Ex-NYPD Undercover Cop Runs for Civil Court Judge

Glenn Yost, a Republican candidate for Civil Court in Staten Island, spent two decades with the NYPD as an undercover narcotics officer, during which he was involved in over 500 drug arrests. Yost's past includes infiltrating drug dens and engaging with dealers, culminating in significant arrests, including the first grand jury crack sale case on Staten Island.

Yost, 63, told The Post that his career path has come full circle, moving from enforcing the law to teaching it and now practicing it for nearly 20 years as a lawyer. He joined the NYPD at age 20 and became part of the narcotics unit two years later. He conducted undercover operations in Brooklyn, Manhattan, and Staten Island, adopting various aliases and using fake identification and credit cards.

During his undercover work, Yost described living in a wiretapped apartment and frequenting crack houses, experiencing dangerous conditions. He recounted instances where he was forced at gunpoint to sample drugs, mastering a technique of pretending to do so without actually ingesting them. He also carried a .25 automatic Colt pistol for protection.

He recalled developing an unlikely rapport with some of the individuals he targeted, noting one dealer, known as "JD Handsome," who became a friend and considered asking Yost to be the godfather to his child. Yost eventually arrested Handsome and his wife, leaving the couple in shock over his true identity.

After his tenure with the NYPD, Yost co-founded a school program called "No Staten Island Racism." He later attended New York Law School and retired from the police force at 40. While studying for the bar exam, he taught criminal justice and history at St. John's University and St. Joseph by the Sea high school. Yost believes his life experiences have equipped him with compassion, patience, and respect, qualities he intends to bring to the judicial bench. He is married and has five children.