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NYPD Detective on Murder, Mobsters & Old New York | Jason Allison

The Team House

Hosted by Jack Murphy

2h 25m
Transcript

Original podcast

Summary

Written by a model from the transcript; not yet reviewed.

Former NYPD detective and author Jason Allison joins the host to discuss his 20 years on the force, the gritty realities of 1990s New York City, and his new noir detective novel, The Killing Yards. Allison shares unvarnished memories of growing up in the Bronx, working narcotics and homicide investigations during a time of massive urban shift, and transitioning from street-level policing to federal task forces. He and the host explore the stark contrasts between cinematic portrayals of police work and the tedious, bureaucratic, and sometimes chaotic reality of investigations.

Throughout the conversation, Allison explains how his firsthand experiences in the city's nightlife and investigative units directly shaped his fiction writing. He details specific cases, including tracking suspects across the country and coordinating with federal agencies under RICO statutes. The episode offers listeners a raw, cynical, yet deeply reflective look at law enforcement, urban crime trends, and the psychological toll of leaving behind an institutionalized career.

  • Novelist Harlan Coben advises against doing extensive research because accumulating too many extraneous details can unnecessarily slow down a story. 3:37
  • A massive drop in urban homicides over the decades is partly driven by advancements in battlefield trauma medicine making it into city hospitals. 14:38
  • Detectives utilizing federal RICO statutes can bundle multiple shootings and homicides into a single racketeering case to dismantle violent crews. 1:09:04
  • Retiring from a lifelong career in law enforcement can trigger profound aimlessness and identity loss without a new creative outlet or purpose. 1:54:36

Chapters

  1. 0:00
    Podcast Intro and Host Greeting

    The hosts introduce the episode and set the stage for the discussion.

  2. 1:01
    Introducing Guest Jason Allison

    Jack Murphy introduces the episode’s guest, author Jason Allison, and outlines his upcoming novel and background as an NYPD detective.

  3. 2:16
    Personal History: Growing Up in the Bronx

    Jason recounts his upbringing in the Bronx and Sleepy Hollow, highlighting the cultural diversity and socioeconomic realities of the era.

  4. 27:36
    From Club Kid to Police Officer

    He explains the transition from being a club kid to joining the NYPD, motivated by the desire for a stable career and the appeal of law enforcement.

  5. 47:06
    From Narcotics to Detective: Seeking Justice

    The narrator explains how his frustration with narcotics work led him to pursue a detective role to tackle more serious crimes.

  6. 48:51
    Detective Squad Structure and Homicide Work

    He outlines how precinct detective squads operate, the hierarchy of cases, and the collaboration with homicide task forces.

  7. 51:16
    Federal Collaboration and Co-Operation

    The narrative shifts to a large federal case involving gang violence, illustrating the complexities of cooperating with federal prosecutors.

  8. 56:30
    Motivation to Become a Detective

    A kidnapping case sparks his desire to investigate deeper, leading him to transition into homicide and murder investigations.

  9. 59:00
    Challenges of Investigating Low-Profile Victims

    He reflects on the emotional toll of investigating homicides involving marginalized victims and the public's focus on certain victim types.

  10. 1:34:22
    Defining Non‑Organized Crime Crews

    The speaker explains how crews differ from traditional gangs and their criminal activities.

  11. 1:35:20
    The Unseen Violence of Drug‑Addicted Robbers

    He discusses how heroin‑addicted robbers complicate cases and the use of Hobbs Acts to close them.

  12. 1:36:02
    Tracking a Watch‑Store Robber Across States

    He recounts following a New Yorker who fled to Stockton, California, and the challenges of cross‑jurisdictional warrants.

  13. 1:38:55
    Tactical Door‑Knocking in California

    The speaker describes a tense, unconventional arrest in Stockton where federal marshals used a door‑knocking tactic.

  14. 2:20:17
    Fiction vs. Nonfiction in Storytelling

    The guest explains how fiction can convey historical horrors more vividly than nonfiction.

