Staten Island judicial candidate’s past life as an undercover NYPD officer

Glenn Yost, 63, claims to have been involved in over 500 drug busts during his time with the NYPD, including what he says was the first grand jury crack-sale case on Staten Island. He stated, “I feel like I’ve come full circle in the law – enforcing it for 20 years, teaching it, and practicing it for nearly 20 years.”

Yost, originally from Brooklyn, moved to Staten Island at age 11 and was raised by his single mother. He joined the NYPD at 20 and quickly became part of the narcotics unit.

Under the guise of various aliases, including “Vinnie,” a Cadillac-driving aspiring actor, Yost infiltrated drug operations in Brooklyn, Manhattan, and Staten Island. He lived in a wiretapped apartment and utilized fake identification and credit cards to maintain his cover. His persona involved frequenting crack houses and feigning drug use, a process he described as “scary” and “horrible.”

To build trust, Yost consistently played his role, even enduring instances where he was forced to sample drugs at gunpoint, often tricking dealers by pretending to consume them. He also carried a concealed .25 automatic Colt pistol for protection.

Remarkably, Yost developed a close, albeit deceptive, friendship with one of the criminals he apprehended, known only as “JD [John Doe] Handsome.” Yost admitted, “I kind of liked him… He was a good person – other than being a drug dealer.”

Following his undercover work, Yost served as a youth outreach officer and co-founded the “No Staten Island Racism” school program. He later attended New York Law School and retired from the NYPD at 40. He also taught criminal justice and history at St. John’s University and St. Joseph by the Sea high school. Yost believes his experiences provide him with a unique perspective and empathy for all individuals.

“I bring life experience, compassion, patience, and respect to the bench,” Yost said. He is married and a father of five.