NYPD Historical Display at PBQS

21/12/2025

Thank you to retired Sgt "Bobby" Robert Cotumaccio and the RSA for always actively supporting the history of the job!

I have yet to meet a trainee that didn't like the program... or wasn't a successful cop. (felt it was important to ensure it was preserved).
Still looking for a 1)grey trainee shirt, or light colored shirt round patch and crescent patch, and 2) trainee nameplate. (also any other trainee photos or items for final display.

Thank you all who helped including Ret. Trainee Victor Grillo, Ret. Trainee Alfred Smith, Ret. Trainee Edmond Decio, Christo Begg and especially the RSA!

30/10/2025

https://www.facebook.com/share/17cC6NJdXx/

Great job 19th Precinct!!!

20/10/2025

Thank you AMNY, especially reporter Barbara Russo-Lennon, for supporting our fight to honor and preserve all the hard work and sacrifices made my ALL the members of the New York City Police Department.

A group of retired NYPD officers want to open a police museum in NYC that would feature their collection of historic medals, uniforms and gear.

17/09/2025

The PBQS museum staff was honored to welcome a visit from retired Sergeant Victor A. Mevo Jr. with his son Detective Victor Louis Mevo.

The good Sergeant Mevo, a Combat Cross recipient, came on the job in 1994 and started his career at the 43rd Precinct in the Bronx. After five years of active work on the street, and a little good timing, he earned a seat in the Aviation Unit. In 2004 he earned the promotion to the rank of Sergeant and was assigned to supervise the 9th Precinct in Manhattan. He later returned to the Aviation unit where he remained until his “20 and out” retirement in 2014. Sergeant Mevo earned the additional distinctions of being the Aviation Unit's Chief Flight Instructor and the designated Federal Aviation Administration Pilot Examiner.

When the good Sergeant heard the museum did not have anything on display from the Aviation Unit, he kindly reached out and offered his personal collection for all to enjoy. It was great to hear him tell the story and background of each item. My favorite item was a simple black glove where the fingertip was cut off. He explained that when performing firefighting aviation flights with the water filled "Bambi Bucket", the switch to drop the water and the switch to drop the whole bucket were right near each other on the flight stick. He cut the tip of the glove off so he could be sure he hit the right switch to drop only the water and not accidentally drop the whole Bambi Bucket in the fire.

It was also great to see another NYPD family legacy as the NYPD "Mevo" name lives on in his son Detective Victor Louis Mevo, TARU, and his daughter Police Officer Alexis Mevo, 109 Precinct (pictured below).

Again, Thank You Sergeant Mevo!!! and many safe, healthy, and enjoyable years to your family!

All the Best!

16/09/2025

07/05/2025

Sometimes it makes you wonder…

Ret. Sgt John Schroeder, NYPD Historian - Curator, was checking his emails of daily ebay searches for NYPD historical items when he saw a F.O.P. medal which had been issued to NYPD Police Officer Renee Dunbar.

John immediately knew exactly who she was as we had both placed her on the PBQS Line of Duty Memorial Wall.

Police Officer Renee Dunbar who served for 21 years at the 103 Precinct died from illnesses caused by inhaling toxic materials while participating in the rescue and recovery efforts at the World Trade Center site following the 9/11 terrorist attacks. She was survived by her mother, two sisters, aunt, and three nephews.

John immediately reached out to the seller who was in Texas and had the medal listed for $100.00 at no reserve. After explaining the situation to the seller, who it was and where it needed to go, the seller still upped the price to $250.00. John was able to purchase the medal, but the question remained - Did the family sell it?

John reached out to me as he couldn't make the annual PBQS LOD Memorial Mass due to work (Federal Court), and asked me to see what the family knew about the medal. Our worst case was we would put it on display at the PBQS Museum.

Mrs. Diane Dunbar immediately broke into tears… She had let Renne’s sister, who lived in Texas, hold the medal as they were very close, but she had recently passed. The mother asked her son in law to return the medal, but he very nastily denied all requests and sold it off.

The decision was made, it had to go back to the family. Detective Adam Gannon, 103rd Precinct Crime Prevention - Dunbar Family LOD Liaison, on his own started a collection from 103 Officers, and together with John and myself, we all split the cost and paid for the medal to be returned to the family.

Detective Adam Gannon personally presented the “Inappropriately allocated medal” back to Mrs. Diane Dunbar who broke into tears of joy….

