WEBVTT 1 00:00:01.000 --> 00:00:01.760 I just gave you. 2 00:00:03.200 --> 00:00:04.559 I just give you a. 3 00:00:04.519 --> 00:00:06.480 Whole lot of it, and you gotta go back near by. 4 00:00:07.320 --> 00:00:13.039 Gracious disclaimer, We'd like to know before the start of 5 00:00:13.080 --> 00:00:15.640 this interview that the opinions about to be expressed by 6 00:00:15.679 --> 00:00:18.679 the guest of tonight's Getting Salty Experience Podcast are that 7 00:00:18.839 --> 00:00:21.839 of the guest and do not directly or necessarily reflect 8 00:00:21.879 --> 00:00:39.280 the views of the host of the Getting Salty Experience Podcast. 9 00:00:40.960 --> 00:00:43.600 You're listening to the Getting Salty Experience Podcast. 10 00:00:46.840 --> 00:00:58.320 Hello, Hello, Roofe, Welcome back. I feel like I didn't 11 00:00:58.320 --> 00:01:01.159 see it talk about it because they don't even know 12 00:01:01.200 --> 00:01:01.600 what happened. 13 00:01:01.600 --> 00:01:03.560 Oh really, is that how right? 14 00:01:03.600 --> 00:01:07.879 Mike, Welcome back to again Sulty Experienced podcast. It's the 15 00:01:07.879 --> 00:01:10.640 only one that brings just Lou and Coops to the 16 00:01:10.680 --> 00:01:14.599 podcast tonight. I'm doing it all. I'm doing the I 17 00:01:14.959 --> 00:01:19.519 am your host or Rookie's partner, I am the producer, 18 00:01:20.200 --> 00:01:23.120 I'm behind the controls tonight, I'm doing it all. We 19 00:01:23.159 --> 00:01:25.079 won't tell you what happened right before this because I 20 00:01:25.120 --> 00:01:28.640 had a major faulk pop. But listen, you guys didn't 21 00:01:28.680 --> 00:01:31.040 see it. So this is where we are. We got 22 00:01:31.079 --> 00:01:33.920 another one good. We had another good show. Feet tonight, 23 00:01:34.640 --> 00:01:37.599 great stories back? What's that? 24 00:01:38.159 --> 00:01:41.040 It was like Groundhog Day again? 25 00:01:41.200 --> 00:01:43.640 Maybe we did it and we didn't we didn't go live. 26 00:01:43.760 --> 00:01:45.719 Maybe we started talking for like the first three in 27 00:01:45.719 --> 00:01:48.040 the four minutes and Mike's going, you're. 28 00:01:47.920 --> 00:01:48.560 Not live. 29 00:01:50.560 --> 00:01:53.000 After I just was going, Cools, you're the men. You're 30 00:01:53.040 --> 00:01:54.200 really doing it, Cools. 31 00:01:54.680 --> 00:01:59.000 Yep, but this is where we are. Welcome back, Love 32 00:01:59.000 --> 00:02:02.159 ahead nation. What's happening tonight? What's going on up there? 33 00:02:02.239 --> 00:02:03.760 Ruffy has does he getting cold? Get? 34 00:02:04.120 --> 00:02:04.799 Nah? Not too bad? 35 00:02:04.799 --> 00:02:06.799 A little bit of color. It's nice starting. 36 00:02:07.079 --> 00:02:09.080 Shopping off the bow yet getting ready because you'll be 37 00:02:09.120 --> 00:02:09.520 hitting the. 38 00:02:09.840 --> 00:02:12.520 Oh yeah, sure for sure. 39 00:02:12.960 --> 00:02:15.000 Like what's the estimated time of kill? Like when do 40 00:02:15.000 --> 00:02:16.080 you when do you think you want to? 41 00:02:16.159 --> 00:02:19.879 Yeah? Last week of October? 42 00:02:21.000 --> 00:02:22.400 Lest you be heading to Iowa? 43 00:02:23.199 --> 00:02:25.400 Yeah, I'll be going, well here, I'll try and get 44 00:02:25.400 --> 00:02:26.599 one here and I go in Iowa. 45 00:02:27.240 --> 00:02:30.080 Ohio, somewhere one in your backyard, right. 46 00:02:30.000 --> 00:02:32.439 Yeah yeah, sure, sure sure, and then. 47 00:02:32.439 --> 00:02:34.960 You head over to Iowa and it's just kill bow. 48 00:02:35.000 --> 00:02:39.000 Right yeah, definitely kill mode. What are you doing? 49 00:02:40.319 --> 00:02:43.240 I don't kill things like that, bro. That's not my bag, baby. 50 00:02:43.000 --> 00:02:43.719 It's not my bag. 51 00:02:43.759 --> 00:02:45.759 What are you doing? What do you kill the Waits 52 00:02:46.120 --> 00:02:47.840 kill the Waights? What do you got date night? You 53 00:02:47.840 --> 00:02:48.520 said coming up? 54 00:02:48.560 --> 00:02:50.919 I get date night on Sunday, me and my old lady. Yep, 55 00:02:51.560 --> 00:02:52.439 can we go out to dinner? 