BADGE 1588

A year ago today, Frank Donaghy answered his last call.

Badge 1588 is no longer responding.

Frank's family survives and stays strong with the guiding hand from the family's matriarch Maryanne. She was always there for Frank, and friends. She continues to be there for all of us.

She is on our mind regularly. We recognize her as the person who had everyone's back, and who remains a friend.

May God keep an eye on Maryanne and the family.

CITY COLLECTION: S IS FOR SUMMIT

S is for Summit, the City on the Hill.

When I was a kid I occasionally took a bike ride to Summit. I rode on what is now Rt. 24 in an area that was Greenland's. Conservation wasn't a big deal back then and these open spaces became the Short Hills Mall, Hilton Hotel, and JFK Parkway.

In the mid 60's I had a job with the county highway department and officially got to roam through the trees and little lakes belonging to the water company. It was a lot of fun. I forget what I was supposed to be doing there, but remember very well going into Chatham, and/or Summit for lunch. These communities border on each other.

Later in life (70's) I moved to Chatham. Summit was at the bottom of my street. Often I went into this "City" to check things out. It was nice back then, and has remained a desirable community.

When I moved to Florida I received the Summit Badge as a contribution to my collection from of all people - my Real Estate Agent. I guess he forgave me for placing handcuffs on his wife thirty plus years earlier. That's a story,, but it can't be told here.

The badge is no longer in use but it still look good. It is now in my "City Collection." Today it sits on the bottom row out of five. It is one of twenty-seven N.J.City Badges that I have accumulated over the years. These badges are from twenty-0ne different locations.

The Summit Badge is a traditional design and simply reads: Summit, Police, # 20. In the center is a very large N.J. State Seal. The badge is, as the picture reveals, in very good condition.

I have took this item to Florida eleven years ago to share my retirement, and many good memories from the City on the Hill.

HAWAII FIVE O -UNIFORM FLAW

I remember Jack Lord standing on the beach watching a helicopter fly in to start the original Hawaii Five-O Television series. I also recall those words - "Book him Danno" - that concluded the show. Great memories.

When the series was "reborn" this year I became an immediate fan. I was particularly interested in the new Danny "Danno" Williams. His Character was presented as that of a former cop from Essex County (N.J.). He left Jersey to be close to ex wife and daughter for reasons of child visitation. He became a member of the Honolulu Police department once in Hawaii.

I am pleased that with the new police department he quickly rose to rank of Detective Sergeant. He is good, and if his quick success isn't enough, he is assigned to the new Five - O Unit headed by Steve McGarrett. In this role "Danno" is no longer a sidekick, but a guy who is stealing the role of the Main Dude in the show. At least I think so.

Anyway in episode 8 (Mano'O), "Danno" is seen at a memorial for a murdered Honolulu Police Office. There is a flaw in this scene. The officers (all of them) are from Honolulu PD and, with one exception, are displaying a shoulder patch from that Hawaii Department. "Danno" is not, and I believe he should be as an officer of that department.

The shoulder patch that he wore in that episode (I drove my wife nuts with backing up, and stopping the recorder so I could see it clearly) was from the Newark Police Department (N.J.).

"Danno" - You wore that Newark Patch so I could catch it. Nice (but wrong) choice for the show.

There are three Newark Patches pictured above. The top patch is the current patch used in Newark, and also used in the recent Hawaii Five O Show. This is the one worn by Danny Williams at the memorial service at the end of Episode 8.

The second patch is the predecessor patch to that in use today. This one belonged to my father. The last is a prototype that was never adopted. It was meant for a special squad and wound up in the collection of a friend. It was designed by a former "RRR" squad member who's initials are in the ears.

The patches and a picture of the "RRR" Patch are in my collection along with other fine memories.

NJ PROBATION COLLECTION: S IS FOR SOMERSET

My New Jersey Probation Officer Collection is home to this fine badge. It is letter "S" for Somerset County.

If one doesn't know anything about Jersey and has to move to the Garden State this would be an excellent place to work.

There are many fine towns in this community with lots of open spaces and green lands. In days gone by Jackie Kennedy chased the foxes in those hills. In another sport Mike Tyson practiced is skills in his home located here.

During my early years as a probation officer I recall conversations with officers in Somerset. The talks were always focused on salary and benefits. Somerset was number one, and I don't believe they had any real cases. Okay they did.

