Push Continues To Rename Harlem Street For Fallen Cop
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) - The push continues to have a section of Harlem street renamed for a member of the NYPD who was gunned down in 1972, WCBS 880's Alex Silverman reported.
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Patrolman Philip Cardillo had just five years on the job when he was shot dead inside a Nation of Islam mosque on West 116th Street.
It came at a time of racial tension.
A fake distress call lured cops to the mosque. There was a confrontation inside in which someone shot Cardillo with his own gun. As a riot threatened, police released suspects to cool things down.
When now retired Detective Randy Jurgensen got to the mosque on that day in 1972, Cardillo was being carried out.
"The blood on the wall, the blood on the floor," Jurgensen told Silverman. "One of the darkest days in the police department's wonderful history."
Evidence was never collected and a nobody was ever convicted in the killing, reported Silverman.
Now, 34 years later, there's an effort led by an NYPD inspector to rename part of 116th Street in Cardillo's honor.
But Community Board No. 10 has yet to give the okay.
Jurgensen said the worry is about opening old wounds.
"They have to continue to deal with that part of the community that was not supporting this. They're going to have to give an answer," he said.
Community Board No. 10 sent Silverman this response when asked for comment:
In response to your inquiry about the co-naming of a street honoring Police Officer Philip Cardillo, on Wednesday, May 9th Inspector Rodney Harrison from the 28th Precinct presented to CB 10's Park, Recreation and Transportation Committee a request to co-name a street near the precinct in honor of Police Officer Philip Cardillo. It is the practice of CB10 to request a presenter to complete a Street Co-naming application. After the application is complete, the Committee will do its due diligence, and respond to the applicant accordingly. At this time the application for the co-naming has not been completed.
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