Frank Malerba & Vincent Hefferen
| Beyond the Line of Duty |
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Detective Frank Malerba
Detective Vincent Hefferen
Detectives Frank Malerba and Vincent Hefferen were known as "Mutt and Jeff" team.
This team partnered up in 1950, (Malerba already a recipient of the Combat Cross at
the 1946 Medal Day for a gun battle with two robbers and also assisted on breaking
the Luckenback kidnapping case). One of their first arrests together came when they
attempted to break up a violent gang rumble. Upon identifying themselves many of
gang fled, but five or six attacked the officers wrestling Detective Malerba to the
ground. During the violent struggle Malerba was stabbed above the eye and in his
chest area forcing him and Detective Hefferen to shoot the attacker foiling his attack.
In 1952 they broke a Park Avenue jewelery robbery case, ($114,000 stolen) and for
this arrest were promoted to the rank of First Grade Detective. On February 20, 1955
while attempting to arrest a gangland assassin, Augusto Robles they were engaged
in a spectacular 90 minute gun battle which ended with Detective Hefferen being
wounded and Robles being killed, (for this incident they both were honored at 1956
Medal Day with Medals for Valor and portrayed in the 1968 movie "Madigan", (
starring Henry Fonda and Richard Widmark). The partnership would last over 13
years and would amass them a total of over 80 awards and medals, (making them the
most decorated team of their era).
This team partnered up in 1950, (Malerba already a recipient of the Combat Cross at
the 1946 Medal Day for a gun battle with two robbers and also assisted on breaking
the Luckenback kidnapping case). One of their first arrests together came when they
attempted to break up a violent gang rumble. Upon identifying themselves many of
gang fled, but five or six attacked the officers wrestling Detective Malerba to the
ground. During the violent struggle Malerba was stabbed above the eye and in his
chest area forcing him and Detective Hefferen to shoot the attacker foiling his attack.
In 1952 they broke a Park Avenue jewelery robbery case, ($114,000 stolen) and for
this arrest were promoted to the rank of First Grade Detective. On February 20, 1955
while attempting to arrest a gangland assassin, Augusto Robles they were engaged
in a spectacular 90 minute gun battle which ended with Detective Hefferen being
wounded and Robles being killed, (for this incident they both were honored at 1956
Medal Day with Medals for Valor and portrayed in the 1968 movie "Madigan", (
starring Henry Fonda and Richard Widmark). The partnership would last over 13
years and would amass them a total of over 80 awards and medals, (making them the
most decorated team of their era).