One conversation that I have a fond memory of involved travel expenses. Where I worked we got paid by the mile, and you had to account for each mile very closely. We had the largest staff in the State, and one car.

They guys in somerset did not have to worry about accounting for their daily travel. Their County provided a fleet of cars. Dispite this luxury, coupled to the number one salary, they wanted more. I was told that they were strongly pursuing new cars with am-fm radios. I guess that tells you how long ago this trip down memory lane goes.

The badge above is from those days long gone. I estimate it to be 1960 vintage or earlier. It is in fine shape . It is gold finish with recessed blue letters. It reads: Probation, Officer, Somerset County, N.J. It has a State Seal in a field of Blue at the center giving a very impressive appearance.

As noted with other badges in my collection the "old county probation department" doesn't exist any more except under glass in my collection. I have had it over 20 years now. It provides a great addition to this collection, and also to my fine Collection of Memories.

CITY COLLECTION: R IS FOR RAHWAY

R IS FOR RAHWAY. This City is probably best known for the State Prison that has the Rahway zip code. Over my lifetime the prison had made the news on many occasions.

The well know "Scared Straight" program was founded in this facility. Inmates serving life terms created it "to help" juveniles get on the right track. Television made this program a heroic success. The criminal justice folk loved it and made it a sentencing tool. Schools sent kids for a visit on a regular basis. My feelings, as to its value, is neutral.

Maybe the experience being inside a tough prison was beneficial to some kids. I just don't know how one can say a day with the inmates is what did the trick keeping these kids "straight."

I saw the benefit to inmates getting special privileges to be part of the show. Good for them, but was that the real motive to help the kids?

Over the years Rahway and the prison became synonymous. With a little help from the politicos that was fixed. The institution officially changed its name to East Jersey State Prison. As a result the world is supposed to forget the community name where this institution is located. From what I know everyone still says Rahway, but in truth that was only the mailing address. The prison is actually in Woodbridge, NJ.

The City of Rahway dates back to the 1600's. Today it has a population in the area of 25,000. It has a major interest to me as a collector because of its location. It sits on some major roads and lines up with cities like Linden, Elizabeth, and Newark.

Of course this City has a fine "PD" and having a couple of their older badges in my collection makes me quite pleased.

As the pictures reveal one, Special Police #90, is a real antique. I believe it goes back to late 1800's to early 1900's. It is in excellent condition, and a great item to have in my collection.

The second badge is mid 1900's and shows the rank of "Captain". The remaining letters read Rahway Police, NJ. The letters are reverse blue on gold. The condition is also excellent.

When I look at them my mind travels back in time to many visits "inside" the prison, including a fifteen minute experience in a isolation cell. It was not expected, but a friend, on the inside, thought I'd enjoy the experience. It did make a memory, and Collecting Memories is a major part of this hobby.

CITY COLLECTION: P IS FOR PATERSON

P IS FOR PATERSON. This City has been on my forgotten list for a couple of decades. I don't have any real reason to put this place out mind. Maybe it's just because it took me over 30 years to get a badge to put in my New Jersey Cities Collection that I put it on a back burner.

Things change and I finally got a beauty from this City. Paterson is a great addition, in fact it is a Major City. I have the top twenty pretty well covered.

Paterson should be well know historically. Alexander Hamilton helped develop the community as a planned industrial location a couple of hundred years ago. The power of the Passaic Falls was harvested here; Mills were established; and eventually Paterson, known as the Silk City, became a major player nationally as well as internationally.

I had to look up the information about Hamilton, but I did remember the Falls all by myself. I have actually seen them, and the "first" submarine was developed here by John Holland. Why this location would be selected to build and test a "sub" is a mystery.

It is also a mystery, with all my friends in Passaic County, why it took me decades to get a "City" badge from this community. I certainly tried hard.

As luck would have it this hole in my collection was finally plugged. I got the above beauty at the collectors show in Orlando. It definitely has to be real, because Florida is where New Jersey Cops' retire. They bring their badges and memories to Ft. Lauderdale , Miami, Naples and so on.

This one is stamped with the number 141 on a silver tone finish, while "Paterson Police" is reverse stamped from the back. In the center is the N.J. State Seal. There is a pin and a "C" clasp in working order on the rear.

I am really glad to see this badge make it to my New Jersey City Collection. Very glad to have it, but never thought I'd find it in Orlando, Fl.

