Frank Serpico

Frank Serpico (born April 14, 1936) is a former police officer from New York City, now living in Chatham, New York.

Retirement And The Later Years.

Frank Serpico retired from the NYPD on June 15, 1972. He was awarded the Medal Of Honor for "Conspicuous Bravery In Action. Frank moved to Europe with his Old English Sheepdog named Alfie to recuperate and spent almost decade there, living, traveling and studying. While traveling and studying in Europe Frank was detained, strip searched and warned by Customs Agents, --"if we want you we got you" was their message. Worse, when he tried to start a new life in Europe, his 29-year old wife whom he had met there had just died of cancer. In probable consequence of all this, he has had to cope with long term depression. Frank lived in Switzerland from 1972-1980.

Related Topics:
June 15 - 1972 - Europe - Old English Sheepdog - Alfie

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When they decided to make the movie about Frank's life called Serpico, Al Pacino invited Frank Serpico to stay with him at a house that Pacino had rented in Montauk, New York. When Pacino asked Serpico, "Why did you do it?" Serpico replied, "Well, Al, I don't know. I guess I would have to say it would be because... if I didn't, who would I be when I listened to a piece of music?"

Related Topics:
Serpico - Al Pacino

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Serpico was run out of Switzerland due to pressure brought to bear by none other than the FBI (source?). He returned to New York City quietly in 1980. He is now living quietly in the mountains of New York State, studying and lecturing on occasion to students at universities and police academies and sharing experiences with police officers who are currently going through similar experiences. He still speaks out on police corruption and brutality. Frank has studied various cultures and speaks a number of languages. He has also studied animal and human behavior, alternative medicine, music, art, literature and philosophy among other disciplines. He continues to speak out against both the weakening of civil liberties and corrupt practices in law enforcement, such as the attempted cover-up following the Amadou Diallo shooting in 1999. He provides support for ?individuals who seek truth and justice even in the face of great personal risk.? He calls them ?lamp lighters,? a term he prefers to the more common ?whistleblowers,? because it evokes memories of the historic ride in which Paul Revere made a great deal of noise and caused the lanterns to be lit..

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