56 00:02:52.439 --> 00:02:52.840 We're going. 57 00:02:53.159 --> 00:02:54.639 I don't want to say what's going I don't want 58 00:02:54.639 --> 00:02:56.000 to hear what they're gonna say in the chap bro 59 00:02:56.639 --> 00:03:00.360 We're going to see air Supply O loveere is. 60 00:03:00.280 --> 00:03:04.639 That Westbury music fas Yeah? 61 00:03:04.800 --> 00:03:06.840 A long time, yeah, and I believe in that. I'm 62 00:03:07.080 --> 00:03:09.159 taking two vacations. Were going to Mexico and I'm going 63 00:03:09.159 --> 00:03:12.520 to Spain. So I had my wife print up these 64 00:03:12.639 --> 00:03:15.719 fdmy shirts bootlegs once you did Hi myself. I'm gonna 65 00:03:15.719 --> 00:03:18.800 bring like fifteen of them to Spain, go to the 66 00:03:18.800 --> 00:03:21.479 firehouse there and maybe film a little show in Spain. 67 00:03:22.159 --> 00:03:23.840 See what it's like. Maybe I'll even do a ride 68 00:03:23.879 --> 00:03:26.680 along problem in Spain. You know what I'm saying. 69 00:03:27.080 --> 00:03:28.520 You know how to do it, of course, and I 70 00:03:28.520 --> 00:03:29.039 how to do it. 71 00:03:29.599 --> 00:03:31.360 So we got a great guy on tonight man Got 72 00:03:31.360 --> 00:03:34.120 on Way Back, Got on the Way Back has a 73 00:03:34.120 --> 00:03:37.280 great story about nine to eleven. So I don't know 74 00:03:37.319 --> 00:03:38.960 how to put that banner up super Chat. You know 75 00:03:39.000 --> 00:03:40.560 what to say you want to ask making a question, 76 00:03:40.759 --> 00:03:42.439 put it up in the super chack, get a couple 77 00:03:42.439 --> 00:03:44.639 of whatever you do, don't do what the rev did. 78 00:03:44.639 --> 00:03:46.360 Don't put up five hundred dollars, and then we have 79 00:03:46.439 --> 00:03:49.159 to try to get it back to you unless you 80 00:03:49.199 --> 00:03:51.159 want to. If you if you feel like donating five 81 00:03:51.240 --> 00:03:52.520 hundred dollars, you know what I mean. We're not going 82 00:03:52.560 --> 00:03:56.639 to say no. You know, me and Louis are on 83 00:03:57.240 --> 00:03:59.199 you know, pensions, paycheck to paycheck. 84 00:03:59.240 --> 00:03:59.599 You know what I mean. 85 00:03:59.599 --> 00:04:01.840 It's tough, tough, fixed income. 86 00:04:02.159 --> 00:04:02.520 All right. 87 00:04:02.599 --> 00:04:03.800 You want to get a Manian brown? 88 00:04:04.759 --> 00:04:06.039 You want to do the ads first. 89 00:04:07.719 --> 00:04:12.439 Good idea. I'm due to this hold on, but first 90 00:04:12.520 --> 00:04:15.039 we got to do. We gotta go with what the 91 00:04:15.120 --> 00:04:18.720 show is brought to you by, and here we go. 92 00:04:19.199 --> 00:04:21.680 Need a new floor for your fire station. Choose an 93 00:04:21.759 --> 00:04:25.399 Armor Tough interlocking flooring system to cover your aging, stained, crack, 94 00:04:25.519 --> 00:04:28.839 concrete or epoxy floor. Armour Tough has been around for 95 00:04:28.879 --> 00:04:31.000 nearly twenty years and has proven to be the best 96 00:04:31.079 --> 00:04:34.879 choice and renovating your station's floors, covering nearly six hundred 97 00:04:34.920 --> 00:04:38.639 floors across the country. Proudly made in America, Armour Touff 98 00:04:38.720 --> 00:04:42.000 comes with a lifetime warranty and are usually installed in 99 00:04:42.040 --> 00:04:44.360 one or two days, depending on the size of your station, 100 00:04:44.480 --> 00:04:48.720 with virtually no disruption in your station's operation. Our system 101 00:04:48.759 --> 00:04:52.800 is guaranteed from chipping, cracking, peeling, braking, or staining. The 102 00:04:52.879 --> 00:04:56.279 tiles are stained resistant and impervious to chemicals or volatiles 103 00:04:56.319 --> 00:04:59.160 that are used in the fire service. Damage one tile, 104 00:04:59.439 --> 00:05:02.800 lift and replace without anyone knowing. And once installed, your 105 00:05:02.879 --> 00:05:05.279 floor would be easy to clean with just soap and water. 