RIP Superman
A little history for the new kids - this article appeared late last year, although Mr. Novit passed in 2012:
- Arthur Novit, officer who was "Superman of the Subway," dies at age 89. Chicago Police Officer Arthur Novit was an expert at disguising himself as a vagrant or country bumpkin while he worked as a decoy in the subway to attract would-be robbers.
But one day he decided to have a little fun. The adventure earned him a nickname: "Superman of the Subway." Mr. Novit dressed in a Superman costume and hid in a CTA storage closet while he waited for criminals to make their move on a fellow police decoy slumped on the floor - like a man on a bender - at the Red Line station at Jackson and State.
When two robbers pounced, Mr. Novit burst out in full superhero regalia, knocking the closet's steel door to the ground as if it were made of cardboard. (He and other officers had loosened the hinges so they could slip in and out.) And he made a speech that would become departmental legend.
"Halt! In the name of the Law! Law and Order will prevail in the subways of Chicago!" he told Leonard Aronson, who reported the story in a 1976 issue of Chicago magazine. "As long as I'm in this metropolis, law and order will prevail."
When one of his police partners thanked "Superman" for helping officers, he replied, "Any time you need me, I'll be here. It takes me only 10 minutes by cape." When the robbers appeared in court, a judge asked them who made the pinch.
"Superman arrested me," one said. The judge sent him to see a court psychiatrist.
This is the historical (and hysterical) background missing from today's Department. This story was related to us back in the 70's growing up in a cop family along with dozens of others. And we were lucky enough to serve with men and women who experienced it just before they retired.
We have a hard time thinking of anything similar nowadays.
We have a hard time thinking of anything similar nowadays.
Labels: sarcasm AND silliness
posted by SCC at 12:01 AM
85 Comments:
Maybe innovation like that is needed. Batman too.
I knew a guy the patrol women used to call Captain Underpants, still don't know why...
Thank you for the laugh.....
Wow!!! There was indeed a time when you could have fun in this department. I can remember a few fun times myself.
Those were the days. And somewhere along the way we became the warm and fuzzy police, to be replaced by the blame the racist police for all the ills of society.
Everything done by GO and you better like it.
I heard this story in the mid 90s from a bomb and Arson detective, wasn't sure if it was true or exaggerated. But fun either way.. Turns out it really happened .
Back then the majority of Supervisors were Street Cops with years of experience.
Nowadays the majority are career House mouse, 35th st mice with Zero street knowledge.
Therein lies the difference.
Like when with CCSPD, I was wearing a Darth Vadar mask and handing out candy to the shorties on Halloween in Ford Heights. Community po-licing don't you know. One baby-mama pulled her li'l one back and cussed him out for taking candy from a stranger, especially in a marked squad I guess. Anyway, right after that came the usual shots fired call. Back to the usual tricks, no more treats.
Thanks, SCC. That's an awesome story. It made my night!
All we have is StupEDman and the sad days of CPD.
He was the Real Police not like today
If only we could have fun today in this department. Everything needs to be by the book or some merit Sgt or house mouse Lt will Spar you or get a CR. So hard to have any fun at all without taking a day or two. Rest that officers soul for such good work. We all could have learned something from you.
Well when there were no cameras around.......
I remember 2 guys in 017 who hung a mannequin inside the back of a wagon and left the rear door unhinged and well oiled so at stops and starts it would swing open enough so that cars behind could see the mannequin at times. We got about a dozen 9-1-1 calls and a supervisor request about it. It was hysterical.
That was a thrilling story Mr. CCSP.
Ahhh, the good old days when morale was at a more respectable level. Thanks officer Novit for your service to us and prayers for you and your family with your passing. The fact that you lived to be 89 years old tells me you were made of the right stuff. Lesson learned; never lose your sense of humor.
I have many outfits that would help me patrol the streets of my pretty neighborhood. They would really scare the bad guys away.
Now, kees me you fool!!!!
Special ED would strip you if he could. Death is the only thing that will save you now. He was just funnin for real.
