Fats operated the Big A Lounge directly across the street from the Youngstown Police Department on Boardman St. downtown. Cops ate and drank for free :-)
I don't doubt it. In those days local cops often played ball with local gamblers and racket guys, especially in cities like Youngstown which was notoriously corrupt.
My understanding was there was a "no shoot" rule when it came to an altercation between the "wise-guys" and the cops.
The "wise-guys" were told not to shoot at a cop, and they didn't!
