Remembering a Great Swiss Cop

Fausto Cattaneo- Ticino Cantonal Police


I have just learned of the passing this week of Fausto Cattaneo, retired Swiss police officer, with whom many DEA agents in Europe, including myself, had the honor of working with. Fausto spent many years before his retirement working drug cases in the Italian-speaking canton of Ticino. Working mostly in Locarno, he headed the drug investigations unit both there and later in nearby Bellinzona. It was during the years between 1982-1987 that I had the opportunity to work with him out of the DEA office in Milan. At that time, DEA had no office in Switzerland, and that allowed us to get involved in cases of mutual interest. Later, the agency opened an office in Bern, but due to language considerations, we continued to all collaborate together.

Fausto was the kind of cop you see portrayed in those cop dramas in the US and Europe. Only, in Fausto's case, he was actually living it. All the police in Switzerland knew who Fausto was, and he was greatly respected for his hard work and ability to make cases others couldn't. In short, he was a legend, not only among the Swiss police, but European police and was even known to many Swiss civilians.

Fausto often worked undercover, not only in Switzerland, but other countries as well in a time when many prosecutors and judges in Europe took a dim view of what was a valuable enforcement tool. Without going into too much detail-even after all these years- Fausto and an agent from our Milan office worked undercover together to effect a massive heroin seizure in a case that involved several countries. Fluent in Italian, French and German, he was able to work effectively with colleagues all over the country.

And when work was done for the day, it was a joy to unwind afterwards with a few beers and share stories and laughter with Fausto.  He was a bon vivant and was funny in whatever language he happened to be speaking in. I could not list all the great memories we in the Milan office shared with Fausto.

I remember in 1982 when I first took my family to Locarno for a few days vacation. We had taken a cab from the train station to the hotel, and our little girl had left her bag of toys in the taxi. Fausto came to the hotel to greet us, immediately tracked down the cab in question, and got the toys back. It was a small thing but something our family never forgot.

A few years back, Fausto published a book on his fascinating career. It is out in three languages, Italian, French and German. I was able to order a copy of the German addition, "Deckname Tato" ("Undercover Name Tato"). In the book, he told not only of the many international drug cases he worked, but how (just like in the movies), higher ups in suits had tried to wreck his career. Fausto was a cop who thought out of the box, and some didn't like that. The fact remains that he conducted his career with integrity and professionalism.

In the past couple of years, Fausto and I made connections over Facebook, actually conversing for the first time in English (Actually, I never realized his English was so good), but I was not aware when he came down with ALS. Now I have learned of his passing through the DEA retirees' grapevine. Among those who worked with Fausto in Europe, the lines are buzzing. Personally, I feel sad on his passing and regretful that I never saw him again after I left Italy in 1987.

I hope that somehow, in some way, not just Ticino, but all of Switzerland is making a note of his passing. That country owes a lot to Fausto Cattaneo. As the Jewish saying goes: "May his memory be a blessing."