106 00:05:06.040 --> 00:05:09.920 Is your current floor slippery? Eliminate the slip with armor tough. 107 00:05:12.199 --> 00:05:13.480 You have to be friction. 108 00:05:14.759 --> 00:05:17.399 We need to know about the friction coal fisher. But anyway, dude, 109 00:05:18.199 --> 00:05:21.720 if you look at those floors, man, they don't chip, scratch, 110 00:05:22.319 --> 00:05:25.279 they don't fade. And here's what Vince is doing for you. 111 00:05:25.439 --> 00:05:29.519 He's giving you the logo of your firehouse for free. 112 00:05:30.040 --> 00:05:32.439 That's right, fireman's favorite word. 113 00:05:32.879 --> 00:05:33.319 Free. 114 00:05:33.360 --> 00:05:36.439 They look great in the firehouse. They don't slip, slip resistant. 115 00:05:36.720 --> 00:05:38.439 You know all about the friction coal fishing. We got 116 00:05:38.600 --> 00:05:42.399 We gotta edit that commercial. It's a little long. Vince 117 00:05:42.519 --> 00:05:44.920 is demand. He's a great guy. His product is good, 118 00:05:44.920 --> 00:05:48.800 Like he said, over six hundred firehouses, no complaints, well 119 00:05:48.800 --> 00:05:50.199 maybe this one or two, but you know you can't 120 00:05:50.199 --> 00:05:53.399 help it. Go go call Vince bro I'm the tough 121 00:05:53.600 --> 00:05:55.680 He's the guy. All right, Let's do Jimmy Guinea's Commercial 122 00:05:55.720 --> 00:05:56.160 really quick. 123 00:05:57.360 --> 00:06:00.560 Established in nineteen thirty and under the current owner since 124 00:06:00.639 --> 00:06:04.480 nineteen eighty seven, the New Jersey Fire Equipment Company handles 125 00:06:04.519 --> 00:06:08.759 a complete line of fire department equipment and supplies. Headquartered 126 00:06:08.759 --> 00:06:12.279 in green Brook, the company operates full three M Scott 127 00:06:12.399 --> 00:06:16.680 service facilities in Ridgefield Park and Tom's River staff by 128 00:06:16.839 --> 00:06:20.839 ten fully authorized Scott's certified technicians with a fleet of 129 00:06:20.920 --> 00:06:25.000 six fully equipped service fans. All New Jersey Fire technicians 130 00:06:25.000 --> 00:06:29.360 and sales representatives are active or retired firefighters, officers or 131 00:06:29.439 --> 00:06:34.399 chief officers, career and volunteer. They understand the business and the. 132 00:06:34.360 --> 00:06:35.680 Importance of their work. 133 00:06:36.079 --> 00:06:39.759 New Jersey Fire has represented Scott since Earl Scott entered 134 00:06:39.759 --> 00:06:41.759 the SCBA business at the end of. 135 00:06:41.720 --> 00:06:42.439 World War II. 136 00:06:42.839 --> 00:06:46.240 Among other leading manufacturers represented by New Jersey Fire are 137 00:06:46.720 --> 00:06:51.720 Globe and Fireedex turnout gear, Mercedes Hose, task Force Tips 138 00:06:51.720 --> 00:06:58.920 and Akron Brass, Higenol fire Hooks, Arcticompressors, MSA, Carn's Helmets, Kemguard, 139 00:06:59.000 --> 00:07:03.920 FOHM the Light and Duo safety Ladders, BA Face shield Protectors, 140 00:07:04.519 --> 00:07:10.160 Truckman's Choice Saws, Groves, gear Racks and washer Driders, Supervac Fans, 141 00:07:10.920 --> 00:07:15.639 RPI Streamlight, and many others. A New Jersey incorporated and 142 00:07:15.680 --> 00:07:18.560 based company. Sales and service are limited to the state 143 00:07:18.600 --> 00:07:22.959 of New Jersey. Find us now at www dot NJFE 144 00:07:23.240 --> 00:07:23.959 dot com. 145 00:07:24.199 --> 00:07:25.480 That's www. 146 00:07:25.560 --> 00:07:31.800 Dot NJFE dot com. 147 00:07:31.839 --> 00:07:33.360 Excellent, that's a great company. 148 00:07:33.360 --> 00:07:33.480 Man. 149 00:07:33.519 --> 00:07:35.079 I went out to dinner with those guys when he went, 150 00:07:35.199 --> 00:07:37.360 when he went to Jersey to the trade show. He's 151 00:07:37.360 --> 00:07:42.680 got all hardcore paid five fives. Jersey Firefight is working 152 00:07:42.720 --> 00:07:44.720 for them, bro, So they know what they're doing over there. 