Good stuff! Twenty years ago, I watched some coppers stage a 5am kangaroo court in the roll call room in 008 with a faux judge, prosecutor and public defender. They pulled out prisoners one at a time and convicted them in minute trials for such things like possession of a rape tool, public stupidity, and felonious theft of oxygen with intent to waste. When they showed up at bond court they told the judge they already had their trials. Gotta love cop humor!
What the future of this city needs is "Rah-man", the pint sized, digit deficient, trusted sidekick of Mighty Mouse, to save it from the cruel clutches of evil minded tax paying citizens...
There were so many characters on the police department years ago but they are gone now....
Thanks for that story. I almost forgot that we used to have fun on this job while locking up some dangerous felons in the process. That ended I would say sometime around 2010-2011. Can you imagine if some copper tried that Superman stunt today?! It would make national news showing how unprofessional and outta control the Chicago Police behave while arresting the poor and misunderstood. Better to let violent criminals and drug offenders walk all over us than tarnish our new image as mere civil servants. Not that long ago we were "Superman"...today the CPD is the "Suicide Squad"!
How about the blonde headed cleaning lady in Area 1 Robbery? She/he was around long before Art Novit came up with his gag.
Arthur Novit today would be indicted and charged with Federal Hate crimes and 1983 civil rights violations......
Did he ever dress up like a big white Easter rabbit and sand bag carrot???
I had the pleasure of working with Art Novit in 014. Not only was he witty but tuff as nails
R.I.P. Superman R.I.P.
J.J.
Remember this story well. Was working as a photographer at the Chicago Daily News at the time, before I got on the job. I was in my early 20's. Would have loved to have photographed it! That's when police work was fun and rewarding!
That was the TUF squad. They were looked upon as heroes by CPD and public alike. Newspapers actually wrote complimentary articles about them. Many had "Blue Stars" from being cut or stabbed by the offenders.
Imagine the allegations that would be made against POs if they tried being Superman nowadays.
RIP haven t heard that story in years. Still a classic
Do that today and off to call back. The job used to be fun.
Art Novit was the Real Police, a funny guy and a Tough Guy. Miss those days. ♠
Got 89 years. Pretty good for a working street cop. RIP.
Worked with him in 020 in the mid to late 60's. Were some fun times. Art and another legend, Sam Joseph, another decoy who dressed up as a bum waiting to be jack rolled. Had some balls
Oh, Yes, I knew a couple of the guys in that crew, the decoy unit of the CTA section. They made a lot of arrests playing drunks sleeping in the subways. A dangerous game they played but it was effective. My hat goes off to them. That was my era in the department. I was working Maxwell Homicide/Sex unit at the time. Another bunch of great detectives.
Back in the day an officer could have fun, play tricks and still lock up the bad guys. Stay fetal officers, those days could return.
Does wearing Santa hats, driving around
in the "'jets" playing Chiristmas Carols
on the P/A during a Christmas Morning
tour of duty (and the mixed responses
from the restless native inhabitants)
qualify as fun times on the job?
"🎶 Chestnuuuuts roasting on an open fiiiiiiire...🎶"
The legendary CPD Box Chevy squad slow rolling
and loaded with 12+ feet and 500 pounds of
leather jacketed, steel-toed boot wearing, .45 pistol
packing (.357 Magnums in reserve - "Party Gun"
in the trunk) Po-leece Power.
Never y'all mind the magical cee-gar smoke waifting
out the windows, that smoke had more magical
curative powers than any version of that old
"Money House Blessing" room freshening aerosol.
"We just Santy Claus' little helpers.
Merry Chri'mus an' get off this corner..."
Of course compliance was more or less
guaranteed because our word was iron
and who at their craziest would argue
with two large, fearsomely mustached,
assertively appointed Coppers wearing
Santa Hats? 😳😂🤔
Good Times.
The Police need their
fearsome swagger back.
This compelled meekness in
the face of the swaggering
criminal swing-dicks running
rampant will make re-taking
this city very bloody since it
is The Police who are seen as
the problem.
