The DEA Honor Roll

During the early evening of August 16, 1988, P.O. Galapo, with the Brooklyn South Narcotics District, was part of a buy and bust operation in the Sunset Park section of Brooklyn.  Galapo spotted several men making a drug transaction in the doorway of a building.  He and a Sergeant approached the group, told them they were under arrest, and positioned them against a car for frisking. While trying to escape arrest on heroin possession charges one of the perpetrators suddenly sprang around and smashed the Sergeant’s right hand, causing his gun to go off.  The single shot from the gun of Sgt. William Martin, 37 of the Brooklyn South Narcotics Squad, struck the other officer below the left eye and traveled around to the back of his head.  Officer Galapo was rushed to Lutheran Medical Center in Brooklyn in serious condition and later died.  The suspect, Joseph Barker, 24, ran but was eventually arrested and charged with criminally negligent homicide stemming from the buy-and-bust operation.  13 years after his death, through the tireless efforts of President Tom Scotto and the DEA Board of officers, Joseph Gatapo was posthumously promoted to the rank of Detective by Commissioner Bernard Kerik.  The NYPD Mounted Unit has named a horse “Galapo”in his honor.