153 00:07:45.360 --> 00:07:47.839 How about now? Now can we bring him in roof? 154 00:07:47.879 --> 00:07:50.160 What do you think you're ready? I'm ready. I'm ready 155 00:07:50.160 --> 00:07:52.639 with the sound. Oh I'm also sound effects guy. So 156 00:07:52.680 --> 00:07:54.879 I don't know if you knew that. Well, I'm actually 157 00:07:54.920 --> 00:07:56.839 doing it all tonight. Bro. You know what I'm saying. 158 00:07:57.199 --> 00:07:58.160 Let me get up on it. 159 00:07:58.279 --> 00:07:58.800 You do it? 160 00:07:58.839 --> 00:07:59.560 Do you ain right? 161 00:07:59.680 --> 00:08:08.759 Coming to the stage, Lieutenant Mickey Cross and Mike Cologne. 162 00:08:08.439 --> 00:08:11.079 And there's Mike. Mike was kind enough to go help 163 00:08:11.439 --> 00:08:13.600 help us go out to Mickey's and set them up 164 00:08:13.600 --> 00:08:16.439 on a laptop. You're all right, Mike. You're a roving 165 00:08:16.560 --> 00:08:21.199 reporter on the scene tonight. Yes, Sam on location, on location, 166 00:08:22.000 --> 00:08:25.480 Mike at Mickey Cross's house. All right, Uh, before we 167 00:08:25.519 --> 00:08:30.000 get into Mickey's Korea, which spans back to nineteen sixty eight. 168 00:08:30.959 --> 00:08:32.399 I don't want to say nothing, Mickey, but that's the 169 00:08:32.440 --> 00:08:34.399 year me and Louis were born. I don't want to 170 00:08:34.440 --> 00:08:36.360 make you feel old and nothing, but that's the year 171 00:08:36.399 --> 00:08:39.320 we were born. But let's get patriotic first, Mick, here 172 00:08:39.360 --> 00:08:39.679 we go. 173 00:08:40.120 --> 00:08:46.639 Cut me, Mick, I pledge allegiance to the flag of 174 00:08:46.720 --> 00:08:51.360 the United States of America and to the Republic, for 175 00:08:51.480 --> 00:08:58.600 which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible with liberty 176 00:08:59.039 --> 00:09:00.480 and justice for all. 177 00:09:10.799 --> 00:09:15.320 Awesome and much thanks to Christine, Mickey's wife, who really 178 00:09:15.320 --> 00:09:17.639 helped us pull this together. She sent a lot of pictures. 179 00:09:17.919 --> 00:09:20.080 I did a little communication with that. You did all right? There, 180 00:09:20.399 --> 00:09:22.039 you did alright? Marrying a good job. 181 00:09:23.200 --> 00:09:24.600 You have to get something to eat. 182 00:09:26.559 --> 00:09:30.960 I hope she's bringing something back for you. Brother. Welcome 183 00:09:31.000 --> 00:09:33.000 to the show. Thanks for taking the time out to 184 00:09:33.559 --> 00:09:34.320 spend with us. 185 00:09:34.679 --> 00:09:37.080 Thank you appreciate writing. I appreciate it. 186 00:09:37.159 --> 00:09:39.039 All right, let's go back a little bit rough. We 187 00:09:39.080 --> 00:09:41.960 got to crank up the way back machine. Crank up 188 00:09:42.000 --> 00:09:45.279 the way back machine. You're ready, one, We're going back 189 00:09:45.360 --> 00:09:52.639 to nineteen sixty eight. Yep, you decided to become That's 190 00:09:52.679 --> 00:09:55.279 when you become a cop. But but first, where did 191 00:09:55.279 --> 00:09:58.639 you grow up? Was your datify him and a cop? 192 00:09:59.240 --> 00:10:02.120 No? There was no cops fireman in my family. 193 00:10:02.120 --> 00:10:05.159 No, no where what happened? 194 00:10:05.720 --> 00:10:08.600 I grew up in Uh. I was born in the 195 00:10:08.639 --> 00:10:11.639 South Bronx. And then when I was about five, my 196 00:10:11.720 --> 00:10:14.679 family we moved to the projects in Long Island City 197 00:10:14.759 --> 00:10:19.519 where it was with projects. Yeah, we lived in the projects 198 00:10:19.519 --> 00:10:21.840 for about all We were there for about seven or 199 00:10:21.840 --> 00:10:24.200 eight years. And then my folks bought a house in 200 00:10:24.240 --> 00:10:27.200 a small town in New York City, believe it or not, 201 00:10:27.240 --> 00:10:29.519 a small town in your College. 