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THE FIGHTING 9TH PRECINCT RISES AGAIN!
 The famous “Fighting 9th Precinct” stationhouse located at 321 East 5th Street in
Manhattan was to be renovated and the men and women of the 9th have been turning out of the Housing Police facility a 130 Avenue C for the past few years.. Since they
had to leave their old precinct rumors were circulating that perhaps the old precinct would go the way of other NYPD department buildings. The old 6th Precinct on
Charles Street in Greenwich Village is now a condominium. So too is the famous NYPD Headquarters at 240 Centre Street where Teddy Roosevelt had his office.
Finallly, when they demolished the old 9th Precinct, it seemed that the rumors had some basis in fact. So the news that there was to be a dedication ceremony for the
construction of the new 9th Precinct at 321 East 5th Street was a surprise to many retired and active members of the 9th Precinct. I got a call from PO Joe DiLiberti,
9th Precinct (ret) who had spent his entire police career
assigned to the 9th. He told me about the dedication ceremony. PO Donald Muldoon, 9th Precinct (ret)
contacted retired cops who had worked in the 9th Precinct to attend the ceremony. They were gracious enough to invite me to accompany them to the dedication. Det. Pete Mulroy, 9th Precinct (ret)
drove us into Mahattan and we met other veterans of “The Fighting 9th”. PO Chris Reisman, PO Arty Vigar, PO Bob Cruz, all retired veterans of the 9th
Precinct met us at the site. Assistant Chief Mike Fox, PBMS (Ret) was a cop in the 9th and he stood with us in the rain to take some photos with the PC.
Wednesday, May 26, 2004 was the day for the dedication ceremony and despite the rain, Police Commissioner Ray Kelly
met the 9th Precinct veterans who shared their feelings about the restoration of the stationhouse. The
Commissioner chatted with the retired cops and it was obvious that he felt comfortable with men who were cops during the same years that he was a young police officer.
L to R: Joe DiLiberti, Arty Vigar, Pete Mulroy, Don Muldoon, Bob Cruz, Richie O’Neill, PC Kelly, Mike Fox, and Ed Reuss
Photo by NY Cop Online Magazine
It was especially good news to hear that the entire facade of old 9th Precinct would be restored on the new building.
We met the Project Manager, Special Projects Unit of the Department of Design and Construction, Charlie Kaczorowski
, who showed us into the construction shed on the site and displayed the architectural drawings and construction plans for the new building. Police Officer Salvatore Romano,
Capital Construction Unit, Deputy Commissioner of Management and Budget greeted us and answered some of the questions we had about the new precinct stationhouse.
L to R: PO Sal Romano, Charlie Kaczorowski, Joe DiLiberti, Pete Mulroy, Don Muldoon, Ed Reuss
Photo by NY Cop Online Magazine
The new precinct should be completed by next summer. The Deputy Commissioner of Management and Budget (DCMB) Edward J. Allocco
related that the Capital Construction Unit took the historical value of the 9th Precinct into consideration and with input from the Historical Preservation, ensured that the facade of the old stationhouse was
preserved and would be restored with the new building.
L to R: Ed Reuss, Bill Cruz, Chris Reisman, Don Muldoon, Arty Vigar, Pete Mulroy
Photo by NY Cop Online Magazine
L to R: Capt James McCarthy, CO, 9th Pct, PC Kelly, lst DPC Grasso
Photo by NY Cop Online Magazine
PC Kelly with top NYPD Officials including Edward J. Allocco, DCMB (3rd from right)
Photo by NY Cop Online Magazine
EDITOR’S NOTE:
To read more stories about “The Fighting 9th” click on the links below:
THE FIGHTING 9th
THE LEPERS
STRIPTEASE IN THE MUSTER ROOM
DEADLY DUEL IN THE HALLWAY
MEMORIAL TO FALLEN WARRIORS
2007 NINTH PRECINCT REUNION PHOTOS
CLICK HERE FOR MORE STORIES
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