As big as this world may be, things like this make you wonder who is out there watching over…

Ret. Police Officer Joseph Marino
NYPD Historian - Curator

24/04/2025

I was honored to be invited up to the Massachusetts State Police Museum, just a great group doing an amazing job preserving and showcasing their history. Although I may have been a stranger in a foreign land, they made me feel right at home...

All kinds of displays- from vintage uniform and motorcycle, to K9 and Bomb squad. Even some interactive displays for children and family photos. The coolest for me was a remake of the Norman Rockwell "Runaway" photo. The little boy in the photo comes from time to time to sign autographs...

If you happen to be up that way it's worth the visit! The town of Northbridge was very nice too so there are small shops for the whole family to enjoy. Plenty of parking too!

Got some great ideas for us to incorporate if we can just get the 49 sitting in the PC's Office signed...

https://maps.app.goo.gl/SPLPKueRaGn6BkmR9

30/03/2025

Thank you Det. Joseph J Gannon for putting together this beautiful display honoring the 1st family who graduated 3 new officers on the same day!

23/03/2025

The PBQS Museum staff is proud to present our new exclusive patch.

Our newly established patch contains many NYPD historical tributes. From a reference to the original 8 watchman, to the color envision green which was used on RMPs until 1972, we encourage you to find them all. We would be remiss to not acknowledge a special tribute to honor the officer responsible for trailblazing NYPD History, the 1st NYPD Historian, Detective Al Young.

These first patches will be distributed as a small token of gratitude to those whose assistance made the Patrol Borough Queens South Museum Open House an overwhelming success.

A special thank you to George at Underdogpatchdesigns.com for all his time, effort, and many revisions, ensuring such a great quality piece!

Again, thank you for your time and continued support! Stay Safe!

29/12/2024

Hey do you guys have a vintage audio reel player over there?

We never thought the PBQS Museum would get a official NYPD request to assist in an active investigation, and failure on our first request would not be an option. Although we did not have one, we do now!

Special Thank You!!! to Historian and long term supporter retired Detective Joseph J. Gannon (1966 to 1982) for coming through on short notice and placing your vintage NYPD audio reel player on loan at the PBQS Museum. We hope that it will help solve the case; all the best of luck to the requesting unit and happy hunting!!

Retired Joseph J. Gannon has the honor of being part of the NYPD Gannon family legacy dating back to 1904; a family law enforcement legacy that continues today with Joe's son Edward.
Joeseph J. Gannon is a Fordham graduate who began his career in the Tactical Patrol Force and went on to serve in the Detective Taxi Task Force, Bronx Narcotics, Special Investigations, the old 18 Squad, and the Forgery Unit.

Attached is a bio of the Gannon Law Enforcement family legacy. Please enjoy a quick read about a true blue family!

Again, as always, Thank You Joe!!!!

28/11/2024

What do a Retired Captain, Lieutenant, SDS Sergeant, Detective, Active Police Officer, Auxiliary Captain, Auxiliary Police Officer, and Nassau Auxiliary Police Officer have in common?

They all went back in time to make our history open house a success.

Although this has been done in the past (See the below pics), I feel it only right to credit the officers who gave me the idea -

NYPD 911 LOD Nicholas Finelli - 43 Pct. - EOW 06/08/2013

NYPD 911 LOD Frank Gaynor - Mounted Unit - EOW 01/18/2023

In addition to being NYPD Historians, both often dressed up in a vintage Metropolitan Police Uniform for various department events, especially the Honor Legion Police Arlington yearly ceremony. (Rest In Peace)

In fact, Frank Gaynor's widow Lori Gaynor was gracious to let us use his old uniform for this event... THANK YOU!

Thank You:

1st and foremost the Active 107 Police Officer who graciously came off patrol, jumped out of a sector, and put on a skirt to help us out! Not many would willing do what you did. You saved us! Stay Safe! (1940s/50s PW)
Ret. Captain Larry King - Traffic (60s Choker)
Ret. Lieutenant Gerard Lennon - 71 Pct. (60s Horse Blanket)
Ret. SDS Sergeant Jon Schwartz - Auto Crime (60s Patrol Sgt.)
Ret. Det. Jason Caputo - 105 PDU (70s Patrol Officer)
Auxiliary Captain Michael Hennesy- 106 Pct (1860s Metropolitan)
Auxiliary Police Officer Christine Trippler - 106 Pct (1970s PW)
NC Auxiliary Police Officer Adam Schwartz - NCPD (1898 Summer Consolidation PO)