Being first at anything entails not only breaking ground but excelling so that the initial achievement will not be discredited and others will follow.

In 1962, when Fred Greene became the first African-American police officer in Teaneck, a superior officer bluntly informed him that the town wasn’t ready for a black cop, recalled Greene’s friend, former Councilman Leo Wielkocz.

"For somebody like Freddie that was a great challenge because Freddie had the ability to build bridges to people rather than block them or burn them," Wielkocz said.

Greene died on May 15 at the age of 72. A funeral service at Community Baptist Church in Englewood was attended by a large cross section of area residents.

Colleagues and friends recall Greene, who retired as a lieutenant in 1988 as an officer who was deeply involved in the community, especially its young people, and who served as a mentor to younger officers.

"He was a special person who had good rapport with both white and black officers," said retired Teaneck Police officer Lenny Pinto.

Pinto recalled attending a crime prevention clinic with Greene in Austin, Texas in 1978, for which Greene had written the grant that enabled the Teaneck officers to go.

"He got along with officers from all over the country," Pinto said. "He was a very dedicated officer and a very nice gentleman who treated his fellow officers like members of his own family."

Former Bergen County Sheriff Jack Terhune, who served with Greene on the township police force, said that Greene was the "ultimate police officer."

"He was a great boss and a great guy who took significant interest in anyone, regardless of race or ethnic origin," Terhune said.

Terhune recalled an incident in which a teenager had a knife and had locked himself in his bedroom, threatening to kill anyone who came in after him.

"Freddie was the tour commander at the time and came up with the idea to call the fire department," Terhune said. "They ran a hose in and knocked the young man down with water. It was a creative act. Back then, deadly force might have been justified to use on an individual threatening to attack with a knife."

In another incident in the 1970s, residents living near the Teaneck-Englewood border had been terrorized by a series of unsolved killings.

Terhune said that Greene had been assigned to the case and had an idea who the culprit was but had no evidence. Greene knew the suspect, who had attended dances for young people that he had organized.

One day Greene saw the youth riding a bicycle and stopped his patrol car to talk to him.

"He was having a friendly chat, and in the course of the conversation, the kid leaned up against the police car," said Terhune. "Freddie realized that the kid’s fingerprints were now on the back window."

When the conversation ended, Greene rushed to headquarters where the prints were lifted and compared to those left at the crime scene.

The fingerprints matched and the youth was arrested and ultimately convicted.

"This kid had no prior conviction so there were no fingerprints of him in the system," said Terhune. "Freddie’s idea was to get his prints." 

Terhune recalled that Greene sometimes patrolled without a gun.

"The reason was that he never could find it. Some people think he did this on purpose, but part of the time he forgot it or left it in his locker," Terhune said. 

"He was a unique guy who set the stage for the evolution of police work as we know it," he added. 

Greene earned nine letters at Teaneck High School, from which he graduated in 1956, Wielkocz said. Although he placed first on the civil service list for police officers, the township manager at the time was reluctant to appoint him.

"His mother was a very forceful woman," Wielkocz said. "She got tired of calling the town manager, so she called Matthew Feldman, who was Mayor, and she let him know in no uncertain terms in what was going on. A day or two later, they opened up the list and appointed him. "

Throughout his career and even after his retirement, Greene was involved with the Little League and other youth programs. He persuaded the council to install a dirt bike track in Votee Park, and an African art store that he owned on Teaneck Road became a magnet for young people for everything from help with homework to counseling, Wielkocz said.

Teaneck Police Chief Fred Ahearn, who trained under Greene, recalled that Greene was instrumental in starting a special squad, which has evolved into the department’s anti-crime squad. 

"He was a fine lieutenant and officer and mentor to many officers. He will be missed," Ahearn said.