Cited four times in his career as an honor cop, Astoria policeman James T. Ryan was interrogated in connection with numerous holdups throughout the New York City area. During his March 28, 1957 questioning Ryan was also grilled about what he knew about NYC truck hijackings and safe robberies. Returned to the beat in 1955, Ryan had risen to detective rank in the NYPD. In 1956 Ryan was one of two men who assaulted Astoria dye company proprietor Andrew LaMorta. The businessman was carrying payroll which the robbers stole $1,800 of.