NJ PROBATION: O IS FOR OCEAN COUNTY

I've been slacking off on writing these memories and covering my badge collection at the same time. Well now is the time to catch up.

I think it is time to do The Probation Collection again. Checking the records I see that I am up to the letter "O". This means Ocean County. It is one of New Jersey's waterfront communities on the Atlantic.

I have two badges from "Ocean" in the display of County Probation Departments. As noted in earlier articles these County Department became part of a uniform State service in 1994. That seems like yesterday as I sit by the keyboard typing, but time is flying. That was sixteen years ago.

Looking back there are a lot of nice memories from events in Ocean County. As a kid I recall many visits to the Boardwalk in Seaside Park, NJ. That was a great resort town that had upward population swings between Memorial Day and Labor Day.

Seaside Park was flanked on one side by the Atlantic Ocean, and the backside by Barnegat Bay. I had the good fortune of having a boat in the family and used it frequently, often beaching it near Barnegat Light House. Those were the good old days.

I got the nice badges just before the State takeover from an officer who actually grew up in Newark. The man lived only a few blocks from my home. We didn't know each other then, but became close while working as elected officers for the State (Probation Officer's) Association. I recall, like it was yesterday, him slipping me a small package wrapped in a paper towel at one of those meetings.

The badges are nearly identical. In probation there was the entry level "Officer" rank. The next title was that of "Senior Probation Officer." There were a couple of more ranks, but I only got these two. I guess there wasn't enough paper towels to obtain a rank set.

Both badges have an Eagle set on top of a sunburst. The have black filled recessed letters, and are silver tone in color. Despite their age they are in great shape. Today they are under glass in a display of badges from County Probation Department. They look mighty nice in my opinion, and brighten the walls of my den with fond memories of days gone by.

ORLANDO - "VACATION CAPITAL POLICE COLLECTORS SHOW"

As Phil Rizzuto, the Ex Yankee, would say, "Holly Cow."

I actually said more then that when it was announced that my New Jersey Exhibit won the "Best Badge Display" trophy. This was totally unexpected, but certainly very much appreciated.

I took over one hundred badges in cases to the show. On the first tripod I had twenty cities represented including most of New Jersey's largest. They are displayed in alphabetical order starting with the little city of Absecon. There is also one from Elizabeth, a major city, where Rizzuto resided.

On the table was a huge case holding fifty badges. This group represents those communities in N.J. that are not Incorporated as a "City." I started hanging on to badges in this group years ago while trying to satisfy the quest to have a New Jersey City Collection. They too are in alphabetical order starting with Bayonne, and ending with Wyckoff.

Next to this case are two small displays. they are not (unfortunately) rank sets, but do represent some nice old badges from the Village of South Orange, and the Township of Union.

Before the day was over I had the good fortune of adding a nice old badge from the City of Paterson, and a Chief's badge from the Borough of Fort Lee. These were nice badges but I had a problem acquiring them I didn't bring a check or enough cash. Thank God my wife, who served as my deputy at the show, had a check. I won't say she gave it up gladly, but she DID give me the money. All I could say was "Holy Cow."

On the second tripod in my exhibit were two cases representing the City of Newark. One case hold quite a few "unique badges" from the City that I obtained while searching for the few gems, in the second case, from the Newark Police Department.

There are so many more that are needed to complete the collection. I think I need something like 500 more for the Towns, Villages, and Boroughs section alone. I could probably use a half dozen more for the "City" group, and God only knows what would satisfy my thirst for Newark badges. If I ever got them all I don't know who, Rizzuto or my wife, would be calling me "Out at Home." I guess there is always a limit.

At the show I limited one badge to a single case. I displayed it along with a picture (1934) of the Newark Police Band. I am particularly proud of this item as my father was the last Commander of the N.P.D. Band. As a boy I held a brown paper bag containing a couple dozen of these badges. Now I have but one.

It took me forty years to acquire these badges now on display on the four walls of my den. I treasure each one, along with the story behind obtaining it. Having the collection recognized by others in the hobby warmed my heart and makes me very proud. When Sgt. Doug Sarubbi presented the trophy I think I broke his hand when we shook.

Sarubbi was the sponsor of this show, and he sure made me feel good. Of course he wasn't around when it came time to take the exhibit down, and load up the car. I am sure he will help next year when we meet again.

