Where The Sun Didn't Shine

IN THE 60'S IT BECAME A BUNDANTLY CLEAR that a gulf of misunderstanding and mistrust stood firmly between the police and the people that need their services. Although the police department has seemingly gone through the motions of building bridges of trust and understanding in the ghettos, most of the city's two million Black and Hispanics' conditions were in many ways worse than ever. While there was no doubt that intolerable conditions existed due to white racism over the years that was entangled with political and social greed, the power structure was as blind as ever to the true needs of the black community. In 1969, it became overwhelmingly clear that the Black and Hispanics had completely lost all faith in the police department. Crime on all levels was vertically rampant. The political powers were to hold a meeting in City Hall. Included in this meeting was the Mayor, Police Commissioner and the then Congressman of Harlem. As a result of that unprecedented meeting they reached out to the black and Latina police officers in search of motivated, dedicated, committed, aggressive and fearless officers, letting them be aware that there will be a high probability that some may be killed due to their all out approach to eliminating gun runners and street narcotics conditions. Out of the 113 interviewed 20 were hand picked and were called the New York City police department PEP squad. Bennett Hinds was one of the members of this elite group. Three were killed and one crippled for life. None of the 17 survivors were promoted. The validity of many events can be verified by the departments operational files as well as the NEW YORK AMSTERDAM NEWS, NY DAILY NEWS, and CHANNEL 7 EYEWITNESS NEWS.