202 00:10:29.120 --> 00:10:31.879 Point, New York College Point, well. 203 00:10:32.360 --> 00:10:35.840 With a main street. And that's where my folks bought 204 00:10:35.840 --> 00:10:38.720 a house. And so I was twelve when you know, 205 00:10:39.000 --> 00:10:42.159 I went over there, and then I went to school, 206 00:10:42.519 --> 00:10:46.039 and uh, I still had no interest in you. I 207 00:10:46.039 --> 00:10:47.360 didn't know what I was going to do. But one 208 00:10:47.440 --> 00:10:50.240 day I was watching a police show. I was a kid, 209 00:10:50.240 --> 00:10:52.559 I was thirteen. I was sitting there watching the police show. 210 00:10:52.919 --> 00:10:55.919 I said, I want to do that, and that's it 211 00:10:56.080 --> 00:10:59.159 set the bug in me to uh get on the 212 00:10:59.159 --> 00:11:03.840 police depart But I ended up finished. Actually, I quit 213 00:11:03.919 --> 00:11:06.720 high school and I got a job as a clerk. 214 00:11:06.799 --> 00:11:09.200 I was a mail clerk and then one day I'm 215 00:11:09.200 --> 00:11:11.879 boxing the mail with the other guys and they were 216 00:11:11.919 --> 00:11:16.279 like they never in their forties and I'm seventeen. Oh 217 00:11:16.360 --> 00:11:18.279 my look him. I said, Oh my god, am I 218 00:11:18.320 --> 00:11:20.600 going to be doing this when I'm forty. So I 219 00:11:20.639 --> 00:11:21.679 went back to school. 220 00:11:22.519 --> 00:11:23.200 I looked for you. 221 00:11:23.679 --> 00:11:29.159 I went back to Brian Bryant High even in high school, 222 00:11:30.039 --> 00:11:32.000 and I got my diploma. And as soon as I 223 00:11:32.039 --> 00:11:35.399 got my mid diploma, I remember that I was walking 224 00:11:35.440 --> 00:11:38.519 down the street and I got off the subway and 225 00:11:39.399 --> 00:11:41.960 there was a Marine Corps recruited there right on the 226 00:11:41.960 --> 00:11:45.200 corner of Northern Boulevard and Queen's there, and I walked 227 00:11:45.200 --> 00:11:47.960 by and I said, I looked at it, and I said, 228 00:11:48.279 --> 00:11:50.399 oh my god, that's what I wanted to do. To 229 00:11:50.480 --> 00:11:52.320 had the kid and the guy to dress blues, you know, 230 00:11:52.440 --> 00:11:55.360 standing at Marine Corps bills men body mine in spirit 231 00:11:55.399 --> 00:11:58.000 and all that stuff. I went and I didn't even 232 00:11:58.000 --> 00:11:59.759 think about it, and I just did it on impulse. 233 00:11:59.799 --> 00:12:02.639 I find the papers and I came home told my 234 00:12:02.679 --> 00:12:04.639 father I just signed the Marine Corps. He had a 235 00:12:04.720 --> 00:12:08.559 fit down. He's a veteran. He fought in World War Two? 236 00:12:08.759 --> 00:12:12.080 Did he Vietnam was just starting at the time, and 237 00:12:12.279 --> 00:12:14.960 he got He actually was upset with me for doing that. 238 00:12:15.639 --> 00:12:18.120 But three days later he drove me to Grand Central 239 00:12:18.159 --> 00:12:20.600 Station and I was on a train to Paras Island. 240 00:12:21.200 --> 00:12:23.759 So I got down the Marine Corps, but I didn't 241 00:12:23.799 --> 00:12:26.600 go in the regular Marine Corps. Joined the reserves, so 242 00:12:26.759 --> 00:12:30.600 I only did a year after duty and I got out. 243 00:12:30.759 --> 00:12:33.200 And then I got this great job. I'm nineteen years 244 00:12:33.200 --> 00:12:35.240 old and I get this fantastic job. 245 00:12:35.639 --> 00:12:35.840 I go. 246 00:12:36.080 --> 00:12:39.559 I applied for a clerk's job at Manufacturer's handover bank, 247 00:12:39.960 --> 00:12:42.639 and I take the aptitude test and a woman calls 248 00:12:42.720 --> 00:12:45.480 me and she says, mister Kross, would you like to 249 00:12:45.519 --> 00:12:48.720 work in our computer department? And I applied for a 250 00:12:48.799 --> 00:12:51.559 clerk's job. So I said, well, what's the salary? 