REMEMBERING 911

 911 is a Date we shall never forget. 

There will be many tributes to those who died in NYC on the Day the World Trade Center's Twin Towers came down as a result of a terror attack.

From my Newark Collection the item below serves as my tribute:

THE SNOWMAN

 By Dennis Beyer

This article is a reprint of my original post regarding a tragic shooting in Newark. I have decided to re-post the story in its' original format on the anniversary date of this incident. That story follows:

------------

It was 1974 and I was struggling to make ends meet. I was now working in the Probation Departments' Pre-Sentence Investigations Section. We prepared reports for the court, so judges could impose their sentences on those individuals who definitely were not the "pillars of the community." My job gave me quite a bit of time "in the field." I was constantly traveling from one end of the County to the other. That was great for the expense account and paying the bills.

On April 2, 1974 my daughter Cathy was born. She's 29 now. How time flies, especially when you can't count. Sometime after Cathy's birth I "got a tip" that I could find some nice cobble stone to place around the plant bed in front of my house. They would make a nice addition, and were free. I just had to get myself into an isolated area near US 1. Under an overpass was a small embankment containing "my" landscape blocks. The first problem I encountered was they were heavy. I could only move half in one trip. The second problem was NPD showed up.

The Officer, riding alone, wanted my ID, and to know what I was doing. I couldn't make up a good story so I tried the truth. It seems the person who told me about these blocks also told the officer I might be around that location, and to "look out" for me."

The Officer busted my chops real good, then asked, with a huge grin, if I was done. I told him "No." I intended to get the rest of the pile. He, smiled, and said, He'd be back the next day to "watch out for me." One day later I had all "my" blocks, and 34 years later they are still around my old homestead. I remember those blocks, and meeting the "Snowman."

John Snow was assigned to traffic patrol. He routinely covered US 1 near Newark Airport. He used a "CB" radio and talked to the truck drivers. "Snowman" was his "handle." Those two afternoons were the only contacts I had with with this man.

In 1976 I heard his name mentioned on the radio. It was August and Friday the 13th. John was making a delivery of cash to a Bank when he was robbed. Gunfire took his life that day.

I really did not know the man, but I smile every time I think of those blocks. That smile soon fades when I remember Aug. 13 1976.

BE SAFE - FIFTY YEAR OLD IMAGE

 By: Dennis Beyer

This image dates back to late 1960's.

It conveyed a "warning" to be careful when traveling in Newark, especially alone. One should recognize the man with the shotgun. That's Rambo.

I have a 16 x 32 Poster with this image and often use it as part of my displays at local shows. The message is clear.

ANTIQUE INVOICE TO NEWARK POLICE DEPT: REPAIR ROGUES GALLARY

This Document is 135 Years Old, and in Excellent condition. It is a Bill for $42.00 for Repairs to N.P.D.'s Rogues Gallery. I am sure the Contractor got paid. I've had it in my Newark Police Collection for years. I just thought I would share it with everyone through this Post.

EAST ORANGE: THE CROSSROADS OF NEW JERSEY

 

This Badge is from the "Crossroads of New Jersey" - East Orange. That just so happens to be my birthplace.

This Badge was issued well before the Garden State Parkway or I-280 were ever thought of. The shape of this badge parallels the NYC Captain's Badge, however at the Center Point of this Badge there is a classic NJ State Seal in a blue field.

It has been in my collection close to fifty years. I still regard it as a "keeper," even though I have scaled my Collection back.

Thanks for allowing me to share a view of this item with you.

OBSOLETE COUNTY PROBATION DEPARTMENTS: OCEAN COUNTY

 I wish I could have made the picture a little bit clearer. The Badges themselves certainly are clear and in excellent condition despite their age. I have had them on display for over a quarter of a century.

These Badges show the Ranks of:  Officer & Senior.  That appears on the top panel.

Around the State Seal is a Ring with the words: "Ocean County Probation Dept. The Seal is quite old. I estimate it to be 60-70 years of age. The making of this badge fits within that time frame.

I am pleased to have this in the Collection I have of County Probation Badges. If you have one that you would be willing to sell or trade contact me at: 

  jerseychief@gmail.com

NEWARK & JERSEY CITY RESPOND TO LINDBERGH KIDNAPPING

This Post is, not about a Badge, but about one of the most famous Investigations in US, and in particular, New Jersey History. I am showing two news clippings kept by Newark Detective Morris Kirwan, as memento of his work on the Lindbergh Kidnapping in 1932. Today is the anniversary of that crime.

I have read a fair amount about this case and was surprised about several things. Allow me to share some of that history: There were at least a dozen Ransom Notes, The Demand was for $50,000, The Ransom was Paid, but the Lindbergh baby was still murdered.

The ransom money was paid in "gold notes" no longer the currency of the day, having been pulled from service by F.D.R when he took the US off the gold standard.

It was a year or so, after the paying of the ransom, that one of these "gold notes" surfaced at a Gas Station in NY. The Station Attendant wrote the license plate number of the car driven by the man with the "gold note." That eventually led to Bruno Hauptman. He was Arrested, Convicted, and Executed for the crime.

The kidnaping took place in rural Hopewell NJ. What I found very interesting was that there was no local Police Department in Hopewell. The case went to the ten year old New Jersey State Police under command of H. Norman Schwarzkopf. Knowing his staff did not have the experience to handle a major case like this Schwarzkopf enlisted assistance from the Newark and Jersey City Police Departments. This kept Jurisdiction over this Investigation in the State of NJ (with the FBI just waiting to get involved).

The news clippings show Schwarzkopf, and the Chief's of police from Newark and Jersey City. The second clipping shows the names of of Newark Detectives assigned to assist with the investigation. The names were written by Newark Detective Kirwan.

Thank you for allowing me to share some History. And for my Badge Collector friends the last picture in my Post is of a Newark Detective Badge from the 1930's. It is 90 years of age and still in great condition.