Yea, a lot of good fun times and we were making 10,800 a year and 200.00 uniform allowance with no overtime.
Great story! But now I've got the Robin Hood -Men in Tights song stuck in my head:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G59JnM4JKNQ&feature=youtube_gdata_player
I bet this is where the idea of the Bruce Weitz character "Belker" on Hill Street Blues came from
That was a great time to be the police, oh, don't forget the wolfman who terrorized the westside. Both are great stories, but the end of the wolfman came when Area Four Task Force Officers with loaded blanks in their guns pretended to shoot the Wolfman with silver bullets at Madison and Oakley. The Junkies who were high at the time of the shooting, thanked the police for months for killing the ugliest mother-fucker they ever seen. RIP Superman, but the Wolfman has to remain anonymous due to the statue of limitations and the DOJ running around the city.
There have always been many "characters" on the job. "Lollipop" Joe Kosala, who passed out, what else, lollipops to kids. There was the Lone Ranger, an ET Pat Kelly I believe it was, who went to in progress calls with the William Tell overture blaring over his pa system instead of the siren. I am sure we could hear story after story and an assortment of nicknames of officers who did their job and had some fun while doing it. Sad that those days are gone.
"Those were the days. And somewhere along the way we became the warm and fuzzy police, to be replaced by the blame the racist police for all the ills of society."
.............you nailed it.
guys in 018 tact worked the tubes back in the day. I remember santa making a couple of pinches too.
The old mass transit tact team had some of the best outfits ever!
Today, nothing.
I knew those guys and when the superman idea was hatched. What a great time; I was having breakfast with my kids and wife when I just started laughing when I thought about what we did the night before. I couldn't even finish eating and had to leave the table. The summer before Superman was flying around the Subway, a south side SOG officer inherited a bunch of money from an uncle. One of the big ticket items he bought was a big boat and we sailed the high sea's of Lake Michigan or just partied at Montrose Harbor the hole summer. There was a Special Attention about boat break-ins and one night we saw a M/1, who appeared to be attempting to break into a boat not to far from were we were drinking. We captured the alleged offender and dragged him back to the boat. I guess we got carried away, we duck taped him and took the boat out about five miles. We told him he was going to walk the plank and we removed one of his shoes. We told him people found in the lake with one shoe proves they committed suicide. When we removed the tape from his mouth, we learned he was a Security Guard hired by the Park Dist. We naturally apologized and got him drunk. By the time we dropped him off, way far on the southside where he was found wondering by his boss. After being fired he went to the IAD and told them the story. No one believed him and he was unable to ID anyone, not sustained. If you did anything close to the Superman, or the above story today, well I believe you would be going to jail. I'm in a Library in the suburbs writing this so its OK to publish.
too bad there are no transit cops working undercover making busts on the dangerous blue line, what a hell hole
where is the equalizer when you need em.
yes where is Robert McCall and Paul Kersey when you need them?
There are no more 'characters' in this trade, guys who became legends pushing the envelope.
I grew up with Art Novit Jr. Arthur's son by Racine and Lill. Those were the day's, we used to watch his dad 'at work' by the Fullerton el. Crazy part is we used to call his wife Arlene Cat Woman, she had the scariest cat eyes you ever saw on a person and to make the story worse alway's alley cats swarming the house. Growing up it was as if that family was full of action heroes.
He resembled Christopher Reeve a little bit. Those must have been the days. Can't clown anymore, serious business, this report taking shit is...
heard this story many years ago.....supposedly, two dicks (legendary) from the old Area One decided to engage in some humor.....one late night/early morning, they took a person in custody from the lockup and brought him to the courtroom upstairs....one dressed like a judge, the other was the "prosecutor"; the person in custody was charged with DUI; the jury box was staffed with other officers pretending to be "jurors". Anyway, the "judge" called and heard the "case", then found the person guilty, and then "sentenced" the person to death......in the morning, the arrestee was transported to Traffic Court to appear before a judge.....the judge looked at the case, was going to set bond; the arrestee said...."I already had a trial....please don't kill me!"....safe to say, the courtroom staff was in various levels of amusement....
i think they need super man back to police the red line...never happen in today's anti police climate.