251 00:12:51.600 --> 00:12:51.759 Man? 252 00:12:51.879 --> 00:12:53.600 It was double the salary of the clerk. 253 00:12:53.639 --> 00:12:54.519 Sture, I'll take it. 254 00:12:55.879 --> 00:12:57.720 That's time to be my computers. I started. 255 00:12:58.159 --> 00:12:59.840 I didn't even know what the computer war. 256 00:13:00.039 --> 00:13:01.840 I was just gonna say, it was the stunning. 257 00:13:02.039 --> 00:13:05.399 I didn't even know it was IBM fourteen o one. 258 00:13:05.480 --> 00:13:10.120 It was a new system just came out, and here 259 00:13:10.159 --> 00:13:12.759 I am. I'm a young kid. I mean, I'm working 260 00:13:12.919 --> 00:13:15.080 computers making more money than my father. 261 00:13:16.360 --> 00:13:17.039 That's great. 262 00:13:19.000 --> 00:13:21.840 I mean, it was just crazy how it happened. So 263 00:13:21.960 --> 00:13:24.200 I stayed with computers for about three years. I ended 264 00:13:24.279 --> 00:13:27.679 up working for Yashifa University in their computer department, and 265 00:13:27.720 --> 00:13:31.519 I was making good money, and then, uh, pretty crazy. 266 00:13:32.000 --> 00:13:36.320 The fire department called. I took it. I went to 267 00:13:36.360 --> 00:13:38.919 the fire department. I mean, the police department called me. Right, 268 00:13:39.320 --> 00:13:41.840 it was nineteen sixty eight, and I took a pay 269 00:13:41.879 --> 00:13:43.000 cut to go to the police. 270 00:13:43.080 --> 00:13:46.080 I tell, yeah, you and me both, bro, But that's what. 271 00:13:46.000 --> 00:13:48.159 I wanted to do. I wanted that excitement. I was 272 00:13:48.200 --> 00:13:51.200 so bored with computers. I remember I was at night 273 00:13:51.240 --> 00:13:53.879 I would dream that I was operating at computer and 274 00:13:53.919 --> 00:13:55.279 wake up and have to go to work, and I 275 00:13:55.320 --> 00:13:57.919 was so disgusted. I was tired of ready for working 276 00:13:57.960 --> 00:13:59.720 computer in my dreams. And I had to go not 277 00:13:59.799 --> 00:14:03.159 do with you know, I couldn't. I was making great money, 278 00:14:03.200 --> 00:14:05.440 but I couldn't stand it. And so I went to 279 00:14:05.480 --> 00:14:09.600 the police department, which turned out to be quite an experience. 280 00:14:10.559 --> 00:14:15.080 I ended up unfortunately, Martin Luther King was assassinated while 281 00:14:15.080 --> 00:14:18.519 I was in the academy. Oh man, So they shut 282 00:14:18.519 --> 00:14:20.799 the academy down and they sent this out of the street. 283 00:14:20.840 --> 00:14:22.720 We weren't even fully trained. And I went to the 284 00:14:22.720 --> 00:14:26.039 one O three precincts in Jamaica, Queens, which is the 285 00:14:26.159 --> 00:14:28.399 one of the busiest precincts in the city. Believed or 286 00:14:28.440 --> 00:14:31.480 notis in Queens, but it's very busy. So I got 287 00:14:31.559 --> 00:14:34.759 quite an experience there. And then about a year later 288 00:14:35.559 --> 00:14:37.639 they reopened the academy and I went back to the 289 00:14:37.679 --> 00:14:39.399 academy and I finished at. 290 00:14:39.320 --> 00:14:41.840 The that's crazy that they sent you back if they 291 00:14:41.879 --> 00:14:44.799 were a year in Jamaica. Oh yeah, yeah, how were 292 00:14:44.799 --> 00:14:45.840 you going to learn that that? 293 00:14:47.000 --> 00:14:47.320 We didn't. 294 00:14:47.360 --> 00:14:50.320 We didn't feel we have to finish the academy. Yea, 295 00:14:51.279 --> 00:14:54.759 their rules. So I went back to the academy and 296 00:14:54.799 --> 00:14:58.519 then after I finished, I got assigned to the South Bronx. 297 00:14:59.360 --> 00:15:03.159 I was in the what To precinct, which was right 298 00:15:03.200 --> 00:15:06.120 next to the Fall one, which was called Ford Apache. 299 00:15:06.120 --> 00:15:09.200 Oh, I was gonna ask you, that's what I was 300 00:15:09.200 --> 00:15:09.399 in the. 301 00:15:09.440 --> 00:15:12.240 Four to two, which was the same neighborhood. You know, 302 00:15:12.799 --> 00:15:14.039 it was pretty crazy there. 