Cops' radio reports on fatal shooting

Excerpts of radio transmissions between Nassau police officers and dispatchers portray a routine Saturday evening quickly turning tragic.

At 8:13 p.m., a Seventh Precinct officer first responds to reports of an armed man walking in Massapequa Park. Before that, dispatchers were taking routine calls on matters such as fistfights.

Within seven minutes, "shots fired" is reported. Officers had shot the suspect inside his parents' house.

Things briefly calm down, but five minutes later, there is a shout from the scene -- "MOS shot!" A member of the service, Officer Geoffrey J. Breitkopf, had been shot.

A recording of the radio exchanges was provided by W2LIE.net, a website that monitors and records police radio transmissions.

What follows is not a full transcription. It does not include exchanges unrelated to the fatal call and does not include portions where the speaker is inaudible or where the monitors' scanners may have missed a transmission.

The times below represent how many minutes and seconds elapsed on the recording from the moment the Massapequa Park call is first mentioned, with the officer signing off by noting the time of day as 2013, or 8:13 p.m.

0:00: A Seventh Precinct Officer: " . . . for a white male, wearing black. He has knives hanging off of him. He is eastbound on foot on Front Street. At 2013."

1:55: Seventh Precinct Officer: "...the person has knives hanging from his clothing. He's walking east on Front Street. At 2015."

3:55: Seventh Precinct Officer: "Subject just went into the residence . . . Looks like he lives there."

4:21: Seventh Precinct Officer: "[Subject] . . . goes into residence with his parents . . . Be advised that the subject [inaudible] with a knife. And threatening other witness."

4:29: Dispatcher: "We have [the Emergency Services Unit responding] forthwith."

4:44: Bureau of Special Operations Officer: "Yeah we've got multiple vehicles responding."

***

5:30: Dispatcher: "[Seventh Precinct officers] advise of a possible barricade at this time. 2019 [8:19 p.m.]. ESU (copy)?"

5:40: ESU officer: "We got it."

6:10: [Inaudible commotion can be heard]; one officer says "We need a supervisor here."

***

6:23: Seventh Precinct Officer: "Shots fired . . . "

6:27: Dispatcher: "We're getting an ambulance . . . "

***

8:04: Seventh precinct Officer: "[Code for 'slow down'] Anyone else responding?"

8:11: Dispatcher: "[Slow down to] all other units responding at this time."

***

10:10: Dispatcher: "Headquarters to [ambulance unit]. What's your ETA to Massapequa Park?"

10:23: Officer: "Forthwith [inaudible]."

10:25: Dispatcher: "[Ambulance] is forthwith. Code Blue . . . "

10:32: Seventh Precinct Officer (urgently): "Forthwith. MOS [member of the service]!"

10:35: Dispatcher: "[Seventh Precinct Officer] is advising MOS. Forthwith. Forthwith for an MOS."

11:05: "All ambulances responding go south on Fourth Avenue. For MOS forthwith."

11:14: BSO Officer: "MOS shot in the face." [Breitkopf actually had been shot in the torso.]

11:21: Anguished screaming and commotion can be heard

11:53: Dispatcher: "Ambulance come off Park. Respond off Park."

****

12:18: Ambulance: "Maybe 10 minutes. I'll try every way I can."

12:22: BSO Officer (agitated): "Make sure that they have cars lined up, ready to go to the . . . to the hospital!"

12:33: Dispatcher: " . . . Responding to [Nassau University Medical Center]. We'll get [inaudible] and the other units responding . . . "

12:46: BSO Officer (very agitated): "Headquarters: do you understand that?"