Currents News Staff
The late NYPD Detective Doug LeVien was honored for his extraordinary work as a mafia crimefighter. LeVien received the Jack and Helen Como Award at the Lt. Det. Joseph Petrosino Association annual awards dinner in Howard Beach, May 2.
After serving in the Marines, LeVien’s life began to play out like a Hollywood movie. He made history when he posed as a crooked cop and wore a wire to collect evidence in the corruption-busting “Gold Bug” investigation and when he infiltrated the Sicilian mafia in New York City as wise guy Tommy Russo. Additionally, he became the only detective to be placed in the witness protection program when he was set to testify.
LeVien was also a member of the New York Organized Crime Strike Force and co-author of the book “The Mafia Handbook.”
Honoring His Son
The detective’s son was also honored at the awards dinner. Vincent LeVien is the Director of External Affairs for DeSales Media Group, the communications and technology arm of the Diocese of Brooklyn and the parent company of The Tablet, Currents News and Nuestra Voz.
“Vincent honors his Dad and carries on his legacy by living a life of service to others as a member of many philanthropic organizations,” read a statement from the Lt. Det. Joseph Petrosino Association.
Like Detective LeVien, The late Lt. Det. Joseph Petrosino is also a pioneer in the fight against organized crime. This year marks the 110th anniversary of when Petrosino was gunned down while on an undercover operation for the NYPD in Sicily. Some of the techniques he created to fight against organized crime in New York are still used today.