  15. 2:21:43
    Historical Context of New York’s Underworld

    Discussion of the Israeli and Russian mob influence and the drug scene in 1980s New York.

  16. 2:25:27
    Book Release and Promotion Plans

    Details about the upcoming novel’s release date, book signings, and promotional events.

  17. 2:27:00
    Personal Background and Writing Inspiration

    The guest recounts his upbringing in the Bronx and how it shaped his narrative voice.

  18. 2:27:56
    Future Writing Projects and Themes

    Insights into upcoming sequels and a new darkly humorous novel in development.

  19. 2:28:49
    Closing Remarks and Podcast Wrap-Up

    Final thoughts, gratitude, and a reminder to stay tuned for future episodes.

Highlights

  • 5:36

    Growing Up in the Bronxstory

    The guest shares an unvarnished view of growing up in a multi-generational household in the Bronx during the 1980s, noting that at the time kids did not realize how poor they actually were.

  • 14:06

    Broken Windows and Crime Ratesdata

    The discussion explores the broken windows theory implemented under Mayor Giuliani and contrasts the astronomical 2,100 murders in New York City in 1992 with modern figures.

  • 50:21

    The Chaos of Narcotics Warrantsinsight

    The guest contrasts precise military CQB tactics with the disorganized scramble of executing a drug search warrant in city housing projects.

  • 1:12:51

    Tracking a Grisly Homicidestory

    The guest details a grim investigation involving a severed body in a suitcase, tracking surveillance footage and hardware store purchases back to the perpetrator.

  • 1:37:46

    Surprise Confrontation Strategystrategy

    A New York marshal working in California insists on using a bullhorn to call a suspect out of a house rather than simply knocking on the door.

  • 1:54:07

    The Shock of Retirementinsight

    The guest describes the jarring emotional transition of turning in his shield at One Police Plaza and facing sudden aimlessness after twenty years on the force.

Quotes

  • “I was the bridge and tunnel trash that was trying to get into the clubs that couldn't get into the clubs.”
    Jack Murphy · 2:33
  • “The broken windows theory, and I'm, I'm gonna, I'm sure the, the intellectuals will explain it better than me.”
    Jack Murphy · 12:05
  • “I never, no one I knew carried any sort of medical supplies.”
    Jack Murphy · 14:57
  • “You have to be very careful about that, I think, when you're writing a novel.”
    Jack Murphy · 4:02
  • “I was the only white kid on my block.”
    Jack Murphy · 5:36
  • “We didn't know it at the time. We're talking about like, you don't see the forest for the trees sometimes when you're in something.”
    Jack Murphy · 47:36
  • “You have body cams. And the body cams are like. They, um, you know, proved that the police are doing the right thing like nine times out of 10.”
    Jack Murphy · 1:17:48
  • “And like that, that was wild because I ended up traveling the whole country.”
    Jack Murphy · 1:36:02
  • “The worst day of my career was the day I filed for retirement.”
    Jack Murphy · 1:53:12
  • “I love my wife now, but like, I loved the work.”
    Jack Murphy · 1:53:30
  • Spinquest 0:00–0:31
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  • book 2:26:20–2:27:33
  • Patreon 2:30:01–2:30:16
  • spinquest.com 2:30:22–2:30:40
  • OnDeck 2:30:46–2:30:57

