I can confirm first hand that the Tommy Guns were still in the basement armory at the Berkeley Street headquarters in 1964. My dad was a high ranking City of Boston official. One Sunday he took me to see the just released D-Day epic "The Longest Day"at Cinerama on Tremont Street. I was seven years old. Ten minutes into the film the theater manager rushed down the aisle with a BPD Superintendent in uniform. Mayor John Collins neededmy Old Man at HQ immediately. The Boston Strangler had just struck again. An old cop was detailed to stay with me. At the movie's conclusion the audience spontaneously rose and sang God Bless America.
The old cop let me push the siren all the way to Berkeley Street.There we toured the armory and my love affair with the Thompson began. I also got to see my Old Man conduct a press conference with Mayor Collins on the Strangler. I still beam with pride recalling it.