http://www.cooganresearchgroup.com/crg/index.htm

19 December 2021

COOGAN story appearing in "Syracuse Herald"
(Thursday Evening, 25 JUL 1929, PAGE [7 ?]):


ON POLICE TRAILS

Chasing Speeders Thrill
Enough for Bike Policeman

NABS SPEEDERS

[photo]

caption: SYLVESTER COOGAN

Sylvester Coogan Once
Drove Right Into Rail-
road Tunnel

Airplanes may offer plenty of thrills but take the word of a
motorcycle policeman who says that aviation does not give
him the excitement he finds on his job.

He does not mean that making an arrest is a thrill, but he
does mean that when you're driving a motorcycle 50 or 60 
miles an hour, trying to overtake some criminal or careless
motorist that it is far more thrilling dodging in and out of
traffic and getting your man than it is to ride through the
sky.

Patrolman Sylvester Coogan is the motorcycle cop who classes
his job ahead of aviation as far as thrills are concerned.
Airplane flights are exciting, he says, when the pilot makes
a sharp turn or a dip or maybe a loop, but chasing speeders
on a motorbike - that's the life for Coogan.  He has been a 
patrolman seven years; walking a beat the first three and 
since that time assigned to the motorcycle squad.

Few occupations offer more excitement than that of motorcycle
patrolman.  Danger is always in the path.  Many have been 
hurt and Coogan has had his share of "spills," fortunately
escaping serious injury.

He tells of one experience that took him on his motorcycle
down the New York Central tracks on East Washington Street
into the tunnel below Pine Street.

The incident happened two years ago.  Coogan was investigating
an accident in East Washington Street near Almond.  The 
driver of one car had been drinking and Coogan placed him
under arrest.  He left him sitting in his automobile while
questioning witnesses.

Without anyone noticing, the man started his car and drove
away.  When he had gone about a block, Coogan discovered
his prisoner missing and gave chase.  The driver of the 
fleeing car drove straight for the railroad tunnel, the 
machine bumping over the railroad ties.  Coogan followed
and when the struck the rough ties he was hurled from
his machine.

Just before the tunnel was reached, the automobile in which 
the prisoner was attempting to make his escape was wrecked.
The man jumped from the car and ran into the tunnel.

Coogan suffered a severe injury to his shoulder, but he
left his motorcycle and with flashlight in hand went into
the tunnel and found his man crouched beside the tracks
in the darkness.