Yonkers Police Officer Tom Brooks
By Dan Murphy
This story first ran in Yonkers Rising on March 6th, 2015
The first black police officer in Westchester County was from Yonkers. Back in 1925, Officer Tom Brooks was appointed and, upon his hiring, became the first black man recruited by the Yonkers Police Department and the first black police officer in Westchester County.
Yonkers Police Department Historian, Retired Captain George Rutledge, wrote this biography of Brooks, a true pioneer in Yonkers’ history.
“Tom Brooks was born March 10th, 1900, on North Broadway to Toler and Amanda Brooks. He attended PS #2 Elementary School and studied business courses at Yonkers High School. For six years, he worked as a chauffeur for former mayor Doctor Nathan Warren.
“When Tom was appointed a policeman along with 23 other men, the newspaper reported he would likely be assigned to a beat or post in that section of the city where the negro population predominates. Some of these areas would be School St., Waverly St., Brook Street, New Main St., and Morgan St., along with Chicken Island.”
“A big man, broad-shouldered and of sturdy build, he once was asked what led him to seek a job as a police officer. He answered. ‘My size. Also, I wanted to do something permanent for my life’s work.’ Brooks also thought the salary was fairly decent.
“Possessing A cheerful personality, smile, and snappy wit, he would often politely say, ‘ Don’t call me Mr. Brooks, call me Tom. His witty cordiality made him a popular figure on his old beat in the First Precinct.
“Patrolman Brooks was a very popular and respected officer. He was very active in our PAL and was always available to council youths who seemed headed for trouble. During his career, he received several department commendations and awards for excellent police work.
“One award for heroism was received for an incident which occurred on December 1st, 1947, when 3-armed men entered 254 New Main Street, the Calcano Association clubhouse. The three men were armed, desperate, and, while holding the occupants at gunpoint, demanded money. During the attempted holdup, the gunman shot and killed off-duty fireman Anthony Polito and also shot and seriously wounded Polito’s brother-in-law, off-duty Patrolman Ray Carosa.
Patrolman Tom Brooks, while on foot patrol, was calling the precinct from a police call box on Park Hill Ave. when he heard the sound of gunshots and, with gun in hand, entered the club. In attempting to arrest the robbers of violent struggle began. One escaped, but Brooks was able to subdue and arrest two of the gunmen.
“In the mid-1950s, your scribe was only a teenager, and I lived at 55 Ravine Ave. Mr. Brooks lived at 80 Ravine. In those years, my friends and I would hang out on the corner. That is until we saw Mr. Brooks. Even though he did not work in the area where we lived, his reputation for being a no-nonsense cop was enough to make us all leave the area and quickly. Along with his job as a policeman, Tom Brooks supplemented his income with a second job as a guard at Patricia Murphy’s. Candlelight Restaurant on Central Park Ave. His brother Frank was the funeral director of Brooks Funeral Home at Warburton Ave. and Gold St. Unfortunately, Officer Brooks developed a heart condition and on May 24th, 1959, he passed away at the age of 59 at the Professional Hospital on Ludlow St. At the time, he was assigned to the Traffic Division. Officer Brooks was a member of the. BA and was a member and trustee of the Institutional AME Zion Church. I never knew him personally when I was a boy, but now, with nearly 32 years in our Police Department, I hear Brooks’s name mentioned every now and again by those who knew him. I can honestly say his name and memory always received well-earned respect.
“Just prior to writing this article, I met with Tom Brooks’s grandson, Yonkers firefighter Gregory Brooks. He asked if I might convey his feelings. At a time when black men had very few rights in this country, there stood a strong black man in the 1920s with a badge and a gun. Under undoubtedly close scrutiny, he was able to preserve and assimilate into the ranks of the Yonkers Police Department. He was truly a pioneer for the black men and women who, in the years to come, would proudly follow in his footsteps. My grandfather, standing over 6 feet and weighing close to 300 pounds, and carrying a gun, was easy to notice and very popular. People who knew him 40 to 60 years ago still ask if I am related to “Brooksie the cop”. And that always brings a proud smile to my face and a feeling beyond words.” End of story.
Editor’s Note: Thanks to Detective Ken Davis, who, along with Rutledge, gave us the information about 20 Black police officers in Yonkers. We found this story on Brooks and will look for more.
Detective Davis has an event at the Yonkers Will Library, titled “The History of African Americans in the Yonkers Police Department,” on Feb. 26 at 6pm.