303 00:15:14.159 --> 00:15:14.480 It was. 304 00:15:14.840 --> 00:15:20.159 It was pretty wild. And then I asked, I wonder 305 00:15:20.279 --> 00:15:22.080 I wanted to get added. I wanted to get to 306 00:15:22.399 --> 00:15:25.200 the Manhattan because I was young. I was in my 307 00:15:25.279 --> 00:15:28.480 early twenties, I was single. All the action was taking 308 00:15:28.480 --> 00:15:31.159 place in the East Village at the time, same Mark's place. 309 00:15:31.200 --> 00:15:33.799 The whole hippie thing was starting. The hippie girls were 310 00:15:33.919 --> 00:15:35.919 going top my brothers and all this. 311 00:15:36.559 --> 00:15:39.759 I ain't mad, but I like Mickey bro Yeah. 312 00:15:40.799 --> 00:15:43.080 I want to see my captain, I said, Captain, I 313 00:15:44.840 --> 00:15:47.639 want to transfer to Manhattan. So the captain says to me, 314 00:15:47.679 --> 00:15:49.559 I'll never figure that, he goes the only way you're 315 00:15:49.559 --> 00:15:51.080 going to get added the four too is to go 316 00:15:51.120 --> 00:15:54.720 to a worst precinct, one with a higher crime rate. 317 00:15:55.159 --> 00:15:56.919 And I says, which one is that. He says, the 318 00:15:57.039 --> 00:16:00.960 ninth Believe it or not, the Ninth Night, Ninth Precinct 319 00:16:01.039 --> 00:16:05.120 on East fifth Street in Manhattan that time had the 320 00:16:05.240 --> 00:16:07.440 highest homicide rate in the city in New York. 321 00:16:07.799 --> 00:16:09.320 Was that by alphabet city. 322 00:16:09.080 --> 00:16:13.399 Down there, that's correct, Alphabet drugs down there, man, it 323 00:16:13.519 --> 00:16:17.320 was a drug capital of America. I went to In fact, 324 00:16:17.360 --> 00:16:19.200 I lived there and I blocked where it was on. 325 00:16:19.399 --> 00:16:22.399 All the drugs actually lived there. You should see. I'd 326 00:16:22.440 --> 00:16:24.200 look out my window in the morning and to be 327 00:16:24.200 --> 00:16:27.679 four or five drug dealers doing it. Whatever they were doing, 328 00:16:27.720 --> 00:16:28.519 it was crazy. 329 00:16:28.679 --> 00:16:29.559 So you went to the night. 330 00:16:31.600 --> 00:16:35.840 Well anyway, I finished up, I left the cops and 331 00:16:35.919 --> 00:16:38.320 I went back to school. I was going to go 332 00:16:38.360 --> 00:16:40.440 to law school, but I went back to school and 333 00:16:40.799 --> 00:16:42.960 it just it all didn't work out. So I ended 334 00:16:43.039 --> 00:16:45.759 up driving a bus for a while. And then one 335 00:16:45.799 --> 00:16:48.399 day I came home. I was bored out of my mind. 336 00:16:48.399 --> 00:16:49.960 I didn't know what I was going to do. I 337 00:16:50.000 --> 00:16:52.320 was thinking of going to nursing school. I didn't know, 338 00:16:52.600 --> 00:16:56.240 and I got always married then not talking about this wife, 339 00:16:56.240 --> 00:16:59.480 but my first wife, and Laureli gives me, she goes, 340 00:16:59.480 --> 00:17:03.039 you gotta let from the fire the bar. So I 341 00:17:03.200 --> 00:17:06.400 ended up going on the fire the bar, but I 342 00:17:06.440 --> 00:17:09.680 never wanted to be a firefighter. I took the test 343 00:17:09.680 --> 00:17:12.160 because I was in a bar with these guys and 344 00:17:12.200 --> 00:17:14.680 we all, you know, clapping hammer. I'll go to take 345 00:17:14.720 --> 00:17:17.319 that test with taking it off to the bar taking 346 00:17:17.359 --> 00:17:19.759 a test. I remember waiting up that morning when I 347 00:17:19.799 --> 00:17:21.400 hang over and I go Oh my god, I gotta 348 00:17:21.440 --> 00:17:24.359 take this goddamn test. I had no interest in the 349 00:17:24.440 --> 00:17:27.480 fire the ball and I got but I was driving 350 00:17:27.480 --> 00:17:29.079 the bus. I was bored out of my mind. So 351 00:17:29.200 --> 00:17:33.480 the fight department call I went and UH. I went 352 00:17:33.480 --> 00:17:35.279 through the I almost