Remembering a Beloved Cop

He had a knack for making people laugh.

Frederick “Freddie” Mack, the former New York City Transit Police detective who played a crucial role in capturing the perpetrator behind the infamous 1983 New York Post headline “Headless Body in Topless Bar,” passed away on Friday. He was 79 years old and spent his final days in hospice care, as shared by his daughter, Debbie Comstock.

“He was full of character,” Comstock, 58, recalled. “He always had a story or a joke ready. So many people loved him.”

Mack’s most notable story unfolded back in April 1983. A man named Charles Dingle, after spending a night drinking at Harvey’s Bar in Jamaica, Queens, found himself in what would become a nightmarish situation. In a drunken rage, Dingle shot the bartender, Harvey Cummings, after an argument.

But instead of escaping, Dingle committed further atrocities by taking four women hostage in the bar, ultimately assaulting one of them.

Things took a darker turn when Dingle directed one of the women to sever Cummings’ head and place it in a box. He then drove two of the women to Manhattan in a stolen taxi and, after they managed to escape, they encountered Mack at a subway station where he was on duty.

Initially, Mack was skeptical about their wild stories. However, he eventually decided to investigate. According to Mike Fanning, a former NYPD detective and a friend of Mack’s, Mack left his service weapon behind but didn’t hesitate to act when he confronted Dingle.

“When he confronted Dingle, he managed to wrestle with him, and that’s when he spotted a head in the back seat,” Fanning recounted.

Comstock fondly remembers her father coming home, sharing tales that seemed straight out of fiction. She humorously noted that dinner conversations often revolved around the macabre details, including the discovery of the bartender’s head in a bakery-like box.

Dingle’s heinous acts and the subsequent arrest were the inspiration for the notorious front-page headline, “Headless Body in Topless Bar.”

To those who knew Mack, his involvement in such a remarkable case was not surprising. He lived a multifaceted life before and after this incident.

Comstock mentioned that her father once worked as a batboy for the Dodgers and even counted the team’s former manager, Tommy Lasorda, among his friends. Fanning also remembered Mack fondly, noting how he continued to influence new officers long after retiring.

“Freddie was not just a solid investigator; he was an exceptional friend. He always made time for younger officers, and his stories had a way of bringing everyone together,” Fanning said.

After retiring in 1988 due to an accident, Mack moved to Florida. He worked in a local jail and volunteered with an evangelical group connected to country music star Charlie Daniels.

Following the 9/11 attacks, Mack dedicated his time to volunteer efforts at Ground Zero. He even shared his experiences capturing Dingle on a tabloid talk show hosted by Jerry Springer.

Dingle was sentenced to 25 years in prison but consistently denied his actions. He ultimately died in prison in 2012.

Fanning remarked that Mack didn’t frequently recount his story unless prompted. Yet, it was an unforgettable part of who he was. In fact, during Mack’s retirement party, a colleague humorously gifted him a cake shaped like a head.

“One evening, my wife opened the fridge and her scream brought Freddie out of his slumber,” Fanning shared, laughing.

Comstock couldn’t help but chuckle at the bizarre memory. “Yeah, you never know what’s coming next,” she said.