A ROOKIE COP
VS.
THE WEST COAST MAFIA
Copyright © 2014 by Tanya Chalupa and William G. Palmini, Jr.
All rights reserved. No portion of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form whatsoever, including electronic, mechanical or any information storage or retrieval system, except as may be expressly permitted in the 1976 Copyright Act or in writing from the publisher.
Requests for permission should be addressed to:
New Horizon Press
P. O. Box 669
Far Hills, NJ 07931
Tanya Chalupa and William G. Palmini, Jr.
A Rookie Cop vs. The West Coast Mafia: Breaking Up the “Best in the West” Gang
Cover design: Wendy Bass
Interior design: Scribe Inc.
Library of Congress Control Number: 2013947014
ISBN-13: 978-0-88282-461-1
New Horizon Press
18 17 16 15 14 1 2 3 4 5
AUTHORS’ NOTE
This book is based on the authors’ experiences and reflects their perceptions of the past, present and future. The personalities, events, actions and conversations portrayed within this story have been taken from interviews, research, court documents, government reports, letters, personal papers, press accounts and the memories of some participants.
In an effort to safeguard the privacy of certain people, some individuals’ names and their identifying characteristics have been changed. Events involving the characters happened as described. Only minor details may have been altered.
All conversations with William Floyd Ettleman were transcribed from Bill Palmini’s personal recordings and notes.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
CHAPTER 1: Assault on the Trident
CHAPTER 5: Shoemake Jewelry Hit
CHAPTER 6: The Station Wagon Gang
CHAPTER 8: The Best in the West
CHAPTER 9: Frank “The Bomp” Bompensiero
CHAPTER 10: The Central Valley Debacle
CHAPTER 11: San Diego Supermarket Caper
CHAPTER 12: Growing Interest in Sausalito
PART III
CHAPTER 13: The Trident Era
CHAPTER 14: See You at Sally’s
CHAPTER 15: “Fat Bob” Tegay
CHAPTER 16: Vegas Schemes
CHAPTER 17: Capturing Ettleman
PART IV
CHAPTER 18: Wired
CHAPTER 19: Front Row Seats
CHAPTER 20: No Shoes for Ettleman
CHAPTER 21: A Chabot by Any Other Name
CHAPTER 22: San Jose Boss Angelo Marino
CHAPTER 23: No Dice
CHAPTER 24: Dealing San Diego
CHAPTER 25: The Beat Goes On
PART V
CHAPTER 26: The Old Guard Dies Out
CHAPTER 27: Morris Mystery
AFTERWORD
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
BIBLIOGRAPHY
NOTES
On the last day of the Columbus Day weekend, the persistent ringing of the phone at 6:15 in the morning forced Detective Bill Palmini into consciousness. He reached reluctantly for the receiver, if only to silence it. Suddenly, he became aware of muscle aches, followed by a throbbing in his head and a churning in his stomach, which elicited memories of the night before when drinks flowed freely in the midst of blaring music and laughter.
George Rudimenkin was the patrol sergeant on duty that morning at the Sausalito Police Department. His tone was deadly serious. “There was an armed robbery and safe burglary during the night at the Trident. Meet me there pronto. I’ll fill you in on the details when you get here.”
Palmini struggled to digest
