Manhunters
Manhunters: Fugitive Task Force is one of A&E's latest reality shows. Each half hour episode features U.S. Marshals and local law enforcement working together to apprehend the most dangerous and violent fugitives in America. The show focuses on the New York/New Jersey Regional Fugitive Task Force (NY/NJ RFTF). The NY/NJ RFTF bas formed in May 2002 as a result of the 9/11 attacks. The NY/NJ unit is the busiest in the country, catching approximately 4,000 fugitives each year.
While based in New York City, the task force also works with other federal agencies (including the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and the Secret Service) and local agencies (such as the Camden Police Department, the New Jersey Department of Corrections, and the New York State Police).
The main characters of the show are:
Commander Lenny DePaul (U.S. Marshals Service)
Lenny joined the U.S. Navy at 17 where he was a part of an elite amphibious assault group. He also spent 5 years in the Secret Service when Ronald Reagan was president.
Supervisor Tommy Kilbride (U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE))
A retired Marine, Tommy has spent 17 years with the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). He also worked with the U.S. Border Patrol in San Diego, CA for 4 1/2 years.
Senior inspector Greg Holmes (U.S. Marshals Service)
Greg joined the USMS in 1996 and became involved in fugitive operations in 1999. He became a senior inspector for the task force in 2008.
Deputy Michelle "Michy" Mendez (U.S. Marshals Service)
Michy, who was raised in Puerto Rico, joined the task force in 2007 after joining the USMS while still an undergrad studying criminal justice. She is also a coordinator for Continuity of Operations, which is a plan of evacuation and continued operations of the USMS during a state of emergency such as 9/11.
Deputy Mike Romani (U.S. Marshals Service)
Mike has wanted to be in law enforcement since reading a book about police officers at age 7. He spent 5 years with U.S. Customs and been with the USMS for 10 years. He was a founding member of the NY/NJ RFTF.
Detective Roxanne "Roxy" Lopez (Spring Valley, NY Police Department)
Roxy never remembers a time when she didn't want to be a cop. She joined the Newburgh Police Department in 1997. She has served on the patrol beat, on the SWAT team, undercover working on prostitution cases, as a detective, and as part of the Special Investigations Unit.
Detective Rasheen "Pep" Peppers (Newark, NJ Police Department)
Pep has been part of the Newark Police Department for 12 1/2 years. As an officer, he hopes to be a positive role model to inner-city kids and is on the board of trustees of Kids Corporation II, which specializes in urban education.
Senior parole officer Vinny Senzamici (New York State Division of Parole)
Vinny's father was a NYPD police officer and he was recruited into the New York State Division of Parole while working on his master's degree in 1980. For 7 years, he worked as a mental health and recreation therapist.
Senior investigator Ali McBride (New Jersey Department of Corrections)
Ali has been with the New Jersey Department of Corrections since 1995. He has worked at the Northern State Prison and the East Jersey State Prison. He became part of the task force in 2006. He is a fellow with Leadership Newark, a judiciary volunteer for the Newark Alliance for Compliance in Essex County, and vice president of the Board of Career Visions Ambassadors program.
Police Officer Richard "Richie" Murawinski (Port Authority Police Department of NY/NJ)
Richie's father retired after 25 years in law enforcement and his brother is a detective. Richie has been with the Port Authority since 1994 and joined the task force in 2007. He lost many close friends who helped train him in the 9/11 attacks.
Senior investigator Robert "Papo" Olmo III (New Jersey Department of Corrections)
Papo's father was a NYPD detective. Papo is certified in tactics, weaponry, and strategic planning. He became a part of the task force in 2007.
Inspector Danny Potucek (U.S. Marshals Service)
Danny joined the USMS in 1990. He graduated Magna Cum Laude with a B.S. in Criminal Justice from the John Jay College of Criminal Justice. He joined the task force in 2002.
Investigator Matthew Testa (New Jersey State Parole)
Matt has been with the New Jersey State Parole since 1997 and joined the task force in 2003. A hockey fan, Matt got his master's degree from John Jay College of Criminal Justice.
Previously on Manhunters
Manhunters: Marquise Darling
Posted: 11 Mar 2009
The Manhunters were out to get Marquise Darling. Darling was wanted for murdering a childhood friend execution style. The team went to see the mom of the victim and Pep wanted to get justice for her. They visited an ex-girlfriend, who called Darling “a beast.” He had beaten her up and [...]
Manhunters: David Heavlow
Posted: 25 Feb 2009
One another new episode of “Manhunters,” the team was after David Heavlow. Heavlow was wanted fro parole violation and larceny. He had priors for attempted rape and robbery. Confidential informants told the team that Heavlow was in Yonkers. They went to the address, but the lady upstairs said the guy downstairs [...]
Manhunters: Najee Bell and Bruce Roman
Posted: 25 Feb 2009
On this week’s “Manhunters,” Pep was back in his old stomping ground of Neward, NJ looking for gang members. Najee Bell was wanted for robbery and weapons possession. He was only 19 years old but had 7 prior arrests, including one for possession of a machine gun. Bruce Roman was wanted for [...]
Manhunters: Tyrone Mitchell
Posted: 18 Feb 2009
The Manhunters got some new equipment this week and everyone was glad to see it, although Mike didn’t seem thrilled with his camera while Michy got a hydro. The case this week was Tyrone Mitchell. Mitchell was doing time for a federal weapons violation and with only five weeks left, he escapes. [...]
