Senate Resolution No. 975
BY: Senator HARCKHAM
MOURNING the death of Peter Intervallo Sr.,
retired Yonkers Police Detective, family man and
devoted member of his community
WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to convey its
grateful appreciation and heartfelt regret in recognition of the loss of
a courageous and hardworking police officer who dedicated his purposeful
life and career in faithful service to both his family and the residents
of New York State; and
WHEREAS, Peter Intervallo Sr. of Mahopac, New York, died on
Saturday, May 8, 2021, at the age of 69; and
WHEREAS, Peter Intervallo Sr. was a retired Yonkers police detective
with 37 years on the job; as a young officer with just three years of
service under his belt, he and his partner, Thomas Chamberlain, worked
tirelessly as they linked together the final piece of evidence that
would lead to the arrest and conviction of one of the nation's most
notorious serial killers, David Berkowitz, commonly known as the Son of
Sam; and
WHEREAS, Peter Intervallo Sr. was 21 when he married his high school
sweetheart, Joyce McEwan; they were the proud parents of three wonderful
children; and
WHEREAS, A great athlete, Peter Intervallo Sr.'s greatest aspiration
after graduating high school was to become a professional basketball
player but he ended up following his second-favorite career choice, law
enforcement; in September of 1973, he was sworn into the Yonkers Police
Department; and
WHEREAS, In February 1977, Peter and Joyce Intervallo Sr. bought a
home in Mahopac; it was just a few months later that the Son of Sam
investigation really began to heat up and Peter Intervallo Sr. and his
partner found themselves in the middle of it; and
WHEREAS, On August 10, 1977, David Berkowitz was taken into custody
by New York City homicide detectives in front of his Yonkers apartment
building; Peter Intervallo Sr. and Thomas Chamberlain's evidence was one
of the two key leads that led to Berkowitz's arrest; and
WHEREAS, Peter Intervallo Sr. and Thomas Chamberlain were honored by
the New York City Police Department for their efforts, which helped
result in the capture of Berkowitz as Son of Sam; subsequently, they
were promoted to the rank of Detective third grade by an act of the
Yonkers City Council; and
WHEREAS, Peter Intervallo Sr. had an excellent conviction rate; some
of his high-profile cases were written about in some renowned
publications such as Rolling Stone; and
WHEREAS, When he was not protecting the citizens of New York State,
Peter Intervallo Sr. was coaching several of his kid's sports teams
including soccer, baseball and basketball, through the Mahopac Sports
Association; and
WHEREAS, He also coached ice hockey with the Putnam Hockey
Association, Hickory Hill Association and several others; he was
instrumental in starting the Mahopac High School Ice Hockey program
where he also coached; and
WHEREAS, Most notably, as the General Manager and Head Coach of the
Empire State Games Hudson Valley Region Men's Ice Hockey program, Peter
Intervallo Sr. earned a Bronze medal; furthermore, he played in a
softball league; and
WHEREAS, A great teacher and role model, Peter Intervallo Sr. was
the proud father of three children: a daughter who is a teacher in
Yonkers, and two sons, both of whom followed in their father's footsteps
and joined the Yonkers Police Department; his older son is a detective
and, with his father's permission, wears the same detective shield
number, 692; his younger son, a patrol officer, wears the same silver
shield that his father wore when he was a patrol officer; and
WHEREAS, Armed with a humanistic spirit and imbued with a sense of
compassion, Peter Intervallo Sr. leaves behind a legacy which will long
endure the passage of time and will remain as a comforting memory to all
he served and befriended; he will be deeply missed and truly merits the
grateful tribute of this Legislative Body; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
mourn the death of Peter Intervallo Sr., and to express its deepest
condolences to his family; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to the family of Peter Intervallo Sr.
