Pascal Storino, Jr., Criminal Investigator, Retired, is otherwise known as “Pat.” This career detective has a fascinating website about the history of the New York Police Department at http://nypdhistory.com/and it is worth many visits.
Pat has also been a great resource to help me understand more about the equipment and policies of the NYPD during the time of the Joe Phenix stories. We have traded emails about old lanterns, police rattles, and rapping a nightstick on pavement at night as a signal. His posts come from experience and the heart, and make for some great reading.
Check it out and subscribe to his newsletter/blog to get the latest material:
“Lost” and Rediscovered
Detective Thrillers from the 1800s
in Brilliant New Editions
https://darklanterntales.wordpress.com/
Dark Lantern Tales 