Every call left a mark.
My first week out of the police academy, I responded to a burglary in an apartment building where every unit had been illegally subdivided. There were no windows, electricity was from an extension cord in a ceiling light socket, and one bathroom shared by multiple families. Inside, a husband, wife, and their young child slept on a single mattress on the floor. While they were out, someone kicked in their hollow-core door, ripped it off its hinges, and stole the rent money they had worked so hard to save. That call has stayed with me ever since. It wasn’t just about stolen cash. It was the fear, violation, and helplessness on their faces, knowing someone had forced their way into their home.
Just a few weeks later, I responded to another burglary in a nicer part of town. Burglars smashed a $2,000 skylight to gain entry, stole a television, stereo, and jewelry, then walked out the front door. It was raining. Water poured in, soaking carpets and damaging floors. The tenant came home to what had been an immaculate apartment, now left in shambles. She told me she felt personally violated. A stranger had invaded the one place where she should have felt completely safe.
A few months after that, it was my turn. A burglar broke into the basement studio of the four-family house where I was living and set a fire to cover the crime. Nothing was stolen from me, but since I was on the top floor, smoke destroyed everything I owned. The fire department had to break every window to vent the building. That’s when I truly understood what victims had been trying to tell me.
I was a police officer, and even I felt helpless. Standing in those homes, I realized my job was to document what had already happened. I didn’t know what to say to them or how to advise them. So, I made a promise to myself. I would never feel like a victim again, and I didn’t want anyone else to either.
I fought for the opportunity to attend Crime Prevention School and became a Certified Crime Prevention Specialist. After retiring from the NYPD, I completed more training and earned additional certifications in security and risk assessments. That knowledge led me to give back by establishing the National Crime Prevention Academy (NCPA).
Today, I teach the 3 E’s of Home Safety (Education, Engineering, Empowerment). Education helps you recognize vulnerabilities before they become opportunities. Engineering shows you how to strengthen your home with practical, affordable do-it-yourself improvements. Empowerment gives you the confidence to put those skills into action.
No one should ever experience the fear, violation, and anguish that follow a burglary. My mission is to help you prevent it by teaching the principles of crime prevention.