Lt. Patrick J. Ciser (Ret.) of the City of Clifton Police Department, in New Jersey, is also known to his many karate students as Sensei (Teacher). Ciser achieved national and international fame by representing the United States in five international

BUDO and the BADGE

Exploits of a Jersey CopBy Patrick J. Ciser

abbott press

Copyright © 2012 Patrick J. Ciser
All right reserved.
ISBN: 978-1-4582-0295-6

Contents

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS................................................viiiPREFACE........................................................xiii1. HOPE AVENUE.................................................12. ASH STREET..................................................83. PURSUITS....................................................174. BECOMING PAT CISER..........................................365. NEW YEAR'S EVE..............................................526. UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES.....................................687. LAKE AVENUE.................................................778. TO CATCH A CRIMINAL.........................................829. CENTER STREET...............................................9610. GREECE.....................................................10411. PASSAIC COUNTY NARCOTICS TASK FORCE........................13612. ROBBERIES..................................................14913. SEARCH, THEN SEARCH AGAIN..................................16214. GUNS, GUNS, EVERYWHERE!....................................16915. CLIFTON NARCOTICS..........................................18216. BODIES.....................................................19517. 2007 REUNION...............................................20518. THE ART OF FIGHTING, WITHOUT FIGHTING......................21219. 11/11/11...................................................22020. EARLY YEARS................................................22721. STATE OF LAW ENFORCEMENT...................................24422. THE STATE OF BUDO (MARTIAL ARTS) TODAY.....................25623. TIPS ON SELF DEFENSE.......................................266

Chapter One

HOPE AVENUE

It was summertime, in the year 1991. I liked summer working the crossover 2000–0400 (8pm-4am) "power" shift. I hated the cold then, as I hate it now. It's funny, but with all the coast-to-coast and world traveling I've done, I still come back to New Jersey to tolerate the winter. I guess that living 20 minutes from New York City and Newark Liberty Airport has its advantages. On this night, like so many others, I was right where I wanted to be, assigned to the east side of Clifton. A couple of post cars (marked patrol units) were dispatched to Hope Avenue, in the city's "Botany Village" section. Dispatch reported that there was an erratic male yelling, screaming and threatening passersby. Car #1, along with a two-man Car, #8, were assigned. Like a lot of good cops in Clifton, I took it upon myself to roll in and stand by, just in case those units needed further assistance. I arrived, finding the officers exiting their radio cars.

"You guys need any help?!" I shouted from my driver's seat.

Officer Robert Little, a rookie then, replied, "No, I think we're okay, Pat."

I really took the old "brothers in blue" concept seriously. Whenever I thought things could get rough, or go bad, I believed it was my responsibility to step up and help. Unfortunately, some guys believed I was overbearing at times. One of our dispatchers, Matt Failla, who was always of great help to me, came up with a nickname for me; "The Colonel." As a patrolman, and not having rank, I guess I came across at times like I was in charge. Some cops thought over the years, I was a natural-born leader, while others at times, probably thought I was an arrogant jerk (okay, maybe the correct word wasn't jerk). The truth of the matter is that I always wanted everyone to be safe.

* * *

There's an old saying that I picked up from the old Kung Fu TV series. A man is but three things: What he thinks he is; what others think he is; and what he really is. Don't ever worry if everyone doesn't like you. Don't be afraid of making the hard choices. Always stand for what you believe in and remember that if everyone likes you, it may be because you're a weak leader.

* * *

Getting back to Hope Avenue, I had started to drive away toward Highland Avenue when I heard over the radio, "Hey Pat, can you come back here a minute?" Of course, I immediately turned around and pulled up to the scene, where I could hear what seemed to be, a lunatic going berserk. I got out of the car and looked up to the second floor veranda. A shirtless Peruvian man, I believe he was, had two very large butcher knives. He was screaming at the top of his lungs that he was going to kill everyone. I thought, Hmmm, that can't be good. The on-scene officers were already calling for a sergeant and additional units to respond. Officers were standing behind their cars with guns drawn. So, I, along with the other officers, monitored his actions and blocked off the area from vehicle and pedestrian traffic while waiting for the sergeant. Sergeant Mike Jupin arrived and was quickly brought up to speed, as was my close friend; Billy Gibson. The sergeant told us that the watch commander was sending our negotiator. Detective George O'Brien arrived a short time later. George was a seasoned veteran with training in interviewing, interrogation and hostage negotiating. Once all the additional help was on scene, I was feeling a little useless. Finding out the Peruvian's name was Hugo, George attempted to start a dialogue, to no avail. Hugo yelled again, "I'm going to kill everyone, and then I am going to kill myself!" With that, he pressed one of the knives against his neck and drew a little blood.

I now walked up to Gibson, who was in a pretty good position to "cap" him, if necessary. Billy was standing behind his car with his gun drawn pointing it at the suspect. With my hands on my gun belt in a very nonchalant fashion, I stood next to Bill and said, "Hey Bill, you ah, gonna shoot this guy?"

He answered, "If I have to, yeah." Bill was usually very serious and sometimes quite intense.

I asked him, "Do you think he's a threat up there?"

He replied, "Yeah. He can throw those knives."

I said, "Yeah, but then you could duck. Besides, how would it look in the papers tomorrow if you shoot that guy off the veranda? How about we relax a little until they really need us?" Billy then lowered his gun while remaining vigilant.

Hugo now pulled out a cigarette lighter and threatened to burn down the building. The building was a four-family duplex with two apartments side-by-side downstairs and two more upstairs. The upstairs apartments had a veranda, each with a sliding glass door. There were drapes around the double door, which Hugo threatened to ignite. A fire truck was now called to respond and stand by with an ambulance that was already on scene. I was now getting downright bored as I watched the action from across the street. There was a nice lady living across the street, who asked me if I wanted anything, so I accepted some cold water, as I sat on the steps. Sgt. Jupin, a heavy smoker, must have been looking for a second pack by now as he paced past me.

I stood up and said, "Hey Sarge, can I talk to you a minute?" He stepped closer as I continued. "Look, I know we have to be nice guys and try to negotiate with this asshole, but when we're done, and he still wants to kill everyone, I'm gonna go up there and shove those knives up his ass."

Jupin looked at me a little surprised and said, "You can do that?"

I said, "Sure, just let me know when you'll let me kick in that door and go up. In the meantime, I'll just wait here sipping my water." The sergeant then gave me the ole, "Sure Pat, whatever you say "look" and walked away.

I sat down and contemplated,...