John R. Martin is a retired New York City police captain who served the Transit Authority and the City of New York for 33 years. He was former president of both the Transit PBA and State PBA and was instrumental in bringing parity to all transit cops, putting their pay and benefits on par with those of city cops.
Proud To Have Been A New York City Transit Cop
by John R. Martin
Proud To Have Been A New York City Transit Cop
by John R. Martin
Published Nov 15, 2010
311 Pages
Genre: BIOGRAPHY & AUTOBIOGRAPHY / Personal Memoirs
Book Details
"John Martin did a great deal of good for a tremendous number of people in law enforcement. He was intuitively a leader. A man of integrity, a man of intelligence. He was one of the finest men I've ever known." Thomas O'Rourke Chief, Transit Police (1955-1966)
This is a true story about a World War II veteran who becomes a cop, a New York City transit cop. Over thirty-five years, from his early days as a court officer through to his days as commanding officer of some of the most challenging districts in the Transit Police Department, the stories and adventures of this innovative leader will intrigue you.
Send an e-mail to Brian Martin, the Author's son
BOOK REVIEW by John Redavid, Retired Business Executive, College Professor and Current High School Teacher
Proud to Have Been a NYC Transit Cop provides a unique perspective on the inner workings of law enforcement in the public transportation system of the greatest city in the world. How fortunate are we to have the story told in Captain John Martin’s own words - preserved and packaged by the loving hand of his biggest fan, his son Brian. Actually we are the beneficiaries of not just a single story, but many stories intertwined. In one dimension we have a “rags to riches” tale of a kid, NYC-born-and-raised, who through hard work and determination ascended to the highest ranks of his profession while never forgetting his roots. On another plane we have a love story – the tale of a man and his struggle to protect the citizens of the city he loved, while nurturing and advocating for the co-workers he loved, yet never shirking his responsibilities as a loving husband, father and grandfather. Finally, we are presented with a management primer – a “how to” manual for simultaneously achieving maximum results in productivity and the highest levels of respect and admiration from the personnel under one’s command.
Book Excerpt
BOOK REVIEW by Tom Fox, Author - Drummer Boy Willie McGee, Civil War Hero and Fraud; Hidden History of the Irish of New Jersey
Towards the end of the movie Bang the Drum Slowly, the knowledge that the main character, a New York baseball player, is dying is revealed to his teammates. “It’s so sad it makes you want to cry,” says a grief stricken coach, only to have another add, “It’s so sad, it makes you want to laugh.” Brian Martin has accomplished both those enigmatic sentiments with the wonderful editing of his father’s memoir, Proud to Have Been a NYC Transit Cop.
Captain John R Martin’s meticulous memory of what it was like to have been Irish growing up in New York, a loving husband and parent, and one of the most respected law enforcement officers of his era is revealed twelve years after his death in the hands of his son Brian.
Captain Martin, a WW II member of the most famous generation in American history, was responsible for the Transit cops achieving parity with the NYC police, a feat many thought impossible. But this memoir is as much a family love story as it is an historical document, and it succeeds on both levels. If you care anything at all about what it was like living in New York in an era now gone, or just want to revel in an irresistible American tale, get a copy of this book. It will make you cry and laugh, and dream of days gone by. Captain John Martin was a special man, and this remarkable effort of his son is living proof.