The Italian Squad: The True Story of the Immigrant Cops Who Fought the Rise of the Mafia

The Italian Squad, a book by Paul Moses, explores the lives of three Italian-born detectives who fought powerful gangsters and prejudice against their immigrant community in New York City in the early 20th century. The detectives, Anthony Vachris, Charles Corrao, and Michael Fiaschetti, became famous for meting out tough justice to criminals and were known as the "Black Hand." Moses offers a nuanced portrait of brave but flawed men who fought for their people and their city.

Format: Hardback
Length: 304 pages
Publication date: 03 June 2023
Publisher: New York University Press

The untold tale of the NYPD's Italian-born detectives who battled both formidable gangsters and the deeply entrenched discrimination against their own cherished immigrant community unfolds. The narrative commences in Sicily on Friday, March 12, 1909, at 8:45 p.m., when three gunshots echoed through the night, followed by a fourth. Two individuals escaped, and investigators swiftly identified the victims: Giuseppe Petrosino, the legendary American detective whose exploits in New York were celebrated even in Italy.

Veteran New York City journalist and historian Paul Moses delves into the lives of the nationally renowned detectives who succeeded in the footsteps of the slain Petrosino as leaders of the New York City investigative squad: Anthony Vachris, Charles Corrao, and Michael Fiaschetti. Through the use of new primary sources, including private diaries and city, state, and federal documents, this dramatic narrative history follows the Italian Squad across the first two decades of the twentieth century. The detectives encountered formidable gangsters, political hurdles, and deeply entrenched prejudice against their own beloved Italian immigrant community. Vachris, Corrao, and Fiaschetti, like Petrosino, gained fame for delivering harsh justice to criminals who formed the "Black Hand." Beyond their efforts to prevent horrific crimes, such as nighttime bombings in crowded tenements, kidnappings targeting children in play, and gangland shootings that claimed innocent bystanders, the Italian Squad commanders aimed to persuade society of what they firmly believed: that their fellow immigrant Italians, often maligned, had the potential to become exemplary American citizens.

In this explosive story, Moses meticulously dismantles the mythology that has always surrounded the Italian Squad, presenting instead a nuanced portrayal of brave individuals who faced immense challenges and adversity. The Italian Squad's story is a testament to the resilience and determination of immigrants who sought a better life in America, and their contributions to law enforcement have left an indelible mark on the history of the city.

Dimension: 229 x 152 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781479814190