Used to go downtown a lot in the 70's via Blue Line when I didn't yet have a DL, sometimes after dark - which was a completely different and awakening world.
Never seen the Superman but it was easy to spot the Detail guys sticking out like sore thumbs.
That drunk white guy with the gold watch sleeping on the bench...guess some folks were slow to figure that out.
Once I got on the job and started working CTA Spec Emp, some the old timers would always bring up those Subway Detail guys of yore.
Fast forward today, the Blue Line daytime is looking like 1970's night time, from Dearborn to Ohare.
Welcome to Rahm's Feral Chicago.
God Bless Chicago Police Officer Arthur Novit and his Team.
The neighborhood where Guaranteed Rate Field now stands was very familiar with a 360 degree Batman from the neck up, wearing a dress uniform and protecting the neighborhood in a marked beat car! They loved it! Batman's identity will remain a secret as last I heard he was still be on the job. Those were the fun days!
RIP Superman: Just a note, this group of coppers were responsible for destroying SDS, the black panthers, the vice lords on the westside, Jef Fort on the south side, the Latin Kings in 14, and much more. Real Robbery Teams doing stack-outs and told by the bosses, don't waste tax payers money on a trial. And while they were doing real police work, they were having fun. Now the police are fucked and I don't think its ever coming back.
My brother came on in 70 & he told me about it. Good times.
Ahh, it used to be called street theater. And the stories were indeed legendary. The seven foot tall tranny pro that used to beat and rob it's johns... and the poor detective undercover that set up the meet only to have his wire crap out right before the "go" word was uttered. Zero broke the three minute mile running around the room trying to be coy before the cavalry broke through the door and saved the day.
Rip brother also rip any attempt at policing:
Breaking News
Arrestees to get access to lawyers free of charge at Chicago police stations
People taken into custody by Chicago police will have access to an attorney at no charge under a potentially landmark order signed Tuesday by Cook County Chief Judge Timothy Evans. The aim of the change is to rectify a glaring constitutional issue – the vast majority of those arrested in Chicago...
So who is paying for this? also remember you cannot charge anyone anymore with anything until they have a lawyer present! another incredible way to keep coppers off the street~This is an interesting conundrum, so how do you take someone into custody and hold them? how long can you hold them in the station without charging? While a lazy lawyer is found could we be charged with kidnapping for holding a thug against their will? Tim Evans did this another major pandering move fuck it (sorry for the vulgarity SCC),just read the letter from former U.S.attorney Zach fardon reading between the lines we are a total shit show the idiots that lead us have buried policing so bad we are like the lost city of Atlantis finished! Think morale is bad just sinking deeper into the abyss!
Alas, Superman vanished along with all of the real phone booths...
Now all we're left with are Barney and the Teletubbies *sigh*
How about Batman? Biff! Bang!!! POW!!!!! Bet he'd have some kind of camera blocking device on his utility belt...
Anonymous said...
That was the TUF squad. They were looked upon as heroes by CPD and public alike. Newspapers actually wrote complimentary articles about them. Many had "Blue Stars" from being cut or stabbed by the offenders.
Imagine the allegations that would be made against POs if they tried being Superman nowadays.
3/14/2017 08:46:00 AM
My granfather told me about them. He was on the job from 1947-1984 (R.I.P.)
He told me the toughest copper he ever met was a little guy on that team. The name escapes me, but he used to tell my grandfather that whenever he got jumped, he would do all that he could to try to drive the shithead's nose up into his brain. I laughed because back then as a kid, it sounded like something out of the movie 'The Last Boyscout.
Thanks for the post since I never saw this old unit ever brought up on the blog before.
What about the old fake skeleton hanging out the
bodybag stunt?
"You ride in the back with "Smiley," chump..."
"AAIIEE! JesusMaryJoseph! AAIIEE!"
"Stop that! You guys are going to end up
killing a prisoner..."
Booooo!