About this episode

Jason Allison looks back on 20 years in the NYPD, from growing up in the Bronx and working anti-crime and narcotics to investigating homicides, armed robbery crews, and federal cases with the ATF. We also discuss the darker side of 1990s New York, the club scene that inspired his new noir novel The Killing Yards, and his transition from detective to fiction writer. Get Jason's book "The Killing Yards" here: https://a.co/d/09pXcZeT or here: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/830859/the-killing-yards-by-jason-allison/ Today's Sponsors: GhostBed ⬇️ https://www.ghostbed.com/house FOR 10% off! Blue Chew ⬇️ https://bluechew.com/ Get 1 month free when you buy 2 of BlueChew Gold with code "HOUSECALL" For ad free video and audio and access to live streams and Eyes On Geopolitics... JOIN OUR PATREON! https://www.patreon.com/c/TheTeamHouse To help support the show and for all bonus content including: -live shows and asking guest questions -ad free audio and video -early access to shows -Access to ALL bonus segments with our guests Subscribe to our Patreon! ⬇️ https://www.patreon.com/TheTeamHouse Support the show here:⬇️ https://www.patreon.com/TheTeamHouse ___________________________________________________ ORDER JACK'S NEW BOOK "THE MOST DANGEROUS MAN" ⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️ https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/803651/the-most-dangerous-man-by-jack-murphy/paperback/ Subscribe to the new EYES ON podcast here:⬇️ https://www.youtube.com/@EyesOnGeopoliticsPod/featured __________________________________ Jack Murphy's book "We Defy: The Lost Chapters of Special Forces History" ⬇️ https://www.amazon.com/We-Defy-Chapters-Special-History-ebook/dp/B0DCGC1N1N/ —————————————————————— Or make a one time donation at: ⬇️ https://ko-fi.com/theteamhouse Social Media: ⬇️ The Team House Instagram: https://instagram.com/the.team.house?utm_medium=copy_link The Team House Twitter: https://twitter.com/TheTeamHousePod Jack’s Instagram: https://instagram.com/jackmcmurph?utm_medium=copy_link Jack’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/jackmurphyrgr?s=21 Team House Discord: ⬇️ https://discord.gg/wHFHYM6 "Karl Casey @ White Bat Audio" 00:00 – Start 01:18 – Growing Up in the Bronx 06:07 – What 1980s New York City Was Really Like 09:02 – Crime, AIDS & Giuliani’s New York 14:31 – The 1990s NYC Club Scene 22:20 – Why Jason Became an NYPD Officer 24:39 – Starting Out as a Bronx Patrol Cop 28:21 – Street Racing, Prostitution & Hunts Point 31:08 – CompStat, Quotas & Policing by the Numbers 36:51 – Joining the NYPD’s Anti-Crime Unit 41:55 – Narcotics, OxyContin & Making Detective 49:14 – Becoming a Bronx Detective 53:34 – Working Homicides & the Victims True Crime Ignores 1:03:19 – Cooperators, Federal Cases & Building Bigger Investigations 1:08:08 – The Suitcase Torso Murder 1:09:08 – How Detective Work Changed With DNA, Cameras & Body Cams 1:22:39 – The Murder Case That Ended With a Severed-Head Selfie 1:26:19 – Joining ATF & Going After Armed Robbery Crews 1:29:28 – Tracking a Watch Store Robber Across the Country 1:34:04 – The Murder Case That Stayed With Him 1:38:39 – Surveillance From an NYPD Helicopter 1:46:17 – Retiring After 20 Years in the NYPD 1:55:05 – Trying to Reinvent Himself as a Writer 2:01:23 – Crime Fiction, Male Readers & the Writers Who Influenced Him 2:02:29 – Discovering His Half-Brother Was Also an NYPD Detective 2:08:10 – The Departed, Ambition & What Drives Criminals 2:14:29 – Russian Mafia, Israeli Organized Crime & the Diamond District 2:17:42 – Writing The Killing Yards & Recreating 1990s New York 2:19:22 – What Jason Is Writing Next 2:20:24 – Closing Thoughts Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-team-house--5960890/support https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-team-house--5960890/support?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=rss.

Transcript

0:00
2:25:53

32,109 words · 7 speakers

Speaker names marked are inferred from speaking time and the show’s known hosts — they are not voice-verified.

Topics

  • Bronx
  • ATF
  • New York City
  • 4O
  • Jacksonville PD
  • Southern District US Attorney's Office
  • Lethal Weapon
  • Cortland
  • Iron Man 3
  • Slow Horse series

Page updated · transcript and summary are machine-generated