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.

Ron Forte                             1st 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 1st 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 

Pat Collins                            2nd Vice President

I 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.

Harry Hassler                   Executive Secretary

I am very honored to have been asked to serve as your Executive Secretary.
I promise that, with God's help, I will serve this association of heroes to the best of my ability.

I was asked to write a short bio to introduce myself, so here it is: I was appointed on May 3, 1965 at the age of 21. After graduating from the Jamaica Armory, it was steady 8Ps on the No.7 Flushing line for the remainder of the Worlds Fair. Then it was District 3 for a few months, then District 1 for a year. At the end of 1966, I went to District 22 and steady 8Ps for two years. In 1967, it was  train and station patrol in District 20 that lasted until I made Sergeant in 1974 when I served as a Sergeant in District 4 until 1980.

During 1980 & 1981, I was an instructor at the Gold St. Academy and the Academy annex at 20th Street. I went back to District 4 at the end of 1981 and continued in uniformed patrol until 1985. I was planning my retirement, but in February of 1985, I was indicted with five other cops in the case of Michael Stewart vs. NYCTP.

After 20 years on patrol, I finally got a detail and was transferred to the Communications Unit. After being acquitted, I was kept on modified duty pending other investigations. After being passed over for promotion three times, I was promoted to Lieutenant on the last day of the Lt's. list. I stayed in the C.U. until 1988 when I became C.O. of that prestigious and legendary unit, the Revenue Protection Division. In 1991, I was promoted to Captain. My last day on the job was my son Bill's first day on the job. On July 2, 1992, I swore my son in and said "Good bye" to a great police department. They swore me in on May 3, 1965, but they never swore me out. That's why, in my heart, I am still a Transit Cop, and always will be!
 

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

Ron DiMaio                           Financial Secretary

There is an old saying, that when at work, “If you like what you’re doing, you will never work a day in your life”.  I know the feeling.

When I was 14 years old, growing up in Brooklyn, I joined the Metropolitan Rod and Gun Club with my friend Bob.  I would take my rifle in a case and travel by subway to the club where I learned rifle marksmanship. I enjoyed the sport so much that I competed in matches and even brought home some trophies.  Back then, I also went hunting with my friends, my son, brother-in-law and father-in-law. Unfortunately, climbing mountains to hunt is too strenuous for me now, but since then, target shooting has been my life-long hobby.  I also taught my wife, Rita, my son, Raymond, and my daughter, Lauren, how to shoot. When I moved out to Long Island, I joined the Freeport Rifle and Revolver Association, where I practice rifle and pistol target shooting. I make this my time out with my son.

My career with the NYC Transit Police Department spanned nearly 21 years. (Class of June 21, 1965)   During that time, I worked on patrol in the following Districts: 30, 33, 31, 34, 22, 11, Records, Communications and Operations Units and met many good people. But when the opportunity arose to be assigned to the Range and the Firearms Training Unit at Gold Street, I jumped at it.  I will never forget my first day at the Range; I was happy because I was given six .38 Spl. service revolvers to clean by Rudy Zubikowski. Rudy could not understand why I was happy for this assignment as I truly enjoyed handling the tools of my hobby, therefore, it didn’t seem like work to me.  During almost three years at the Range, I met some celebrities like Sylvester Stallone and Billy D. Williams in the making of the movie Night Hawks and Meredith Vierra from the media who interviewed us.  But most of all, I worked with some great guys including: Sgts. John Cullen, Bob White and William Carroll and P.O.s Rudy Zubikowski, Tony Borgese, Henry Melchiona, Dick Sorge, Cardinal (Tony) Campbell, Donald Parks, and I.W. Smith who was killed in the line of duty.

My most rewarding accomplishment on the job was to train new recruits, some of whom had never handled a gun before. A few of them, especially the women, almost quit “the job” because they were fearful of the gun and they were also afraid of not being able to qualify. I trained them to use the tool they needed to master in order to qualify, the revolver. The recruits were grateful for my patience and skills in training them so they were able to qualify. After being promoted to Sergeant in April 1982, I had to leave my “Home on the Range”, where I felt like I wasn’t really working because I was doing what I liked to do.   I was reassigned to TPF Patrol and four years later, on January 31, 1986, I retired.

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.