A cop and his car

For many people, cars are hallmarks in life. There’s that first hot rod that earned you a citation in high school, or the first four-wheel-drive truck that got you stuck in the mud. For cops, you can add the first patrol car to that list.

For a group of retired officers in New York, one car holds even greater significance.

Thirty-seven years ago, NYPD Officer Edward “Eddie” Byrne was brutally assassinated while sitting in his 1987 Chevy Caprice cruiser. The 22-year-old officer was shot five times as he was guarding the home of a witness cooperating in a case against a Queens drug gang.

A lot of time has passed since then, and a lot of water has flowed under the proverbial bridge. There’s also been literal water. The old baby-blue Caprice was submerged during Hurricane Sandy and later survived a fire at the Erie Basin NYPD evidence warehouse.

Despite the wear and tear, a handful of retired NYPD and Nassau County Police Department officers are determined to restore the car. Their ultimate goal is to display it at the NYPD Police Academy to serve as a memorial and to remind recruits of the threats that beset officers in the profession.

Retired officers Jason Caputo and John Schwartz are leading the charge, along with a handful of other former officers. The project has been in the works for some time, but has been delayed by bureaucratic issues. The restoration is expected to cost up to $50,000, which will be funded through private donations. The plan is to complete the restoration within a year and unveil it on February 26, the anniversary of Byrne’s death.

While the Caprice will be brought back to its showroom glory, the bullet hole will remain. According to Caputo, it’s an important reminder of the dangers that officers routinely face. “Knowing that an officer at the age of 22 was shot because of his uniform, because of the vehicle he sat in, and the job he was doing — it makes this restoration even more meaningful,” he said.