A murdered detective’s legacy

16 Nov A murdered detective’s legacy

A murdered detective’s legacy

Morganville, N.J.: Re Voicer Bob Petrosino’s letter about his great-great-uncle, Lt. Joe Petrosino, the NYPD detective murdered by the Black Hand in 1909 in Sicily: He was also my great-great-uncle and I would like to add a significant piece of history that is often overlooked.

My grandfather was Prospero Petrosino, who was 9 when his uncle was assassinated in Sicily. This event had such a profound influence on him that he went on to be a NYPD detective from 1924 to 1950 alongside his younger brother, Detective James Petrosino, from 1929 to 1955. Both were involved in famous cases of their time, which also had an influence on my generation of family members who currently are involved in law.

Anthony Petrosino, a great-great-nephew, is a leading criminologist with WestEd’s Justice and Prevention Research Center.

Paul Tepper was an undercover NYPD detective involved in gangs in the 1970s and 80s, and was given Lt. Joe Petrosino’s actual shield from my grandfather, Detective Prospero Petrosino.

Perry Perrone, a great-great-nephew, is currently the assistant district attorney and chief of the Homicide Department for the prosecutor’s office in Westchester County.

The inspiring story would be how a family was inspired by Lt. Joe Petrosino’s legacy to fight crime for over 100 years in New York City and throughout the United States. Mike Petrosino