REMEMBER AIR RAID DRILLS AND CIVIL DEFENSE

These items go back a long way.

I was in grade school when every once in a while we had to hide under our desk, or march down the hall to a "safe" location. There were these warnings posted all around the school, as well as outside on telephone poles advising in case of an alarm get to a safe location. Some people even had bomb shelters.

If memory serves me correct the warning signs were a triangle sign. It was yellow in color. To a kid it was 'kinda' scary. Was someone really going to drop an A bomb on us kids up in Newark, N.J.? Who was going to help us if there was an attack?

The answer to the question was the Civil Defense people. All around the country civilian volunteers were trained and ready to assist local police and fire department in a variety of ways: Crowd control, traffic management, and medical services.

Almost every community had a Civil Defense unit. As a kid I didn't know that. Due to my focus on Newark memorabilia I learned that these units and there "triangle" identification, with colors red, white, and blue, was nationwide. I've seen Civil Defense badges, from other States, and the "triangle" is on everyone. They can be a nice focus for badge collectors, however, My interest is only Newark.

Over the years I have acquired a few "CD" badges and other items. The badges featured here are all similar shape whether issued by the police department or the fire department. It's easy to see which department had more money to spend.

The Fire department badge is a little smaller than the one given out by the police. The one pictured here is in mint condition, and is finished with gold tone plating. It has recessed blue lettering that states: "Deputy Chief, Newark Aux. Fire Dept." In the center is a nice blue circle, with that "triangle" filled in white and the well known red "CD" in the center. This is a very nice item.

The badges issued by the police are bigger, so that makes them more impressive under the "bigger is better" rule. They are finished with black recessed letters on a silver tone finish. They read: "Auxiliary, Civil Defense, Police, Newark, N.J." Each badge has a four digit number on the bottom panel.

Funds must have been short as the center seal is nothing like the seal on the fire badge, or on the seals seen from other communities. All read police, but only one has a slightly different presentation which is obvious from looking at the pictures.

In addition to the badges my Civil Defense Collection includes a couple of other items. One is an "old armband" that is marked with the red, white and blue circle. This one is marked on top with the word "Warden." On the outside of the triangle are the letters "D and C" while inside is the traditional "C and D." I am not sure what the "D/C" is all about, but I got it from a person in Newark so I display it with the badges.

The last item, a twenty pound hat, is my wife's favorite even though she was very concerned and said: "Where are you going to put that." I found a spot, even though it wasn't my first thought. It sits on top of the hutch on my desk. The wife was surprised and inquired: "Your not going to put that up there, are you?" It fit, and I think she likes it now. I do. It's history and brings back those memories of when I was a kid hiding under my desk, during an air raid warning test, back in grade school. A great memory.

LOW TECH RADIO

This item is from the N.P.D. It is an early low tech "radio." It carries the number 75 on its wood stock.

I think it is kinda cool as my Dad was one of the first real radio operators in the Newark Police Dept. He had a license to operate radios, but He probably never saw this type. It was used long before he was born.

In reality this item is really a signal Rattle. It was used in the 1800's. It was definitely made and used before Marconi, broadcasting at 77.7 clickohertz.

It has no electric cords. It has no batteries. It has no "On" or "Off" switch, or volume control. The Darn thing is made of wood, and now that wood is very old and dry. It requires a lot of TLC when handling.

The Rattle is roughly 8 inches top to bottom. It has some weight to it. So it might have had a "secondary use" which could explain some of the scratches and little dents here and there. I guess that makes it a "fun" tool too.

When the man in Blue was patrolling the streets of Newark, and had a need to communicate he would make the rattle emit a click. That sound could be heard by other officers in the same area. The sound could be received a block away. A response message could also be sent out by another officer using his Rattle.

This was an important tool back in the 1800's. The "clicks" were actually real time status reports. These sounds could alert other officers when help was needed. To this collector this early form of communication is very interesting. It is the roots of modern day communication.

Rattle #75 is now a nice supplement to my badge collection. It is proudly displayed along side of other treasures that have retired to Florida.

NEWARK'S "DREAMLAND BADGE" RETURNS HOME

This badge by itself is far from impressive. It is not a City "Police" item, but a "GUARD" badge for a Senior Citizens facility.

This writer thought he saw the last of it when he gave away to another collector, who lived some 1588 miles from sunny Naples, Fl. That man knew and loved Newark a little more than this writer.

