The NYPD’s Cold Case Squad was formed in 1996. At the time my book went to press, of the 2,136 cases they had worked on by that point, they arrested 1,332 people in connection with those crimes, successfully cleared 629 cases and got exceptional clearances on 71 more (a case can be “exceptionally” cleared when the murderer has been identified definitively by a substantiated confession for example but the murderer has since died, or is in a country that refuses to extradite him. They don’t like to do it because it’s not as satisfying as taking someone off the streets and putting him in jail).

Congratulations Cold Case Squad, and thank you. There should be a party or dinner in your honor, something.

Here’s a teeny, tiny picture of the squad when they were first formed. Sadly, the squad is a lot smaller now.