Frank Serpico was a real life NYPD cop, and perhaps one of the earliest whistleblowers. Unfailingly honest and unwilling to give in to graft and bribery surrounding him within the force, his actions in the late 1960s and 70s lead to the exposure of police corruption within the New York City police department. Serpico was shot in the face during a 1971 drug bust at an apartment while screaming for backup from his fellow officers who failed to call immediately for an ambulance. There was no formal investigation which raised the question as to whether Serpico had been “set up,” and brought to the apartment by colleagues to be murdered.
Serpico became the first police officer to step forward to testify, his testimony the centerpiece of the Knapp Commission hearings which sparked the biggest shakeup in the history of the department. His integrity having destroyed most of his relationships, friendships and family ties. Serpico’s only real company was his dog, Alfie, an Old English Sheepdog he adopted while moving in his new apartment.
Readers of a certain age will remember this story from the 1973 movie, “Serpico” shot on location on New York City. It earned actor, Al Pacino, an Academy Award nominations for Best Actor, while “Barnaby,” the Old English Sheepdog portraying “Alfie,” stole every scene he was in with only a single barked line of dialogue. The movie’s closing credits described the real Frank Serpico as “now living somewhere in Switzerland,” which was true at the time. Following his recovery, Serpico took his fluffy Old English Sheepdog, Alfie, and boarded a ship to Europe.
Serpico is 80 years old now and in a 2010 article, recounted his life since then. We wish he’d said something about Alfie.
Image from a scene in the movie, “Serpico.”
I wonder if the real Paco still has a sheep dog and God Bless him ! Thank You Sir !
where did the dog ‘Alfie’ come from in movie ‘Serpico
We don’t know, Jan, we surely would have included the information if we had found it. Perhaps one of our readers knows?
II WONDER IF ALFIE CAME BACK FROM Switzerland WITH SERPICO OR DID HE DIE FROM OLD AGE HE WAS A FEW YEARS OLD WHEN HE WENT OUT I THINK THEY SPENT AT LEAST 10 YEARS OUT THERE VEFIR SERPICO CAME BACK TO NEW YORK THAT IS JUST AMOUT THE LIFE SPAN OF A SHEEP DOG 13 YEAR’S
That was a great dog, a lot us kids in the neighborhood would remember that dog well. he would be very friendly and we got to pet Alfie, of course at the time we were really young and didn’t really know who this guy was.,but he was a nice man.
How lucky you were, Mike, and what a great story!
Did Frank ever have a Doberman called Virgo?
We weren’t able to find evidence that Serpico had a Doberman called Virgo….
I was in New York in 1971 with a girl I was dateing we were in a diner we were checking out I was short 2 cents the guy behind me gave it to the waitress I thank him he ask were are you from I told him Scranton PA. I said are you a cop he said yes my name is frank service I remember him over 50 years ago I was 18 years old bud I did not see Alfie never though they would make a movie out of him people don’t believe me but I don’t care I don’t know if the movie was like it is but he did the right thing I think he was great cop
What a wonderful comment, Joseph, to have met the man in person!
May God bless Serpico and his fantastic sheepdog that passed away.