Yes Sergeant...
(Sarge was kinda laughing up his sleeve though)
Or the one where a "dearly beloved" Tact Sgt. drove off
with a pair of pants and boots tied under his rear bumper
like he was dragging some poor soul he had hit?
The radio traffic for that was hysterical...
Reports from the field were that his hysterical
screeching and crying was actually interspersed
with laughter.
"WAAHH! You DIRTY MOTHERFUCKERS!
HA-HA-HA-HA! Ya got me! WAAHH!" 😂
...And he actually took a chill pill after that.
Oh yeah... The gratuitous "tangle-foot"
strung up in random gangways and stairwells...
Funniest shit ever watching no-good
assholes trying to run from The Police
and feeling for more of whatever-the-fuck
it is they keep falling over...
"Y'all some DIRTY bastids!"
CPD needs a dedicated dirty-tricks squad.
At least all the right m/fers will be looking
over their shoulder.
As we recall one sharp wit posting on another thread:
"Back up every screw holding all your shit together
one turn a day."
Who was the boss that had all the wheel covers
On his car epoxied on with one lug nut per just free rolling?
>Clinky-Clank! x4<
"EEEYARRGH!"
>Handful O' Hair<
Spent nine years in Mass Transit in the early 1980's. Best time I had in my whole career. A laugh a minute.
'Way back in the day, WGN-TV ran film of a CPD TUF pseudo drunk singing Turaluralura, an Irish lullaby, as he was targeted by thugs. Then the lumber was deployed by the hidden back-up guys. If I hear that tune, I re-run the video in my head.
said...
RIP Superman: Just a note, this group of coppers were responsible for destroying SDS, the black panthers, the vice lords on the westside, Jef Fort on the south side, the Latin Kings in 14, and much more. Real Robbery Teams doing stack-outs and told by the bosses, don't waste tax payers money on a trial. And while they were doing real police work, they were having fun. Now the police are fucked and I don't think its ever coming back.
3/14/2017 01:58:00 PM
Never again...
The public has no appetite for Policemen maiming
and killing BEE-AY-DEE forcible felons.
It's considered "unfair," "mean," and "brutal."
"You Cops would be as vicious
as the criminals if we allowed you
to fight them the way they fight you."
Remember, "Officer Friendly" is a
feel-good construct that white guilt
Progressives cling to in order to ignore
how unforgiving, nasty, hateful, cruel
and evil the streets of Chicago really are.
>Fingers in ears<
"La-la-la! We can't hear yoouu!"
They wish they had extra hands to
cover their eyes to shield themselves
from the deeply ugly shit they're afraid
they won't be able to un-see.
Absolutely true story....Rest in Peace Art.
Anonymous Anonymous said...
That was a great time to be the police, oh, don't forget the wolfman who terrorized the westside. Both are great stories, but the end of the wolfman came when Area Four Task Force Officers with loaded blanks in their guns pretended to shoot the Wolfman with silver bullets at Madison and Oakley. The Junkies who were high at the time of the shooting, thanked the police for months for killing the ugliest mother-fucker they ever seen. RIP Superman, but the Wolfman has to remain anonymous due to the statue of limitations and the DOJ running around the city.
3/14/2017 10:29:00 AM
I remember that, I was working Beat 1314 and saw some guy jump out of an abandoned building at Madison and Oakley. He had a trench coat, a mask and some type of claws on his hand. The mask was very professional looking. He just ran across the street screaming and started chasing the whores and junkies. It was something to see, complete mayhem and the folks were in panic mode. Then the Task Force guys came in three squads with lights and sirens and started fighting with masked one and a short time later unloaded with what sounded like 44 magnums. The guy with the mask fell in the street like he was shot and the TF guys picked him up and put him in one of the squads the drove off at a high rate of speed east on Madison. The funny thing was the people on the street thought the police saved them from a mad man. I saw some shit in the 28yrs. I was the police, but that was just crazy.
