Final Resting Place for NYPD Detective

They can finally rest in peace.

Detective Joseph Pucciano, who was once dubbed “The Sherlock Holmes of Italy,” received a new gravestone at Greenwood Cemetery in Brooklyn on Tuesday. This comes long after he passed away in 1928 due to tuberculosis.

His partner, Bernardino Grotano, was tragically killed during a robbery in a cigar store back in 1924.

Both detectives were laid to rest in a private lot sans any markers, but a mix of family effort and assistance from the Detectives’ Donation Society changed that.

A ceremony took place to unveil the new tombstone, which features the inscription: “Joseph L. Pucciano, Fidelis Ad Mortem, End of the Clock, July 16, 1928.”

Interestingly, the marking of Pucciano’s grave came about a year after Grotano’s received a similar recognition. Grotano had been unable to afford a marker previously, leaving his grave unmarked for years. It’s unclear why Pucciano’s grave was overlooked until now, but he finally got his gravestone.

During the ceremony, families, including children dressed in NYPD blue, gathered to honor these detectives.

Scott Munroe, President of the Detectives’ Endowment Association, shared his thoughts on the occasion, saying, “It’s wonderful to see this detective finally recognized. Perhaps now, his descendants will have a place to remember him.” He highlighted Pucciano’s successful career in law enforcement, mentioning that he apprehended many dangerous criminals during his time.

“He was a skilled investigator and was called the master detective,” Munroe noted, stressing the importance of recognizing such figures in law enforcement history.

The backstory around Pucciano and Grotano has even motivated a 65-year-old NYPD detective, William Markowski, to dive into his own family’s history and that of his fiancée. They discovered Grotano’s grave in the prominent cemetery without any markers, prompting further investigation.

Grotano had been on duty in Brooklyn on May 19, 1924, when he was shot while chasing a robbery suspect who had already been firing at patrol officers. Grotano suffered fatal injuries, while the suspect was also shot and killed during the confrontation.

At the time, Grotano’s widow, Mary, struggled to manage hospital expenses and raise their two children, leaving her unable to afford a gravestone.

Markowski reached out to the Detective Fund Association for help, which led to the funding for Grotano’s grave marker, completed just a year ago.

“Now they’re together forever,” stated Kropasek, related to both detectives through family ties. She remarked on how these historical figures connected her to a deeper part of her family’s story.

Back in their day, when Pucciano and Grotano started their careers, the NYPD was predominantly Irish-American, and communication barriers often made it difficult for Italian immigrants to report crimes.

Reflecting on their past, Kropasek expressed joy, saying, “Both families are thrilled. It feels really good to connect with such a significant part of our history.”