Oral history interview with Reuben C. Bankhead, 2015

Biographical Note

Reuben Bankhead grew up in the Bedford-Stuyvesant neighborhood in Brooklyn, NY. He joined the New York City Police Department in 1958. Throughout his 23-year career he worked in the Manhattan Narcotics Division, the Brooklyn North Youth Squad, and the Homicide Division. He attained the rank of third grade detective before retiring in 1981. He was an active member of the NYPD Guardians Association, holding the office of First Vice President

Scope and Contents

Reuben Bankhead speaks primarily of the NYPD Guardians Association, and its importance to aiding the careers of black police officers during his time with the New York City Police Department. He shares how influential the advice of more experienced police was when he was starting out, as well their advocacy and support for black officers to take promotion exams. He comments on the affect of the lawsuits brought by the Guardians Association, aiding later generations of police officers. He also touches on how policing has changed from the 1960s and 1970s into the 2000s, and the importance of residency requirements to community policing

Subjects

• African American police--New York (State)--New York.
• Bankhead, Reuben C.--Interviews.
• Community policing--New York (State)--New York.
• Interviews
• NYPD Guardians Association.
• New York (N.Y.). Police Department--History.
• Oral histories
• Strong, Liz, interviewer.

Access Conditions

Copyright by the Trustees of Columbia University in the City of New York, 2015