[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 58 (Tuesday, April 21, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E897]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                HONORING THE LIFE OF GIUSEPPE PETROSINO

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. STEVE ISRAEL

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, April 21, 2009

  Mr. ISRAEL. Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to the life of 
Lt. Detective Giuseppe Petrosino on the 100th anniversary of his death. 
Lt. Detective Petrosino was a pioneer in the fight against organized 
crime, and was the first New York City Police officer to be killed on 
foreign soil.
  An emigrant from Padula, Italy, Petrosino joined the New York City 
Police Department on October 18, 1883. His relentless pursuit of 
gangsters and the mafia garnered him the reputation of ``the Detective 
in the Derby.'' Petrosino was the architect of many programs designed 
to combat organized crime. These programs, including the Bomb Squad, 
the Canine Squad, and the Undercover Squad, are all techniques that are 
still used today.
  In 1895, Theodore Roosevelt, who at the time was the police 
commissioner of New York City, promoted Petrosino to Detective Sergeant 
in charge of the department's Homicide Division. He became the first 
Italian-American to lead this division. In 1908, he was promoted to 
Lieutenant and headed the Italian Squad, which was an elite corps of 
Italian-American detectives organized to deal with gangster criminal 
activities.
  Lt. Detective Petrosino's service with the Italian Squad was 
exemplary. In one instance, Petrosino countered a blackmail attempt on 
the life of the famous Italian tenor, Enrico Caruso. In another 
instance, Petrosino infiltrated the Italian based anarchist 
organization that assassinated King Umberto I of Italy. During this 
mission, he discovered evidence that the organization intended to 
assassinate President William McKinley during his trip to Buffalo. 
Petrosino's warning to the Secret Service went unheeded, and President 
McKinley was tragically assassinated.
  Lt. Detective Petrosino's service led him to Italy on a top secret 
mission. Petrosino's commendable career came to a tragic end, when he 
was murdered while waiting for who he thought was an informant.
  The day of his burial in New York City was declared a holiday to 
allow citizens to pay their respects. The Manhattan funeral was 
attended by 250,000 people, a true testament to the honorable service 
Petrosino paid his community.
  On this anniversary of his passing, I remember and applaud the 
dedication with which Lt. Detective Petrosino protected the citizens of 
New York. I am proud to honor him today.

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