Family, Friends & Fellow Officers Remember...

Your name will always remain in my memory.
May God Bless you,your family and all the Hero`s of the NYPD.

Ptl. Richard E. Gray (retired)
NYCPD TPF,24,103,Hwy 3

April 19, 2006

We Remember Cardillo. Rest In Peace

PO 028 Pct.
NYPD

April 14, 2006

Name : Cardillo, Phillip Rank: P.O.

Shield #: 26620 Command: 028 Pct.
Date of Death: 1972-04-20 Cause of Death: Shot-Investigation

It was a ‘‘10-13’ A brother officer’s life might have been in, danger. So that was all Ptl Phillip Cardillo and Vito Navarra, 28 Pct., were concerned about as they sped to the location transmitted by Sixth Division Radio as “102 West 116 Street, on the second floor,” on April 14, 1972. Arriving first at the scene, the officers raced into the building, a Black Muslim Mosque, and heard scuffling on the above floor. As they made it up the staircase they were intercepted by 15 to 20 men who forced the officers to retreat down the stairs and back into the hallway. Meanwhile, Ptl. Victor Padilla and Ivan Negron, 25 Pct., along with additional units, arrived and entered the premises. The officers, out numbered, were then attacked and overwhelmed. All of them except Ptl. Cardillo, Padilla and Negron were forced out. A steel door was closed behind them. Ptl. Padilla was then beaten and blackjacked into semi-consciousness while his partner fought off several men who were trying to grab his revolver. With his back to the door, Ptl. Negron suddenly heard shots. He turned and saw a man with a gun in his hand who seemed to be getting up from the floor where Ptl. Cardillo now lay shot. Negron, managing to free himself from his attackers, drew his revolver and fired three shots. It is not known if the man with the gun was hit; he escaped. There were 20 to 25 men in the hallway when Ptl. Navarra and Rudy Andre, 28 Pct., beaten out of the Mosque moments earlier, broke a glass on the metal door and saw the patrolmen inside on their backs. They fired several shots through the broken glass into the hallway. This scattered the men who had been assaulting the officers and enabled Ptl. Negron to unbolt the double metal door. During the melee, Ptl. Cardillo and Padilla, seriously injured, had their service revolvers taken from them. Immediately these officers were rushed to St. Lukes Hospital. Despite intensive efforts on the part of surgeons, hospital personnel and numerous blood donors, a week later Ptl. Cardillo died. The chest wound was inflicted by a bullet fired at such a close distance, powder burns were on his jacket. Ptl Padilla is still recovering from the brutal beating he received.

An investigation of the incident disclosed that the original ‘‘assist patrolman” phone call, made by a man who identified himself as a detective was unfounded. Thus far, two men have been arrested on assault charges as the intensive search for Ptl. Cardillo’s murderer continues.

An Inspector’s Funeral was given to Officer Cardillo. The five-year-veteran on the force is survived by his wife and three children. He was 31 years old.

Sgt V Reyes

December 30, 2005

Brother Cardillo,

May the road rise up to meet you,
May the wind be always at your back,
May the sun shine warm upon your face,
And the rains fall soft upon your fields,
And until we meet again,
May God hold you in the palm of His hand.

Respectfully,
You’re Brothers in Blue

Untouchables Law Enforcement Motorcycle

December 2, 2005

It's an honor to walk in your footsteps. I will see to it that everyone will always "REMEMBER CARDILLO". Rest In Peace.

PO
NYPD 28 Pct

November 29, 2005

I proudly worked in the 28 from 7/86 to 5/98.The first thing you learned was the story of Phil Cardillo.You read the book,and listened to the senior guys.The battlecry was simple:
"REMEMBER CARDILLO"

We will never forget

Sgt.Gavin Duffy
NYPD

November 29, 2005

I served in the 28th Pct from 2/1/55 to
1967. I retired in 1972. I for one knew about the Mosque on 116st, which was my post for many tours. I will never forget Phillip Cardillo. God bless him.

Ptl Anthony Pucci
Retired

June 21, 2005

I'll always remember this day, as the blackest day in NYPD history. It was a disgrace what the upper hierarchy of NYC Govt did on that day by letting go all the suspects, and then come up with an obscure dept. memo regarding Sensitive Prone Locations, saying that this officer should not have been in that Mosque. This officer did what any other officer would have done in the same situation. He was truly a hero, and should always be remembered as ONE!

PO John F Whelan,Jr
NYPD

June 20, 2005

Officer Cardillo will never be forgotten. He was a true hero and its ashame that the PC and Mayor chose not to attend his funeral.

A Citizen

January 27, 2005

Phillip Cardillo's memory will not be forgotten, I understand a bok is in the works in regards to his tragic and senseless demise.

January 4, 2005

AS I SPENT MY ENTIRE, THOUGH SHORT, CAREER IN THE 028 PCT FROM 1982-1992 , THROUGH MY PRESENT VARIOUS POLICE ASSOCIATIONS I WILL AT LEAST NEVER ALLOW THIS SAID OFFICER'S NAME TO EVER BE FORGOTTEN !

FRATERNALLY
TIMOTHY MOTTO
MEMBER OF THE FOP, LONG ISLAND SHIELDS, NYPD NY10-13, RPA, AND IPA

PO TIMOTHY MOTTO
NYPD

November 27, 2003