NJ PROBATION COLLECTION: ATLANTIC PROBATION OFFICER

I obtained this in the 90's. I got it from a friend who worked in the department by the Sea. A few years later I got another, but it was not as nice as this one. It is a real old looking badge, with nickle finish that has lasted through the years.

It is in the writers "State Probation Badges" collection, and has a nice spot on the wall of my Den. It is the first badge in the case as they are displayed in alphabetical order, by county.

This badge, like all the rest, provides me with fond memories. I often visited this County, and worked with their officers on official business. I remember Atlantic City before the Casino' came to town. I remember the Steel Pier, the Beaches, and the Boardwalk. Those were great days.

Once gambling came to "A.C." it became a prime convention spot. I attended over 15 of these events and always had a good time. Once I give directions to someone to the Hotel where we stayed. It was like this: "Just come straight down the main drag and look for a Trump sign. I forgot Trump had at least four Hotels. That goof caused some stress back then, but today I can laugh about it, and that is good.

There are no County Probation Department's currently. They were merged into a "unified" State System a decade ago. With that merger came a new identity and new badges. I still like the old badge, and the memories that comes with it.

JERSEY HAT BADGES

Somewhere over the years I acquired these fine hat badges. I believe they are from the Newark Police Department, but I am just not sure. Must be old age.

As the pictures show they represent a "near" rank set: Officer, Sergeant, Lieutenant, Captain, Inspector, and Deputy Chief. I am missing the "Chief." He must have kept it when he retired. I know he kept the wallet badge,because he didn't mind telling me: "This is one you're not going to get !"

Each of these badges is shaped like the New Jersey State Seal. A "horses head" is top center and distinctive. Garden State plows are visible in the center.

I never really paid much attention to Newark's' hat badges as baseball caps were the head cover I saw. I do recall my dad's dress uniform and the fact that there was a hat badge on it.

My memory on the baseball hats goes back maybe thirty or more years. Those hats never carried a badge. I think some of the special units had custom hats, and one unit (no longer in existence) had a combination of three "R's" on top. They letters stood for "Rapid Robbery Response." This was a quick and tough unit that swooped in like Batman in unmarked cars responding to Newark's numerous robbery calls. They did the job well, and as a result Newark is a crime free community today. Yeah, right.

Back to these oldies. Because these badges are shaped like the State Seal I question if they really are from Newark. Newark used a City Seal on their breast badges, so why use the State Seal on the hat badge?

On the other hand the rank of Inspector was rarely used in N.J. It was, however, a rank used in the N.P.D. So just maybe these old hat badges did come from the City.

I estimate they date back to the early 1960's before yielding their way to baseball caps. I have no idea when they were first introduced. Today they rest in an end table, that my wife allowed me to buy, and put in my den. It has a glass top so that these fine pieces are displayed in proper fashion "under glass."