quit it when I was in 353 00:17:35.319 --> 00:17:37.640 the academy because I couldn't stand it. I couldn't stand 354 00:17:37.680 --> 00:17:39.640 I was in the academy. I didn't really want to 355 00:17:39.640 --> 00:17:42.440 be a firefighter, but then I ended up getting When 356 00:17:42.440 --> 00:17:46.039 I got UH finished academy, they sent me to Manhattan 357 00:17:46.640 --> 00:17:50.759 engined in two sixth onst. Thirty seventh Street, and I 358 00:17:50.920 --> 00:17:53.640 was there two or three weeks, and I loved I 359 00:17:53.640 --> 00:17:57.920 fell in love with the job. Really did a complete reversal. 360 00:17:58.160 --> 00:17:59.599 That's a single engine making. 361 00:17:59.599 --> 00:18:03.119 Job, and world a single engine. Maybe excuse me? 362 00:18:03.359 --> 00:18:04.559 Is that a single engine? 363 00:18:05.200 --> 00:18:09.079 Yeah? Single engine on thirty seventh Street. It's right, It's 364 00:18:09.119 --> 00:18:11.680 not far. It's on the seventh Day Avenue, near seventh 365 00:18:11.720 --> 00:18:14.599 Day Avenue. It's not far from Madison Square. Guy. No. 366 00:18:14.720 --> 00:18:19.599 I stayed in twenty six oh for about three years, 367 00:18:19.680 --> 00:18:21.839 and then I transferred to a lot. 368 00:18:22.079 --> 00:18:24.000 On hod On, Hold on, hold on, before we start 369 00:18:24.039 --> 00:18:26.319 speeding past, how long did it take you to catch 370 00:18:26.319 --> 00:18:27.519 your first job when you went there. 371 00:18:28.240 --> 00:18:31.079 Oh, my first job. I was there a couple of months, 372 00:18:31.160 --> 00:18:34.400 and I'm talking about a real job really, yeah, yeah, 373 00:18:34.440 --> 00:18:41.119 I got you which Macy's fire nineteen seventy seven firefight 374 00:18:41.160 --> 00:18:43.200 had died at that fire, one of our guys died. 375 00:18:44.279 --> 00:18:47.279 And that was a really bad fire. I remember that 376 00:18:48.440 --> 00:18:50.920 it was just pitch black inside there because there was 377 00:18:50.960 --> 00:18:53.880 no light coming in. You know that Macy's is totally enclosed. 378 00:18:54.920 --> 00:18:58.400 There's no windows there, and it was totally black. And 379 00:18:58.480 --> 00:19:02.240 I was operating a line on the fire and the guy, uh, 380 00:19:02.799 --> 00:19:06.359 some firefighter was actually died about twenty feet for me. 381 00:19:06.440 --> 00:19:09.599 I didn't know it at the time. Later we found 382 00:19:09.640 --> 00:19:12.720 his body, but the firefighter died. That was my first 383 00:19:12.759 --> 00:19:15.920 big job was Masony's fire. Think I think it was 384 00:19:16.880 --> 00:19:19.400 January seventy It was very cold that I it was 385 00:19:19.440 --> 00:19:23.799 January seventy seven, I think seventy eight something like that. 386 00:19:23.880 --> 00:19:26.759 So who was the some of the officers there and 387 00:19:26.799 --> 00:19:28.759 the captain when he got there. Do you remember those guys? 388 00:19:29.079 --> 00:19:31.240 No, I don't remember that it too. It was a 389 00:19:31.240 --> 00:19:31.799 long time. 390 00:19:31.680 --> 00:19:33.920 Ago, seenior man, that you remember any guys that you 391 00:19:33.960 --> 00:19:35.200 were you. 392 00:19:35.160 --> 00:19:37.400 Know, I tell you the truth at the moment you 393 00:19:37.519 --> 00:19:38.759 just hit me with that question. 394 00:19:41.519 --> 00:19:43.480 Let me ask a question. You said that you went 395 00:19:43.519 --> 00:19:46.000 to the fire department and you immediately loved it. What 396 00:19:46.119 --> 00:19:47.759 is it that you loved about it? What was it 397 00:19:47.799 --> 00:19:49.440 that you were like, this is the place for me. 398 00:19:49.480 --> 00:19:52.759 It was like the whole in linement, you know. And 399 00:19:52.799 --> 00:19:55.480 then every time you went out we were in midtowm Manhattan, 400 00:19:55.480 --> 00:19:58.279 you remember it. So there's always different things you were 401 00:19:58.359 --> 00:20:01.559