Old School NYPD Street crimes unit
Back in the 1970s, the hardest hitting unit on the streets of New York was the New York Police Department’s City Wide Street Crime Unit. Better known as SCU, the 60 or so members of the unit used advanced tactics for the first time including disguised officers trolling for muggers, and plainclothes intelligence units covertly shadowing suspects.
An undercover police officer on duty in the 78th Precinct in Brooklyn. July 1, 1969 NYPD
The officers of this unit made as many as 8,000 arrests per year in some of the most dangerous circumstances imaginable. It was augmented by the Tactical Patrol Force (TPF). They patented the tactic known as the New York Reload and evolved into a number of teams that the NYPD has today in ESU, Intel and other groups.
An undercover SCU police officer apprehends a mugger on the New York City Subway, 1980. Don’t try this at home.