Vinny (left) and his partner Sam. Mentor to many, a cop’s cop, Vinny Mintus left an indelible mark in Delray and at the School District where he worked after retiring from the Delray PD.
There are some people that are simply unforgettable.
Vinny Mintus was one of those people.
He had a great smile. He had presence, charisma and a a wonderful sense of humor.
He was also tough as they come.
If he liked you, there was nothing he wouldn’t do for you. If you were a criminal you didn’t want Vinny to catch your case.
Vinny Mintus was a cop’s cop.
Vinny passed on New Year’s Day. It was sudden and shocking. And when I got the news I couldn’t believe it. It’s a gut punch to those of us who knew and loved Vinny. And to know Vinny was to love him.
Vinny Mintus was a legendary Delray Beach police officer, part of a special group of officers who saved this town and enabled any and all success we’ve enjoyed to take place. Let that sentence sink in. The Delray Beach Police Department saved this city.
That’s not an overstatement. I saw what these brave men and women did with my own eyes in the mid 80s and early 90s when Delray Beach was in the throes of a struggle with crack, crime and chaos. Entire neighborhoods in Delray were open air drug markets.
I had a chance to ride along with Vinny and many many others during that era. That experience shaped me and was an invaluable education.
And we saw progress, it took a combination of old school police work, relentless pressure on drug dealers and career criminals and community policing to turn the tide.
Our Police Department made it happen and continues to make it happen. They deserve credit and respect. Without public safety, you have nothing.
A few years ago, the Delray Chamber held a series of civic education sessions designed to share the lessons learned that enabled Delray to thrive.
We tend to forget these lessons and if we do, we risk it all.
I invited Vinny to speak and he did a wonderful job explaining what it was like during the rough and tumble 80s. Vinny started his law enforcement career in 1977 in Miami-Dade County. He came to Delray in 1981. We were lucky that he did. He made a real and lasting difference.
Vinny was a great storyteller and took great pride in the department and his own experiences.
I never tired of hearing those stories. For me, they were full of lessons.
Vinny distinguished himself in so many ways. He was a great union president, a remarkable street cop, an excellent detective and became an indelible presence in Pineapple Grove walking that beat for years and holding court in the old Annex restaurant during lunch hour.
He became the mayor of that important street. He had all the requisite skills, a great smile, a generous laugh, warmth, toughness, smarts and vision. He was one of a kind.
When I heard the news my first thought was it couldn’t be true. Vinny seemed indestructible to me. After he retired from Delray he went to work for the School District Police. He was still doing background checks when we last spoke a few months back. As always, he sounded great. We traded stories and caught up on life. We talked about grabbing lunch, but it didn’t happen.
Vinny was proud of his son Andy, a Delray cop. Happy with his life and happy with his work.
Readers of this blog may recall that every year I have dinner with police and fire retirees at Arturo’s. It’s a tradition and a precious one.
This year, my friend, retired officer and detective Chuck Jeroloman, promised to bring a special surprise guest to dinner. We wondered who it might be. Turns out Vinny was the surprise. The dinner is next week and we will feel Vinny’s absence acutely.
My goodness it would have been amazing to see him and hear those great stories.
Days before his passing, Vinny spoke at the funeral of another legendary officer. Bill Bombacie, known as Bomber, recently passed. Vinny shared stories about what it took to turn the tide in Delray Beach.
My friends tell me he spoke with pride. That’s comforting.
That pride was earned. The hard way.
My friend Vinny was one of a kind.
This past week, I spoke with many people that he touched during his long career. He was beloved by local students who knew him as a DARE instructor, befriended local merchants downtown, and mentored a generation of amazing cops. He called me and others young man. I liked that, especially because it’s no longer true.
When I think of my friend Vinny Mintus, the words “Terry’s Song” by Bruce Springsteen enter my head.
“ Well they built the Titanic to be one of a kind, but many ships have ruled the seas.
They built the Eiffel Tower to stand alone, but they could build another if they please.
Taj Mahal, the pyramids of Egypt, are unique, I suppose. But when they built you brother, they broke the mold.”
The song concludes with a line that I believe in with every fiber of my being: “love is a power greater than death.”
And so it is.
Vinny, when they built you brother they broke the mold.
Thanks for mentoring a generation of amazing officers and for watching over our town so well for so long. You will be missed but never forgotten.
I worked with Vinnie in Delray and the school district.
He was awesome human being and a great policeman.
His smile was infectious. Thanks for sharing. Tom
Thanks, Tom. He always spoke so highly of you.
A beautiful, beautiful man and a wonderful article. He will be truly missed. He is with his Savior. Rest in Peace my friend, you impacted so many lives.
Amen.
Vinny mentored me as a PBA rep and asked me to run for the police and fire pension board which I did and served for 14 years as a trustee chairman. Vinny always told me that we needed to be truthful and explained why our benefits needed to be increased Because of the large turnover rate we had we were never demanding just informative. when Vinny and bomber and the other agents of the organized crime unit along with the street level on narcotics units brought in millions of dollars in seizures to the police department these funds were used numerous times to Improve our computer systems, improve our handguns and weapons and also the purchase of take-home vehicle vehicles. I have so many stories of working with Vinny that I could write a book. I will miss my good friend and fellow officer. Rest in peace, Vinny.
Vinny, was my blood brother in heart and sole! He would have given his life for me and he mine! How quickly it suddenly ends! Gods speed Vinny. Till we meet again! Mr. Please!
Cagney.
I’m still at loss to find words I think are appropriate to describe what it was like to work with the awesome cops of the DBPD, VIN/OCB/Detective and uniform patrol units. I am a better person to have known and worked with Bomber and Vinny. These two guys are going to make it so much more fun to crash through those heavenly gates whenever it’s my time! RIP my Brothers!
Thanks for sharing. And thanks for your service.
About fifty years ago, when I was about 12 years old, is when I first met Vinny Mintus and we became life long friends. I think he was about 25 years old and I was one of his first jobs after college. He “took me under his wings” in Miami and I grew up with him (and this was before he ever knew he was going to be a Delray cop). He had my back as a 12 year old and then for the next 50 years. Always my guardian angel, I will miss him and miss reminiscing with him about those days. He had tremendous impact on my life. Vinny here’s to the drink we didnt get to have at The Sail Inn- RIP.
What fabulous memories. Thanks for sharing Dr. Hacker. I never knew..
From Jeff Rancour, retired Delray Beach lieutenant, currently working for PBSO. Himself a legend.
“Jeff, unforgettable is the perfect way to describe Vinny. I had the honor and pleasure to work with him at the Delray Beach Police Department.We we’re part of a little unit known as Vice/Vin/OCB. This was an elite unit from top to bottom. We we’re the best of the best. Within that unit Vinny was a world shaker. A force not to be taken lightly. He was the “Superstar” amongst superstars. I can tell stories of our experiences that would be movie worthy. Each of these stories would involve Vinny being the main character. I was blessed with having the opportunity to be with Vinny three times in the past few weeks before his passing. During these meetings we told war stories and laughed alot.We also agreed that our work was important and we made a difference. Lastly, we both knew we had together been involved in something very special. We absolutely coveted these accomplishments and the people who we had gone through it with!!!
Officer Vinny was a very special person who above all cared about the kids of Delray Beach , our daughters went to Trinity Lutheran School and Vinny was a dare officer he was such a mentor to the young ! He will surly be missed !
Thank you so much for sharing.