Life Stories – Archive 05
This page is dedicated to the following New York City Police Council of Retired Guardians who have passed away:
| Ret. P.O. Cardinal Campbell Ret. Det. Reuben Bankhead Ret. Det. Horace Balmer Ret. Donna Clendenin | Ret. Chief Benjamin J. Foster Ret. Sgt. James “Jimmy” Hargrove Ret. Det. Edgar Jones |
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Ret. P.O. Cardinal Campbell
No additional information available at this time.
Ret. Det. Reuben Bankhead
No additional information available at this time.
Ret. Det. Horace Balmer
Horace Balmer, former NBA security head, dies at 76
NORFOLK, Va. — Horace Balmer, the head of NBA security from 1985 to 2002, has died. He was 76.
The NBA said Wednesday that Balmer, known as “Kitibu,” died Tuesday in Norfolk. The league didn’t provide a cause of death.
“Horace Balmer was a great friend and a longtime member of the NBA family,” NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said in a statement. “During his 17-year NBA career, he oversaw the security of events in arenas around the world and built life-long relationships with countless players, teams and league executives. Horace also dedicated himself to assisting those in need, particularly in his hometown of Norfolk, Virginia. Our thoughts and prayers are with Horace’s family and friends.”
Balmer was a detective in the New York City Police Department for 20 years. After his retirement from the NBA, he co-founded the Hampton Roads Sports Hall of Fame. Balmer also owned several businesses in New York including the famed “Showmans” when it was located on 125th St. in Harlem.
Ret. Donna Clendenin
No additional information available at this time.
Ret. Chief Benjamin J. Foster
Paying respects to Ret Chief Benjamin J Foster who passed away September 8, 2015. He retired November 1996 from PBBN.
Ret. Sgt. James “Jimmy” Hargrove
James “Jimmy” Hargrove, age 75, of Kissimmee, FL passed away on May 5, 2015.
Jimmy was born and raised in the Bedford Stuyvesant section of Brooklyn, NY. He Started to work at age 12 in a local grocery store and attended PS3 and Brooklyn Technical {Tech} High School. He was one of only 7 Blacks in a school of 6,000 at the time. He enlisted in the Army National Guard at age 16 and selected to attend Officers Candidate School in Fort Sill, OK at the age of 19. Commissioned to a 2nd Lt. Returning to NY to serve in Harlem’s 369th Artillery Battalion raising to the rank of Captain. Jimmy joined the NYCPD in June of 1961 and first assigned to the 79th Pct. Then on the Plain Clothes {vice} in the 88th Pct, 16th Division and the Chief Inspector Confidential Investigation Unit. Back to uniform in the 83rd Pct. before assignment to the Brooklyn North Youth Squad. Then the Detective Bureau in the old 80th squad; 14th Division Detectives; Brooklyn North Burglary and Major Case. Before the 88 Pct, in plain clothes, took a gambling course and was assigned afterword to stay and rewrite the course dealing with “policy” or “numbers”.
He was one of the leaders who filed a lawsuit against the US Department of Justice for not enforcing its own regulations. Case went to the US Supreme Court. We lost. National Black Police Association v Velde {1980}. Finally getting a chance to take a promotion exam he was promoted to Sgt. and assigned to the 78th Pct. before transfer to the newly created 77th Pct. as a NPT {Neighbor Police Team} supervisor. He returned in 1981 as a Sgt. assigned for years as the Supervisor of the Brooklyn Gang Unit and Youth Unit 12 out of the 75th Pct. Police Commissioner Pat Murphy and later Commissioner Benjamin Ward heading up a search committee selected Jimmy to be the first Director of Public Safety for the City of Boston, MA Housing Authority. His job was to start up a Housing Police Department in an agency which was under court receivership which had just a three-man security staff. Twenty months later the foundation was laid and Jim returned to NY. Jimmy’s long-time ambition was to attend Law School and he became part of the first class of CUNY Law School at Queens College – Class of 1986.While attending Law School, he worked as Public Safety Director at Roosevelt Island and as a Private Investigator and President of Hargrove Security Consultants. Prior to Law School, he had obtained an Associates in Police Science and a BS in Criminal Justice from John Jay College and a Masters in Public Administration from L.I.U. all while working for the NYPD. He attended the FBI National Academy. During his time in Police work he was active in several organizations leading nine (9) lawsuits against the NYPD for discriminatory practices, winning all nine. He also assisted in lawsuits against the Departments in:
Nassau, Suffolk, and Westchester, NY, Bridgeport and New Haven CT, Newark and Patterson NJ, Springfield and Boston MA and Houston TX.
He belonged to many Organizations including:
Guardians Association NYPD – Past President & President Emeritus
Guardians Foundation NYPD – Founder & Past President
Grand Council of Guardians – Co-Founder & Past President
National Black Police Association – Co-Founder & Past National Chairman
Nassau County PD Foundation – Co-Founder & Past President
Upon graduating from CUNY Law, Police Commissioner Benjamin Ward appointed him Assistant Commissioner in the Personnel Bureau supervising the Recruitment Unit; the Police Cadet Corp and the Applicant Processing Division. In addition, he served on the Civilian Complaint Review Board. Commissioner Ward upon hiring him stated “You were so good in suing us, now keep us from getting sued.” He ended his city service as the Deputy Director of School Safety for NYC Board of Education. In retirement he worked as a Security Consultant for the Bedford Stuyvesant Restoration Corp. He enjoyed bowling, TV game shows and loved the Dallas Cowboys.
He is the loving husband of Ruth Hargrove; father of Jason (Ivy) Hargrove of Queens, NY, Michele (Benny) Dye of Cleveland OH, and Tia (Kevin) Standard of Queens, NY; also grandfather of 16 and great grandfather of 20.
A Memorial Service will be held in New York at a later date. Arrangements are under the care of CONRAD AND THOMPSON FUNERAL HOME 511 Emmett St Kissimmee, FL 34741 (407) 847-3188.