October 2002 to March 2003

ISB Homicide

Homicide, Take Two: The Clip-On Tie Crew

In 1996, I was part of NOPD’s big decentralization experiment—when Homicide detectives were split up and assigned to individual districts like rogue cowboys. Seven years later, the pendulum swung back the other way, and I found myself once again in a centralized Homicide unit. Only this time, I was coming back as a sergeant. And let me tell you—this was one of the best stretches of my career.

Too much fun, honestly. Like, “how did we not get written up or arrested for fun violations” levels of fun. We were still young, full of energy, and going out together constantly. Half the time we were solving murders. The other half, we were drinking beer and debating over who had the worst tie crease.

One legend from this era: Brad “The Water Boy” Baradell. Brad wore a crisp white button-down shirt and his NOPD-issued clip-on tie every single day. Not just at work—every day. He looked like a security guard at a mall that never closed. So one night, in true squad fashion, we decided to honor this bizarre fashion choice. All of us—me, Pardo, Hoobler, the whole dysfunctional family—showed up at The Beachcorner wearing identical outfits: white shirts, clip-on ties, full-on budget cop cosplay.

There’s a photo somewhere.  It was one of those nights you don’t forget.  Either way, it captured the spirit of that era: full of loyalty, laughter, and just the right amount of stupid.