I retired from a Chicago area PD. I spent half my career with CPD's Auto Theft Unit and later on with Homicide detectives. Seems like most of our bodies came out of the big city. This was back in the 70's and 80's. I will go to my grave telling anyone that will listen the Chicago Police Department is the world's best law enforcement agency. That was then; this is now. It really bothers most of us play cops, how everything has gone south for your department. What a shame.
We worked hard and we had a great time. I was always amazed at the talent you had, and how you went about taking names and kicking ass. It was the best time to be a police officer, and it was such a privilege to work with the best of the best.
And we messed with the 'folks' too, like everyone else. Phony lie detector's hooked up to a copy machine, kangaroo court trials, and all that stuff. Never got bored. It was the best time of my life. My late wife was a saint. How she put up with me and my CPD persona is one of the great mysteries of my life.
Anyway, God bless all of you. I hope it will turn around sooner rather than later.
Art was a legend in the day. Question is, why is this fishing trip popping up now? RIP Art, let the dead rest in peace and in the solace of G-d!
My first Sgt. was a member of the Tuff Squad. He played the decoy. One day he was pretending to be a passed out drunk in an effort to catch a particular robbery offender who was terrorizing the City. So he's laying there as he tells it and opens his eye only to see a guy with a huge knife standing over him who started to stab him. The guy takes off and Jacks backup crew starts shooting at the guy. They capture him and Jack is taken to the hospital where he receives IIRC, something like 8 pints of blood and last rites. Jack doesnt die and is at the hospital recovering when the first Mayor Daley shows up to to say thanks and to wish Jack well. As he leaves, he says to Jack "thank you Sgt. and get well. Jack says "Mr. Mayor, thanks but you made a mistake, I'm not a Sgt., I'm a patrolman". The Mayor says "Sgt., I never make a mistake" and leaves. Some time later Jack is notified to report to the Training Center to begin Sgts. school. Jack was a great man and Sgt. I learned a lot from him and am thankful he made an appearance in my life. Jack subsequently had a massive heart attack while chasing a auto theft offender. His heart was so damaged by the HA that he required a new heart which he received. The doctors told him that the new heart would only give him about two more years so he came back to work because that was what he loved doing. He died a few years later. He was a unique character and if he was a represenative of the Tuff Squad all I can say is that I wish I was on the job during that time frame. Jack was ALWAYS a policemens policeman and never stopped being the Police. I miss him dearly.
RIP Sgt. Jack Runyan
RIP Art and thanks for all the laughs.
Those were the days, where we had fun, the public wanted police to do the job, remember the bumper stickers on many civilians cars "We support the police" "police deserve a contract" now if you have any pro-police materials on your vehicle your subject to damage by the anti-police scum that are constantly pandered to by the democratic elected machine! I remember years ago (retired now) in 008 we could relax after work on the island in Marquette park few beers something to eat lots of laughs but that camaraderie is gone to many evil snitches that run to the boss with nonsense!
Now stay fetal protecting your assets,freedom,family,health!
hat was the TUF squad. They were looked upon as heroes by CPD and public alike. Newspapers actually wrote complimentary articles about them. Many had "Blue Stars" from being cut or stabbed by the offenders.
Imagine the allegations that would be made against POs if they tried being Superman nowadays.
3/14/2017 08:46:00 AM
My granfather told me about them. He was on the job from 1947-1984 (R.I.P.)
He told me the toughest copper he ever met was a little guy on that team. The name escapes me, but he used to tell my grandfather that whenever he got jumped, he would do all that he could to try to drive the shithead's nose up into his brain. I laughed because back then as a kid, it sounded like something out of the movie 'The Last Boyscout.
Toughest po I ever had the pleasure of working with was Sam Joseph, an original member of the TUF square. Very thin, ex boxer and tough as nails. Never saw him lose a fight
Actually was awarded the Lambert Tree Award in 1963 for his work with the TUF squad
The 70's were the good old days in Chicago. I have fond memories of those years being a Police Officer working the streets.
