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UPDATED
Sept. 28, 2008
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 Ed Russo President
I was appointed to the Transit Police
Department on May 3rd 1965
and
retired on a regular service retirement on July 4th 1986.
During my 21 years with the department, I was assigned
primarily to District 20. In December 1983, I was awarded
“The Cop Of The Month Award” for apprehending a suspect that
had held up 13 banks in the New York area over the past year. From
1980 to 1986, I served on the executive board of the Columbia
Association as Recording Secretary. I
would like to see the Retiree Association grow and bring back the
members who left us over the years.
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 John Regan
1st Vice President and
Legislative Chairman
On a cold, snowy Saturday in November 1964, I reported to
Franklin K. Lane H.S. in Jamaica. Queens. The title of the NYC civil
service test was TRANSIT PATROLMAN (MEN ONLY). which is now history.
For me, this event initiated a career and association that has
continued for thirty-even years. I was appointed to the
Transit Police probationary class on May 2, 1965. Numbering
over eight hundred officers, it was the largest class ever appointed
and it almost doubled the size of the department. By July,
after a six-day-a-week training program, we were assigned to field
duty. The next twelve years I spent on
patrol starting in
District
#1 and progressing to Districts #20 and #22. A temporary
assignment in the Operations Unit resulted in a permanent position
for several years. The remainder of my career was spent in a
variety of assignments in the Patrol Division, Statistics and
Analysis, and I eventually retired while assigned to the
Administration Unit HQ. My career was relatively smooth without
any tragedies by
today’s standards, especially after the events of September 11th in
lower Manhattan. I am quite sure many members who worked
District #1 can remember covering Chambers Street prior to the construction
of the World Trade Center. Since retirement, I have remained
active and am employed as a technician in the maintenance field of
industrial equipment.
As a
long time member of the Retirees’ Association, I have been a
regular participant at meetings and functions. In addition to the
social aspects of the association, membership has kept me informed
on issues concerning my pension and welfare. These and similar
issues have become even more important as we progress in life. We, as retirees, are still subject to actions instituted by the
City Council, the New York
City Employees Retirement System, and the State Legislature. To remain abreast of these conditions we must remain politically
involved.
I would like to see a program developed to provide a guest speaker
at each monthly meeting. I am confident that our membership
has the necessary resources. In addition, an increased
affiliation with other associations and groups dealing with
similar benefits and retirement issues would be advantageous.
It is in the best interest of every member to remain informed.
Your views, recommendations and comments as members are important,
and the active participation in the Retirees’ Association is
essential.
In 2004, John decided not to run
for office again and was appointed by President McKeon as the
Executive Assistant and later on was appointed to be the
Legislative Chairman for the Retirees' Association.
In 2007, with the retirement
of our distinguished 1stVice-President, Richard Sinnott,
John was appointed by then President Marty McKeon to the position
of 1st Vice-President, the office he now holds after the elections
for the term of 2008 to 2010.
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 Ron
Forte
2nd Vice-President
Hello my fellow retirees,
First, let me introduce myself to those who may not be acquainted
with me. I am Ronald (Ron) Forte. I was born and raised in New
York City, attended Central Commercial High School on 42nd St. and
3rd Ave., graduated, then entered the US Navy in 1956. In 1962 I
became a conductor with the T.A., and later promoted to Towerman
in '63. While a Towerman at the Brooklyn Bridge station, one
particular policeman (no names please) would come into the tower
and go to sleep on a cot behind the machine. He would ask me to
wake him at a certain time. Well, I said to myself, that looks
like a pretty nice job. In July 1964 I was appointed to the
Transit Police Dept.
My first tour of duty was in Dist. 7 (30). Most of my time on
the job was in Dist. 23 and the O/U. I also was assigned to BAPU
at Brooklyn Criminal Court and to the Fare Evasion Squad.
I vested out 1982, worked for the S.S. Administration as an
auditor, then transferred to the US Postal Service as a
carrier/truck driver.
Now in my golden years, I love to play golf (not very well),
chess and 'Freecell' on my computer. I also love to cruise. Last
year was the best as my wife and I cruised to Alaska for twelve
days, a place everyone
should see once.
I would like to thank President Ed Russo
for appointing me as the 2nd Vice-President of this Association. I have
taken this position because I want to give back to this wonderful
organization. I want to help bring more activities to the
membership, such as the Day at the Races at Belmont Park
that is being planned. Always remember TRANSIT COPS ARE TOPS.
