Chasing The Don

by Jack Morris

No police officer in New York City or across the United States has ever surpassed the dedication and exploits of Giuseppe ‘Joe’ Petrosino at this writing in 2011. The son of Italian immigrants at a time when being Italian and an immigrant meant being denied work, especially police work, the little boy grew to become America’s most heralded lawman. He was tough, fearless, and honest. He was also too short and too fat and his face was pocked marked with the scars from small pox as a child. His drive and leadership and his ability to speak Italian brought him to the attention of police administrators at a time when their department faced a crime epidemic in the city involving ruthless gangsters – the gangster organization became known as the Black Hand or Mafia.

Giuseppe took to his one man job of tackling the murders and extortions with such fervor that soon the city’s crime wave was brought almost to a halt with the once all powerful Sicilian killers either on the run, in jail, or deported.

Ultimately, Petrosino began to focus his undaunted energy and analytical mind on the most fearsome organized crime boss of the period. His criminal target was powerful in both Sicily and in New York City and the man he hunted had his paid killers on the streets, many influential friends in the government, and all the resources he needed to bring down the headstrong and determined lawman.

99 pages, Kindle Edition

First published February 21, 2011