Things change with time. After this badge had enough cold it found a way to return to its' original home down in the "glades.". It is back under glass, but this time it is with some unique badges from The City Of Newark. They are not all from the N.P.D. They are however issued by the City. That collection will get its' coverage here when time permits.

Dreamland, which is spelled out on the top of this badge, was the original name of a Dance Hall in Newark. It later became a roller skating arena. Twin Cities, also a Roller Skating Spot was located nearby in Elizabeth NJ. It was a magnet for the youth of my day.

In the 1940's Dreamland was considered "World Class" as far as skating. In the late 40's and earl 50's time did its' thing and changed the area. The skating arena disappeared. Senior Citizens took over the area. They soon learned that they needed some backup help for their "Gray Patrol." Unfortunately there simply was not enough help to hold crime down.

I learned from my friend in New Jersey that this location was a favorite for Newark Police Calls. Officers responded so much to this area that thought should have been given to establishing an outpost here.

Drugs and other crime ruined the area, but the memories have actually grown, and "DREAMLAND #1" has just become more valuable to this collector.

CITY COLLECTION: P IS FOR PASSAIC

P IS FOR PASSAIC. At one time there were two Passaic's in New Jersey. They are quite different communities.

One was a summer retreat area in and around the Passaic Valley. Over the years some of that large land area found new identities. The original area became part of what is now known as Long Hill, N.J. It should have been called Green Acres, as that is what the area was like when all this name changing took place.

The fine badge above is not from Green Acres or Long Hill. It is from the City of Passaic. The spelling is the same, and the river, with the same name meanders by both communities. That is where the similarity ends.

The City of Passaic has about 67,000 residents. Tracing its' roots one will see that this community was closely associated with textiles and manufacturing. Television can make a claim that its' origins have a strong link to this City. Network TV was born there circa 1940. I guess that means we should all thank Passaic when we watch "Law and Order."

I no longer recall how I obtained this very nice traditional badge. It was an early entry in my "City Collection." As the picture shows it is a beauty. The finish is silver tone, with black recessed letters. The top spells out: "City of Passaic, Police." At the bottom the letters "N.J." are moulded into the shield as is the State Seal.

A fine addition to any collection ! I am very glad to have it.

NJ PROBATION: M IS FOR MORRIS

"M" IS FOR MORRIS in my collection of defunct County Probation Department badges.

I lived in this County for almost thirty years. Initially it was just far enough from beautiful Newark to feel safe, and yet close enough to drive, down Highway 24, to where the job was actually located - 32 Johnson Ave. Neweark, N.J.

I doubt that office still exists. I don't plan to visit it on my next trip as I remember enough about it going back to the "Riots of 67." It was already an old two story building located in what was a fairly nice area on the South Side. Just up the street was South Side H.S. The name was changed to Maclcom X. Shabazz H.S. That took place back in those fun days of knocking on doors, and praying your car starts. It was fun to be a probation officer.

Morris County became my home in the early 70's. When I went home it was really a retreat. I lived in a place called Chatham. It was only 14 miles West of the office, but in a different time zone for sure.

Homes in this County were lived in. Street corners had signs letting you know where you were. The grass was for landscape purposes. This could be a great place to work, but that never happened.

While my career kept me for the most part in beautiful Newark I did have the pleasure of making several professional acquaintances in the MCPD. I often found a means to get to their County seat either for a meeting, court appearance, or a lunch near the Town Square.

Through these friends, and really years of begging, I finally got a donation to my collection. This was an amazing multiple item contribution that I exchanged for a good deal of work. I look at them and know I earned them.

As the pictures show these items are in great condition. They each have a multi color State Seal at center. Each one is gold tone, and represents a Title in the Department: Investigator, Senior Investigator, Officer, Senior Officer, Principal Officer, and Assistant Chief.

I am missing only one title to make this a true rank set. Nonetheless I have been very appreciative of each of these beauties, and the fine memory of obtaining them a couple of decades ago.

CITY COLLECTION: O IS FOR ORANGE

O IS FOR ORANGE. There are four communities that border on each other in New Jersey. "ORANGE" is one of two that are cities.

I have a couple of badges from the City of Orange, but no recollection as to how I got so lucky to get them. I have two fine badges, only one is in the "City Display." First, as usual, I have to write something about the City.

