the NYPD if the press in NYC hadn't jumped the gun and written about your trip to Sicily while you were still there. Anyway, I often wonder if you had any relatives who carried on your fight against the Mafia after you were gone. I hope you are continuing to rest in peace.

Daniel Ryan
Private Investigator (Retired)

March 11, 2024

Lieutenant, you were one of my childhood heroes. A courageous and principled man. Rest in peace.

Daniel Ryan
Private Investigator (Retired)

March 13, 2023

Thank you for paving the way for Italian American Police Officers in the NYPD. You are never Forgotten. FIDELIS Ad MORTEM.

Ret. PO Mike Caliguri
NYPD Mounted troop E

March 12, 2022

It's now been 113 years since your murder. Your bravery and ingenuity are the stuff of movies and indeed your exploits have been the subject of movies, books and various articles both here and in Italy. You are truly a hero.

God Bless your efforts and your service. May you remain at peace, Brother.

Ptl. Jim Leahy, Jr.
Harvard University Police Department

March 12, 2022

Rest In Peace ! Hero

Ret. Po ohara
Nypd mounted

March 12, 2021

Rest in peace sir. You are a true hero and an inspiration to those of us who know your story. I can only hope to be at least half the investigator you were!

Detective Sergeant Jeremy Sims
Matteson, IL PD

February 19, 2021

Rest easy

Mark Mottola

March 12, 2020

Giuseppe,
You stood 5'3", with the strength of a Cape buffalo. Not even the Lions of NYC could surpass you. Marked with a Black Hand, you continued to fight for Justice and Freedom and Liberty, against the scourge of crime, against evil.
Still the world glorifies the bosses of crime, and the Mafia, and the black hand.
I know who the real Don was. Your life is an inspiration.

Riposa Fratello

Sr. PO Verino W Ruggiero
Asheville Police Department

February 19, 2020

Heart of a LEO. I am a citizen who respects all you have done to help make our communities a safer place. You have set the tone for all who take up and follow in your steps everywhere.

Marie Heenan

December 6, 2019

Lt. Petrosino,
On today, the 110th anniversary of your death I would just like to say thank you for your service and sacrifice for the citizens of New York City. And to your Family and loved ones, I wish to extend my deepest sympathy.

BPA Mike Casey
United States Border Patrol
El Paso Station

March 12, 2019

Everybody seems to remember, and are in awe of the names Gotti, Castellano, DeMeo, Gaggi, Casso, Furnari, Costello, Luciano, Amuso, Bonanno, Persico, Lucchese, Jimmy Burke, Orena, D'Arco, Galante, Gravano, Profaci, DeSimone, Corallo and countless others - BUT YOU MY FRIEND are the type of law enforcers (Real Men) that all these young wannabes should instead get to know and emulate! What you did to rid the Italian community of the scourge that used extortion and threats of normal everyday Italian-Americans was EXTRAORDINARY! Joe Colombo was a FRAUDSTER !! You my friend are an Italian-American Hero. I will be visiting the Museum in "Little Italy" (what little remains of it) in the not-so-distant future to pay my respects. R.I.P.

Robert (Bobby) DiVanno - Rtd. NYPD-P.O.
63rd Prct. Bensonhurst, Brooklyn

March 21, 2018

I've read about the exploits of Lt. Petrosino previously-his courage and rock solid ethics and determination to make New York City a safer home for all is and should always be an inspiration to policemen everywhere. A hero to the bone--I hope his family has thrived and have continue to honor him.

James Lopey, Assistant Sheriff (ret)
Washoe County Sheriff's Office (Reno) and Nevada DPS

March 12, 2018

109 years have passed and those in the know, STILL have an outstanding respect for you, your courage and your determination to rid NYC of the Mafia.

God Bless you and all your descendants. May you, Lieutenant Petrosino, eternally Rest in Peace, forever a hero.

Ptl. Jim Leahy, Jr.
Harvard University Police Dept.

March 12, 2018

Rest In Peace Brother. You are an inspiration to all L.E.O. everywhere. We thank you for your courage, service and sacrifice. You will never be forgotten.

Officer Mike Robinson, (Ret)
Upland Police Dept. CA

October 14, 2017

Would love to meet his great grandson who I believe may to be a current NYPD Detective in Queens. As a US Marine, there is nothing I respect more than a man who believed in his cause and fought as vociferously as he did! The Marines have our motto, Semper Fidelis, "Always Faithful". If there is another American who embodied our oath, who was never one of us, I hereby give to Lt. Joseph Petrosino, the Honorary title of J.F. Petrosino, LT USMCR.
Respectfully Submitted,
J.F. Winkelmann USMCR (Ret)

PS: I have no real authority to so, but it felt nice to dos anyway!!!

J. F. Winkelmann USMCR (Ret)
None

May 10, 2017

LT. Petrosino Park was on my beat, 5 Beat 5. It is a small Triangle Park w/ His Plaque enclosed by wrought iron fence at the C/O Kenmare St. and Lafayette St. in the confines of the NYPD 005th Pct. Rest assured I kept that park spotless and free of "unsavory" types. Heck, I wouldn't even let people chain their bikes to the fence for it looked bad in my eyes. Did that from '89- 2004. Rest Easy Lt., we have this end.

