Randy Jurgensen
| NYPD Detective, Author, Film Actor and Producer Randy Jurgensen | |
|---|---|
| Born | Harlem, New York City, NY |
| Occupation | Detective |
| Years active | 1958-1978 |
| Organization | NYPD |
| Known for | Investigation the Phil Cardillo murder |
| Notable work(s) | Author, “Circle of Six” |
| Spouse(s) | Lynn |
| Children | Devon |
Randy Jurgensen is a former NYPD detective best known as the lead investigator for the murder of patrolman Phil Cardillo. Jurgenson was born in 1993 to Elizabeth and Randolf Jurgenson in Harlem, NY. He served in the US Army as a paratrooper and was in the Battle of Pork Chop Hill in the Korean War. He was decorated with 3 bronze stars and a purple heart.[1] He entered the NYPD in 1958 as a patrolman and was quickly promoted to detective. He worked undercover investigation members of the Black Liberation Army. At one point the BLA placed a $50,000 bounty on his head which is believed to still exist today. From 1973-1976, he led the Cardillo murder investigation. He was forced to retire from the NYPD, pleading Nolo contendere to a series of charges brought up on by the NYPD. While a detective for the NYPD he had begun working on films as a consultant. He transitioned to a career in film acting and production and has appeared in more than 30 films.
1972 Harlem mosque incident
On April 14, 1972, dispatchers received a 9-1-1 call from a "Detective Thomas", claiming to need assistance at the Nation of Islam's Mosque No. 7 on West 116th Street in Harlem. Five uniformed officers responded. What happened next is still in dispute. The police say they were overpowered and assaulted when they arrived;[2] imam Louis Farrakhan and the other worshippers present say the police interrupted them with guns drawn during prayers and refused repeated requests to wait or at least leave their guns, which their faith forbid from being carried into a place of worship, outside. At a press conference the next day he would claim it was a premeditated attack and the 9-1-1 call just a ruse.[3]
Original investigation
Jurgensen was assigned the case in 1974 after the initial investigator, Basil "Sleepy" Slepwitz retired.[4] Numerous obstacles were place in his way most notably that he was not allowed to visit the actual crime scene. He requested that any detective from other precincts notify him when any Muslim in the city was arrested. This was done so that he could interview the arrestee with the hopes that there might be a connection to others who were in the Mosque at the time of the shooting. After years of fruitless interviews, he got his break when Foster 2X Thomas was arrested on a credit card fraud charge. Thomas was a baker at the Mosque and present on the day of the Cardillo murder. Thomas eventually testified at the murder trial of Lewis 17X Dupree was acquitted after two trials.
Second investigation
In 2006, Jurgensen published his first book, Circle of Six, which is a recount of the Mosque incident and subsequent investigation. After the book was released, NYPD Commissioner Ray Kelly launched a new investigation.[5] Kelly was an NYPD sergeant at the time of the mosque occurrence and knew Jurgensen. In 2012 the NYPD announced that the investigation had yielded no new evidence.
Push to rename a street
Jurgensen remains active to have a street in New York City renamed after Patrolman Cardillo.[6][7]
Film career
Jurgensen began working as a technical consultant in the film industry while a detective for the NYPD. His notable films include The French Connection and Donnie Brasco.
Cruising
In the early 1960s Jurgensen and his partner performed undercover work to investigate homosexual murders in New York City. Homosexuals were being targeted by two perpetrators who would pose as police offices. His work was inspiration of the film Cruising wherein Al Pacino played his character.[8]
Filmography
Acting[9]
- 2001 100 Centre Street
- 1997 Donnie Brasco
- 1996 Thinner
- 1996 The Juror
- 1995 Homicide: Life on the Street
- 1983 Vigilante
- 1982 Still of the Night
- 1981 See China and Die
- 1981 Fort Apache the Bronx
- 1980 Maniac
- 1980 Cruising
- 1978 Superman
- 1978 The Brink's Job
- 1978 Bloodbrothers
- 1978 To Kill a Cop
- 1977 Contract on Cherry Street
- 1977 The Godfather: A Novel for Television
- 1977 Sorcerer
- 1976 God Told Me To
- 1973 Cops and Robbers
- 1973 Mr. Inside/Mr. Outside
- 1972 The Godfather
- 1971 The French Connection
See also
Notes
References
- ↑ "Korea GI gets his Purple Heart".
- ↑ Daley, Robert (June 4, 1973). "The Untold Story Behind the Harlem Mosque Shooting". New York 6 (23): 34–43. ISSN 0028-7369. Retrieved May 22, 2013.
- ↑ Jurgensen, Randy (2007). Circle of Six: The True Story of New York's Most Notorious Cop Killer and the Cop Who Risked Everything to Catch Him. The Disinformation Company. pp. 56–57. ISBN 9781934708859. Retrieved May 22, 2013.
- ↑ Grosso, Sonny (1977). Murder at the Harlem Mosque. New York: Crown. ISBN 978-0517529713.
- ↑ "Was a cop killer an FBI informant?".
- ↑ "Push Continues To Rename Harlem Street For Fallen Cop".
- ↑ "Push To Co-Name Street After Slain NYPD Officer Meets With Apprehension".
- ↑ "Gay Old time".
- ↑ "IMDB Filmography for Randy Jurgensen".