I remember "Orange" quite well. The City is the size of a postage stamp, and is cut in half by Interstate 280. I'd like to say that this community is a quiet suburban town, but that would be a huge stretch of the imagination.

This City was a fun town: They had a bar on almost every corner. At one time Rheingold Brewery was located there - right next to the Interstate. The beer was decent, but the Miss Rheingold Contest's were better. Those are pleasant memories.

I guess it was a good 40 years ago that I visited some night spots in Orange. One joint was said to be frequented by "Two Ton" Tony Galento. He was a boxer and a colorful guy. In the 1940's, into the 50's, he reportedly owned a bar in this City. Later he was a bar tender and a community hero. He was still a legend in the 60's when I was just learning about "whiskey and women."

Galento fought Joe Louis, and boasted before the fight that: "I'll moider da bum." He became pretty famous for that line. He also became a legend for knocking Louis off his feet. Despite that famous knockdown, Galento lost the fight.

As a boxer he had a style that has been reported to make: "Mike Tyson look like Lord of the Princes." Tony Galento could have been the SWAT Team if he were a Cop. In the early 70's I believe Orange P.D. did have a cop that, alone, qualified as "The Swat Team." He taught self defense classes at the Essex County Police Academy. This brings me back to the badges from Orange in my City Collection.

Looking in the case where the majority of my "City Collection" is housed, there is an old traditional style "Officer's Badge" from Orange, N.J. It is in excellent condition, and carries the number 80 in the lower panel. The top panels are marked: "City of Orange" followed by "Police." I also have a Lieutenant's badge that is a real relic. This one is in pretty good condition. The paint in the letters is somewhat worn. The State Seal was placed in the center of the badge prior to plating. The overall finish is still very good.

As noted above I don't recall how I obtained these fine collectible badges. I am very happy to have them, along with some good memories relating to this City.

NJ PROBATION COLLECTION: M IS FOR MONMOUTH

Monmouth County is a nice diverse location. It touches the Atlantic Ocean, gets sliced in half by the Garden State Parkway, and what is left over is beautiful Horse Country.

The community of Red Bank sits on top of this County looking from the North down the Coast to the South. I always remember the place as small and maybe quaint. I don't have a clue what it is like by today's standards. Maybe on my next trip back to NJ I'll have to investigate this location along with several others.

Freehold is one of the big towns in Monmouth. I remember the Freehold Raceway. It was "big time" if you liked horse racing. It also rang a bell when I looked at these great badges in my "New Jersey Probation Collection." It is the County Seat of Monmouth County and the spot where justice is administered.

While I didn't work here I did have the occasion to visit the Court House on a couple of matters. Later I met officers for dinner at the Freehold Hotel. Now that is a hard place to forget. It was decorated like a club for Jockeys and Horses. Besides pictures on the wall the place was adorned with bridles, saddles and other related items (all nailed down).

The meetings with other officers had nothing to do with horses or doing the job. The focus was working conditions, salary, grievance procedure and all that stuff. A few of us, from several different counties, would come together with the hopes of creating a strong unified voice for Probation Officers. It was an uphill path, but it was a start.

From those meetings I established friendships that helped me over the years on the job, and with the collection. One good guy was able to secure the above two silver tone badges for me. The read: Probation Officer, Monmouth County, NJ. They are now out of use, and the agency is now run by he State.

These fine pieces of history make a nice appearance on my wall, and they also trigger many fond memories.

A NEWARK MEMORY

One of my major interests in collecting Law Enforcement memorabilia is things from my hometown - Newark, NJ

The above is a picture of an old poster that was lightly distributed to select viewers after the riots. One should recognize "Dorothy" at the top. In small print it reads: "Spelling Out the Problem." Then at the bottom, as big and ragged as possible, is: "NEWARK."

The picture takes me back 40+ years. Maybe someone else will enjoy looking at it here.

CITY COLLECTION: O IS FOR OCEAN CITY

O IS FOR OCEAN CITY. It really is a bona fide "City" in the Garden State. The place certainly is not a major "City" by population count, but because its' municipal status it is of "major" importance to me. It is number 18 in my collection of NJ City Badges.

Let me tell you something about this place on the Jersey Shore. The Community became a City, before my birth, on March 25 , 1897. It is situated in Cape May County on the Atlantic Ocean.