To Superman and all of the coopers who did this city right, it was a fantastic time to be the police. Came on in 1968 and made it to the Democrat Convention, Hippie demonstration, Sly and Family Stone riot in Grant Park, two shootouts with the willie panthers and numerous confrontations with SDS and many other groups. Art RIP brother, me and few others will be keeping the faith.
You guys still have your moments. I remember a case where the cop bought crack while dressed as the Easter Bunny. When asked why he did it, the officer replied, "I just wanted to see if someone would sell me crack on Easter, dressed as the Easter Bunny." Pretty funny.
I could read this stuff all day...
This spirit of this post resonates some really great and actually true stories by guys and gals who had been there and done that.
How I miss those I had the honor to work with.
Geezez, we had fun!
Thanks for the memories!
Retired, 30+
Real warm and fussy, please stop embarrassing us. The old timers would have walked up to the dealer dressed like the Easter Bunny, pistole wiped the prick, lock-up him up, and took the rest of his dope to get info form whores or other informants. Than they would have taken the Bunny suit somewhere and shot the shit out of it while having a few cold ones. That' the difference so please stop trying to be creative, it just lame.
What a great story post 07:58. That's what merit promotions qualifications should represent , not being a relative , secretary, family member or lover.
I'm a little late on this conversation, first off Superman (Art) RIP, and for any of the new guys out there who don't believe please get a life. A lot of these guys during the late 60's and early 70's were combat hardened military people who fought in the most fucked up war this Country ever was involved in: You had a bunch of Vet's on the street all at once, coppers who were smart, fearless, and grew up around World War ll fathers and uncles. They were raised by the best generation and this spilled into the police work they were doing. When requested to clear the street of 100's of demonstrators it was done. Not only Chicago, but the Major City's in this nation saw these type of police officers at that time. I'm very proud to have worked and socialized with these great law enforcement officer of that time period, I still carry a 3" 44mag. loaded with 44 Special 250gr. Elmer Keith SWC Bullets and my custom 1911. To the new guys, keep your 9's, I'm a believer in the big bore handgun and have seen the results in up close combat. Lastly, and I know I'm going to get flack for this, but the job was great up to the time they started hiring women and that's just a fact.
Anonymous Anonymous said...
I'm a little late on this conversation, first off Superman (Art) RIP, and for any of the new guys out there who don't believe please get a life. A lot of these guys during the late 60's and early 70's were combat hardened military people who fought in the most fucked up war this Country ever was involved in: You had a bunch of Vet's on the street all at once, coppers who were smart, fearless, and grew up around World War ll fathers and uncles. They were raised by the best generation and this spilled into the police work they were doing. When requested to clear the street of 100's of demonstrators it was done. Not only Chicago, but the Major City's in this nation saw these type of police officers at that time. I'm very proud to have worked and socialized with these great law enforcement officer of that time period, I still carry a 3" 44mag. loaded with 44 Special 250gr. Elmer Keith SWC Bullets and my custom 1911. To the new guys, keep your 9's, I'm a believer in the big bore handgun and have seen the results in up close combat. Lastly, and I know I'm going to get flack for this, but the job was great up to the time they started hiring women and that's just a fact.
3/17/2017 11:49:00 AM
10-4 BIG GUY!
I worked with Art Novit in the early 80's in the Mass Transit Unit. It was told that not only Superman, but he had an authentic Wolfman mask that he wore while lying on the subway floor. He would hide his face under his arms and completely cover his face. When the pick pocket attempted to relieve him of his personal belongings he would roll over and face the offender with this mask staring down at him. Rumor has it that the bad guy was so scared he started running with Art and his two partners in hot pursuit through the subway tunnels. They never did catch the offender but they said he was so scared that they never saw a human being run so fast in their life. Can you imagine this bad guy going back to the hood and telling his friends about who he attempted to rob that day? Many stories about Art and the MTU guys were talked about all the time back in the day. RIP Art.
Thats my father. Arthur Novit. He was a good man. As brave as anything. I have so many stories and things that i saw growing up, Thank you for posting this story as it is just one of many great stories he had. A special thanks to everyone who is sharing even more memories in the comments.
A.Novit ❤️
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