On March 13, 1967, a team of undercover Officers, which included 36-year-old Det. John D. Pollins, 29-year-old Det. Thomas Watkins, and 28-year-old P.O. Cecil Shand, attempted to execute a late-night warrant and facilitate the arrest of 57-year-old drug dealer Clarence Taylor. The three Officers arrived at the basement apartment of a tenement at 77 East 124th Street, between Park and Madison Avenues, in the confines of the 25th Precinct in East Harlem. Shand stood guard outside, while Watkins and Pollins entered the building. They were met with gunfire blasting from a 16-gauge shotgun. Pollins was hit multiple times in the face and upper body. Shand ran to assist Pollins and was hit in the face with shrapnel. The shooter, Clarence Taylor, fled. Although both wounded by pellets, Watkins and Shand gave chase after Taylor for a block when they caught the killer and subdued him for responding Officers.
Pollins, Shand, and Watkins were rushed to the Hospital for Joint Diseases at 1919 Madison Avenue, where Pollins underwent emergency surgery. Shand and Watkins remained stable, but at 3:15 a.m. on March 14th, Pollins succumbed to his wounds. Taylor was charged with homicide, possession of narcotics, and violations of the Sullivan law. He faced a possible death sentence.
Det. George Mitsch recalled, “I was an undercover assigned to the team of Pollins, Watkins, and Shand, and used to make buys at the window of the basement apartment [where the perp resided]. … The subject used to wear a long overcoat that concealed a sawed-off shotgun which hung off his shoulder. I was in Queens making buys when I heard of the shooting.”
John D. Pollins was appointed to the NYPD on May 8, 1961. He was promoted to Detective when he worked in the 28th Precinct. In the fall of 1966, Pollins was re-assigned to the Narcotics Bureau headquarters.
Det. Pollins was described by his colleagues as, “a great guy who always kept you laughing,” and someone who loved to sing and entertain. Det. Robert Harris recalled he was scheduled to become partners with Pollins on March 16th, just two days after Pollins was killed. Pollins had served in the United States Army during the Korean War. He was a member of the 369th Artillery National Guard, which marched at his funeral held on March 20, 1967, at the St. Martin’s Episcopal Church on Lenox Avenue and 122nd Street, Manhattan.
Pollins was survived by his wife Tanyia and nine-year-old son Kevin.
In September of 1971, a 52-foot green and white police launch (No. 2) was named in Det. Pollins’ honor. On April 30, 2009, a new plaque was unveiled at Police Area #6 and Patrol Borough Manhattan North at 2768 Frederick Douglass Boulevard in Central Harlem with the names of five Officers who died in the line of duty, including Det. Pollins.
Read more about Det. Pollins at the following links:
John Pollins NY Times 3-16-1967
