Maverick Magazine Spring 2022: Nicholas Proto ’79 - A Dedication To Protect and Serve

Nicholas Proto ’79 had a natural instinct to protect and serve from an early age. In January of 1962, right after graduating from high school, Proto joined the United States Army, seeking a career path with “more excitement.” Following his two-year stint in the army, based in Fort Carson, Colorado, his next career step fell out of the Sunday paper: the New York Police Department (NYPD) was looking for new recruits. “They were losing World War II vets who were now retiring from the force, so they needed an abundant group,” said Proto. Proto answered that call and thus began his lifelong career in law enforcement.

His NYPD career started as an officer working the tactical patrol force in high crime areas on the night shift. “Many times I did 24 hours without sleep,” said Proto, whose beat included Brooklyn, the Bronx and areas of upper Manhattan.

Rising in the role of high intensity work, Proto would continue to be brought into even higher intensity work in the decoy division of the force. In this role, Proto pursued investigations that found him donning disguises for undercover cases. He admits there were scary moments in that line of work. He once found himself attacked while dressed as a rabbi and had to confront his assailant and arrest him. “Those were those moments that really made it intense.”

To read the full article, please click here. 

To read the spring 2022 issue of Maverick Magazine, please click here.

To read more articles from the spring 2022 issue of Maverick Magazine, please click here.