The NYPD is fighting off harsh criticism of its intelligence division in the new book ‘Enemies Within.’ The division’s head talks to Michael Daly—and an officer tells his extraordinary story of living among jihadis.
The man did not imagine the turn his life was about to take when he reported in his NYPD application that he was fluent in Arabic.
“I had no idea what’s in store for me,” he says.
He had wanted to be a cop since he was a youngster. His great hope was to become a member of the elite Emergency Service Unit (ESU).
“The whole lights and sirens, busting in doors,” he says. “All the stuff on TV.”
But before he entered the academy, he was quietly approached by a member of the NYPD intelligence division who inquired if he would be interested in going undercover.
“At first, to be honest, I told them no,” he recalls. “I wanted to be out there, be on the street.”
He agreed to think about it for a couple of days. He decided to set aside his action fantasies and risk the unknown.
“Let me give it a shot,” he recalls telling himself.
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