Today, there are fewer than a dozen stabbings and slashings a month on Rikers Island. But Grillo believes in being prepared. Perhaps the best evidence of his attitude was the armored personnel carrier parked in front of his garage. In recent years, Grillo has purchased enough military equipment to outfit a small army two armored personnel carriers, a crash truck, and a 125-foot boom crane from the German military. But these vehicles' true purpose seemed more to do with giving guards another way to remind the prisoners who runs Rikers.
Officers bring the crash truck to respond to minor disturbances in the jail yards.
After spending countless hours obsessing about the finer points of body armor and riot vests and stun shields, Grillo was eager to try out his purchases. E-mail this story to a friend. To advertise in Features contact Glenn Severance .