Fraternally,
Ron Forte |
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Mike
Lanning
Recording Secretary
I
came on the job April 1965 and retired in September of 1986,
without VSF. I served as Trustee for the TPBA for 12 years in
Queens. I also worked in Dist. 1,20,21,22. I served on the Retiree
Executive Board for 6 yrs as your recording secretary. I’ve been
employed at St. Francis Hospital for the last 4 yrs. and I’m happily
married to my wife Doris for the past 40 years and we have 5 beautiful
grandchildren. I love the Transit Police Department and will
always be Retired Transit Police. I
think that the new board
will do great as long as we keep focused on what we want to do for
the Membership because they are the ones who run this. We
have to listen to what road they want us to follow and try to do
it, but we also have to head where it is best for the organization |
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 Pat Collins Executive SecretaryI
was hired on 5/3/65 and lasted until 4/1/86 as a P0. I worked at the
following Commands,
'65-66 in Dist 1(14th St “LL”), ' 66-67in Dist 2 (Lex/125th
St), '67-68 in Dist 31, '68-83 in the Operations Unit, and '83-85 in Headquarters
(S/A). I was
an Officer of the Emerald Society from 1970-1985, holding various
positions, and the last 2 years as President. While in the 0/U,
I was
their PBA delegate from '69-83. What I would like to see is to
have the Retirees Association become
one big family of all brothers and sisters who are honored to be
known as a "TRANSIT COP”. As we all know, there will no longer
be any more Transit Cops, so I feel those of us who are still
here should stick together and be there for each other.
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Ron
DiMaio
Financial Secretary
 Still
Under
construction
Bio to follow |
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 Anthony
Lomanto Treasurer & Webmaster
I was appointed to the NYC Transit Police Department
on December 1, 1965 as part of the largest class ever in the
Department. After graduation, I was assigned to rotating in Dist. 1
then into the O/U on restricted duty thanks to a bleeding ulcer.
After getting back to full duty, I remained in the O/U for a while
then went back to Dist. 1, and eventually back to the O/U.
That lasted until 1969 when I was sent to TFU in Dist. 34A until
its' end in 1976. After a short stay in Dist. 32, I finally
came "home" to Dist. 34, Stillwell Avenue, the "End of the line."
During my time in D/34, I was elected Delegate, area Trustee,
and ended as Delegate until my retirement in January, 1986.I also
served as a Trustee of the Annuity Fund of the PBA for several
years. I am married to my second wife, Shirley, since 1982, and
between us have four children and four grandchildren. After a stint
in the limousine business, building security and six years in retail
(Home Depot, Lowe's) I went back into uniform currently working
security at St. Francis Hospital in Roslyn, LI, NY, alongside many
fine retired Transit Police Officers. I am proud to have been asked
to be this web site's Webmaster and hope to utilize what skills I
have to maintain this site for the enjoyment of our members,
friends, and Internet visitors. In a final thought, I would like to
see all retired Transit Police Officers united under the banner of
this association. This year, 2004, I have taken over the office of
Treasurer, following in the footsteps of John Regan and Frank Crisa.
I now know how hard a job they encountered and I appreciate all the
help they have and will be giving me, but I can say that I do enjoy
the time at the computer. Best to all.
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 Frank
Crisa
Editor-in-Chief
I was appointed to the Transit Police Department on
December 1st, 1965, and Dist.1 was my first assignment
after graduation. This was a great place to learn the job; I got most of my experience right there. I remember getting
off the downtown A train at 42nd & 8th on my
first tour of duty in my brand new blue uniform. When I got to the
upper mezzanine to make my on-post ring someone yelled “Man with a
gun." There I was, right in the thick of it. Making an arrest in
those days was a trial and error learning process. I learned
quickly!
Later on I
volunteered for assignment to the Coney Island Summer Squad.
I really enjoyed getting out of the “hole” and into the fresh air
every summer. I don’t know how many summers I did there, but they
were all great and I made many great friends. I hoped that maybe
someday I would have the seniority to pick Dist 34. When I
finally made it to the “Country Club”, I got a call from (then)
Lt. Rodney Ward. He told me I was being assigned to City Wide
Anti-Crime. Damn, I just got the District of my dreams and I
didn’t want to go. Anyway, as I had no choice, I packed my bags
and headed back to Manhattan and The Bronx. This assignment turned
out to be the best five or six years on the job for me. Thanks
Rodney.
When that unit
was disbanded, I wound up back at the “34 House." To make a long
story short; Chief James Ferry (then Lt. Ferry) took me under his
wing and assigned me to many administrative duties in the command.
Under his very capable stewardship I learned the techniques
necessary to become a good administrator. Thanks Jim. This
knowledge, the ability to get along with people and, of course,
being a Transit Cop, afforded me the experience that I took with
me into my civilian career. I’ve been pretty lucky in that area. I
became the Director of Security at Pratt Institute in
Brooklyn, New York. I’ve served at Pratt since October of
1987, first as the Assistant Director of Security then in May
1995, I was promoted to Director.
I finally
retired to "the good life" in 2007. No regrets, a great wife, great kids and
great grand-kids; life is good.
In closing, I
should say that I was honored to serve for seven years as
Treasurer of our fine association. During that time I enjoyed
putting together “Beyond the Line” as our Association’s
newsletter. It really caught on and the feedback I get tells me
the troops enjoy reading it. However, the demands of being on the
executive board consumed too much of my personal time, so I decided
not to seek re-election. Your new executive board asked me to stay
on and continue to do the newsletter and I’m happy to do it. I
think this organization should get the respect and loyalty it
deserves. Many good things have come directly from the hard work
of past administrations that directly affect the quality of our
lives. Please continue to support us so we can move forward.
Fraternally,
Frank Crisa
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Edward
Wilko Sargeant-at-Arms
Under
construction
Bio to follow |
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John
DeMeis
Chaplain
Still
Under
construction
Bio to follow |
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