Serpico: The Sequel

Yesterday we featured the great NYT story and video over the weekend catching up with former hero cop (and movie icon) Frank Serpico. It got such wide play that the write, Corey Kilgannon, has just posted a lengthy blog review of the many messages he has received, ranging from cops who say Serpico inspired them to join the department to an ex-cop who disputes one of Serpico's long-running claims. Excerpt:

John Costin, 73, a retired police sergeant who said he took the “officer down” phone call from Mr. Serpico’s partner, disputed Mr. Serpico’s longstanding claim that, while he was in critical condition in the hospital after the shooting, no police officers volunteered to donate blood.

“Right away, there were 35 cops at the hospital willing to give blood,” he said. Mr. Serpico’s colleagues quickly raised a modest bounty of $100, to pay an informer to catch Mr. Serpico’s shooter within hours, Mr. Costin recalled. There were, though, a few few unwell-wishers. “One jerk said, ‘If he needs urine let me know,’” Mr. Costin recalled.