Someone recently asked me how many detectives are in the NYPD’s Cold Case Squad. There are now only nine. There were twenty-seven when I wrote my book and I was told that there were around fifty when the unit started (although there are 40 in the early group shot below, minus the commanding officers).

The NYPD’s Cold Case Squad was once the largest in the country (probably in the world, but I didn’t call around to confirm that). The next largest squad was in Los Angeles and they had seven detectives.

But the LAPD’s Cold Case Homicide Unit is now up to 13. Other substantial squads are in Miami and Boston, and they do not have more than 13. So as far as I know, the LAPD now has the largest cold case squad in the country.