Joseph M. Panella
The Stakeout Squad was a Philadelphia Police Unit divided into two groups--uniform and plainclothes. Uniform assignments consisted of patrolling the city with massive equipment to handle any situation that might be encountered, such as barricaded persons with weapons or hostages. Plainclothes assignments consisted of men dressed like little old ladies (Grannies); or men posing as disoriented elderly citizens, drunks, homeless people, insurance men on their rounds--all vulnerable for an assault by a predator or predators.The Stakeout Unit had policewomen decoys posing as innocent women waiting for a bus or a subway. They worked where women were reportedly being assaulted. The Stakeout Unit staked out banks, savings and loans, drug stores or other establishments that were held up numerous times by armed and dangerous felons. As a result of the Stakeout Unit's dedicated services, the crime rate dropped considerably in the city of Philadelphia.
History,Local History
Stakeout/S-104: My Memoirs of the Philadelphia Police Stakeout Unit-1967 to 1986