[1][2][3] During his career as a detective he was part of the team that apprehended David Berkowitz, the serial killer known as the "Son of Sam".

In 1958, when he was a patrolman, he responded to a stabbing at a book-signing, and his quick thinking played a key role in saving Martin Luther King Jr.'s life.

[1][3][4][5][6][7][8] King was signing his first book when a woman, Izola Curry, stabbed him with a letter opener.

When Howard and his partner, Phil Romano, arrived on scene he found a well meaning witness was about to try to remove the knife from the wound.

Howard then duped the crowd that had gathered, telling them to clear a line to the front door.