Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
NYPD Bee Detective Dragged Out Of Retirement For One Last Job
By
Ben Yakas
Published Aug 22, 2014
Modified Aug 22, 2014
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
By
Ben Yakas
Published Aug 22, 2014
Modified Aug 22, 2014
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Longtime NYPD beekeeper Detective Anthony "Tony Bees" Planakis only filed for retirement at the start of this month, but NYC has seemingly been besieged with swarms ever since. We all thought Tony Bees was the hero NYC deserved, but not the one it needed right now. We were all wrong—and Tony Bees was called back for duty to deal with 50,000 bees in Queens yesterday.
Planakis and Larry Stone, the "Honeybee Helper" at Stoneridge Apiaries, were called in to remove 50,000 bees living in a ceiling at Gregory Hall Condominium on 51st Avenue and 90th Street. Unlike last week's culling-by-pesticide, these bees (along with more than a dozen honeycombs) were safely removed from the premises; they will be relocated to a farm upstate.
And with that, Planakis withdrew back into the eternal evening of the city. Like Cincinnatus before him, he had been summoned by the people—and even when he was handed absolute authority (over bees), he walked away and returned to the "boredom" of retirement. When you tuck your unstung children into bed tonight, give a quiet thanks. We may never see the likes of him buzzing around again.
Tagged
bees
manhattan
nypd
police
Upper West Side
uws
Ben Yakas
Ben Yakas is a former Gothamist reporter.
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE news
Early Addition: Get to know Wanda, the donkey in the Met's 'La Bohème'
Because she's 18 years old now, here are your early links: The RHONY castmember mentioned in the Epstein Files, killing rats with carbon monoxide, Selena Gomez says don't vape and more.
By
James Ramsay
Published Oct 19, 2026 at 8:26 a.m. ET
Eric Adams' NYC buildings boss Eric Ulrich heads to trial, 3 years after arrest
Ulrich, a former city councilmember, is accused of trading access and favors for cash and bribes. He was the first aide to Mayor Adams charged with public corruption.
By
David Brand
and
Samantha Max
News
Eric Adams' NYC buildings boss Eric Ulrich heads to trial, 3 years after arrest
Ulrich, a former city councilmember, is accused of trading access and favors for cash and bribes. He was the first aide to Mayor Adams charged with public corruption.
By
David Brand
and
Samantha Max
Need help with mental health or addiction services? NYC has a new tool.
By
Caroline Lewis
NYC sues personal injury law firm accused of bogus trip-and-fall claims
By
Walter Wuthmann
NYC Council to consider earlier Legionella reporting after deadly outbreaks
By
Catalina Gonella
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .