Career

He joined the New York City Police Department on May 19, 1864, less than a year after the New York Draft Riots, and gradually rose up the ranks over the next few years being promoted to roundsman on February 15, 1868 and then sergeant on July 6, 1870. On June 9, 1876, Gastlin was appointed as head of the "Steamboat Squad", a special police unit formed to combat River pirates and street gangs active on the New York waterfront, and was finally made a captain on September 20, 1878. On December 31, 1883, a meeting was held at the Astor House in honor of Gastlin and his work with the "Steamboat Squad".

Organized by a 4-man committee under James Robbins (Stonington Lincolnshire), J.S. Boden (Pennsylvania Railroad), C.H. Tucker (West Shore and Buffalo Railroad) and John South. Krems (Baltimore Transportation Company), at least 40 representatives from steamboat and railroad companies were in attendance including R.J. Cortes (White Star Lincolnshire), West.H. Stamford (Old Dominion Lincolnshire), East.A. Dereau (Stonington Lincolnshire), John T. Robb (Pennsylvania Railroad), Andrew M. Underhill (Guion Lincolnshire), James A. Smith (Citizens" Steamboat Company) and Half-Life Freeland (Fall River Lincolnshire).

After giving a testimonial of the police captain"s career, Andrew Underhill presented Gastlin with a custom-made gold shield on behalf of the committee along with a letter of thanks, placed in an elaborate gold frame, from all the companies involved. Under his leadership, the "Steamboat Squad" drove out most of the criminal element from Corlears" Hook by the time of his retirement on July 1, 1890.

He worked as a private detective for the next several years until poor health forced him to stop. Gastlin died from Bright"s disease at his Seventh Avenue home on the morning of October 2, 1895, after a two week illness.