(Ret.) P.O. James Boyle
NYPD

March 17, 2017

LT. Petrosino Park was on my beat, 5 Beat 5. It is a small Triangle Park w/ His Plaque enclosed by wrought iron fence at the C/O Kenmare St. and Lafayette St. in the confines of the NYPD 005th Pct. Rest assured I kept that park spotless and free of "unsavory" types. Heck, I wouldn't even let people chain their bikes to the fence for it looked bad in my eyes. Did that from '89- 2004. Rest Easy Lt., we have this end.

(Ret.) P.O. James Boyle
NYPD

March 17, 2017

Lt.Petrosino
Thank you for paving the way for all police officers of Italian descent and your work towards making the world a better place for all.

Police officer ANTHONY PALAZZO retired
NYPD

March 12, 2017

Lt. Petrosino, today marks the 107th anniversary of your brutal murder at the hands of vile gangsters who ruled not through respect, but fear. YOU, to this day have respect from all in law enforcement, all Americans of Italian descent, and anyone who respects the law.

Though after all this time, you are not as widely known as the criminals you helped control (as an other poster pointed out), you are still revered, respected and honored.

Your courage is awe inspiring and I thank you for everything you did.

God Bless and may your eternal rest be ever peaceful, Brother.

Ptl. Jim Leahy, Jr.
Harvard University Police Dept.

March 12, 2016

I only heard about this brave warrior on June 12, 2015, at the Italian-American Museum on Mulberry St, in New York. I was attending the museum for an art exhibit, and the display to honor this Lieutenant caught my attention, and captivated me. I frequent visitor to the City, I had, unfortunately, never heard of this great man and his story.

I love this city even more today, and my Italian Heritage, even more today.

Bless your soul, Lieutenant.

Vin Gaetano - CT

June 13, 2015

Dear Joseph: For 104 years, the wheels of Justice kept on turning here on earth. During those years, your wife and daughter joined you in in Heaven.

You warned the Secret Service of a plot to assassinate President McKinley. He ignored the warning and preceded you to Heaven by 8 years.

You were and are a fine man.

NYPD Detective Joseph Petrosino was friends with Police Commissioner Theodore Roosevelt, who named him the first Italian-American head of the homicide division.

This describes Detective Petrosino:

2 Timothy 4:7 I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith.

God bless this man's family.

RLG

June 26, 2014

GOOD NEWS from BBC: Police on the Italian island of Sicily believe they have solved a Mafia murder mystery dating back to 1909.

Joe Petrosino, a New York police officer, was shot dead during a mission to the island to collect evidence.

The revelation coincided with the arrest of 95 suspected members of two clans involved in extortion rackets in the island's capital Palermo.

One of those arrested had been recorded boasting that his father's uncle had carried out the killing, police say.

Domenico Palazzotto was overheard telling a colleague that "the uncle of my father was called Paolo Palazzotto; he killed the top policeman killed in Palermo" on the orders of Cascio Ferro. Ferro was a boss in Sicily's Cosa Nostra whose operations extended to the US, Ansa news agency reports.

The notorious murder of Lt Petrosino on 12 March 1909 shocked New York at the time, BBC Rome correspondent Alan Johnston reports.

Described by the FBI as one of New York's first detectives to fight organised crime in the early 1900s, he was an Italian immigrant who had targeted Black Hand extortion rackets involving Sicilian and Italian gangsters in several American cities.

Lt Petrosino was said to have gone undercover as a blind beggar, a sanitation worker and a health inspector. But on a secret mission to Sicily he was fatally shot four times in the street, while waiting for a supposed informant. The attack was witnessed by a group of people waiting for a tram.

The revelations emerged as police gathered information while preparing an anti-Mafia operation in the Palermo districts of Resuttana and San Lorenzo.

Nobody was ever convicted of Joe Petrosino's murder, our correspondent says.

Although Cascio Ferro and Paolo Palazzotto himself were picked up after the shooting, they were eventually released for lack of evidence.

Det. Teachworth
Lynnwood, WA PD

June 23, 2014

"Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God."
Matthew 5:9

Marshal Chris Di Gerolamo
Federal Air Marshal Service

March 11, 2013

Next week will attend my cousin's wedding in Sicily and will make it a point to visit the park where Lt. Petrosino was gunned down. Thank you for paving the way for other Italian American's to join the NYPD. Rest in Peace

P.O. Michael Caliguri
Mounted Unit NYPD

July 22, 2012

Your heroism and service is honored today, the 103rd anniversary of your death. Your memory lives and you continue to inspire. Thank you for your service. My cherished son Larry Lasater was a fellow police officer who was murdered in the the line of duty on April 24, 2005 while serving as a Pittsburg, CA police officer.

Time never diminishes respect. Your memory will always be honored and revered. It is obvious from reading the reflections that you are a hero to the Italian Amerian community, and I am awed by your valor.

Rest In Peace.

Phyllis Loya
Mom of fallen California Officer Larry Lasater, Pittsburg PD, eow 4/24/05

March 12, 2012