It has a great beach. It is consistently in the top ten of New Jersey's Best Beaches. Because of this fact the Summer population reaches well over 100,000. It is also known as a great family community and boasts the title of "America's Greatest Family Resort."

In its early days it was known as Pecks Beach. It was a Whaling Center and, because of the great beach attracted many locals looking for a nice dip in the Ocean. The whales are gone, but the Beach still is great. There are just under 20,000 permanent residents.

When the summer gang arrives the population jumps to over 100,00. That's a large number of people. Most of them can be found on the Boardwalk or cooling off in the Ocean. You won't find many cooling off at "Miller Time" as the sale of alcohol has been prohibited since 1879.

As a probation officer I got to attend an official conference here a number of years ago. Since I am retired I can be excused if I don't recall what this conference was about. I do recall that after the meetings there was "no problem" having a cold Budweiser. It was at this meeting that I was given a contact who had an interest in collecting badges and patches.

A fine New Jersey Probation Officer secured this badge for me at a local show. It is an old style and no longer in use. The age is estimated to be fifty, or more, years. It is in very nice shape showing some wear around the edges. It has a State Seal, of the type used way back then, featuring a blue ring on the outer circle.

Although I am not a collector of patches I do have one from this fine City. It was given to me by a Retired Jersey Police Officer who visited my area of sunny Florida to see my collection. We had a great visit, had a couple of beers, and shared some great memories.

NJ PROBATION COLLECTION: M IS FOR MERCER

Time to change gears again, so back to the "NJ Probation Collection" that I have been working on for a lifetime. I believe the collection has reached the optimal point with thirteen of twenty-one counties represented. Thank God I have a couple of rank sets included on the wall.

The item pictured above is a "Chief's" badge from the now defunct Mercer County Probation Department. It is the only one I have managed to find over the years, but it is a great find, and in great condition.

Mercer is a major county. It is on the Delaware River and scenic Pennsylvania. This is the area where General Washington rowed the boat a couple hundred years ago. There are historic tributes to him on both sides of the river.

The Barracks in Trenton are still in decent shape and offer history buffs something to see. They are located South of "The Crossing." They just may be included in the list of places Washington spent the night.

The City that developed here is Trenton. It eventually became the State Capital. That was a while ago - 1790 to be precise. The City also served for a brief period as our National Capital in the 1780's.

The Hughes Justice Complex is located in Trenton. It has a River view that is impressive. It is where the Supreme Court is located, and all of the Court's Administrative Offices. In 1994 the Court took over all judicial functions, including probation, from the county governments. With this occurrence the county departments became defunct agencies.

This badge is from the old Mercer County Probation Department. It has been obsolete for 16 years, and was perhaps used as long ago as 20 years. It is a sunburst design, with blue filled enamel in recessed letters with a multi color State Seal. It is a item this writer is proud to have in the collection.

CITY COLLECTION M IS FOR MARGATE

This marvelous badge is from the Great City of Margate, N.J. It certainly isn't a major City by any means, in fact this writer never realized that the place by the Jersey shore was an entity of its' own.

Fact is Margate is one of the places around the Jersey shore that does have City status. It is a sleepy little place that was once part of Atlantic City.

It gained its' own identity in 1885 as South Atlantic City, but twelve years later became the City of Margate. This sprawling metropolitan area ranges about eight to 10 blocks long.

If one likes to do travel and research this is a great place to visit. You certainly will get a good idea where all those "monopoly names" came from. Remember "Marvin Gardens". It's right here in Margate.

The City is well know for architecture. This is a fact that I forgot. As a kid I was dragged here to see "Lucy the Elephant." She is actually a wooden structure that is some 65' tall. It was built of wood in 1882 by a man named Lafferty and used as a hotel. Today it is a landmark. Woodrow Wilson stood inside it once.

Because of "Lucy," and the need to protect 8000 residents, there is a strong Police presence in this community. The Elephant probably gives them little to worry about. Friends tell me that the guys do a great job keeping the City a safe place.

The badge came along way to the "City Collection." It is the traditional badge that has been used by so many NJ Departments over the years with the plated State Seal set over the number box showing "22."

For an antique this item is in fabulous condition. It is only out shinned by the memory of that Wooden Elephant named Lucy. I can't believe I never wanted to really take a good look at that site. For now I'll just let the badge remind me of it.

CITY COLLECTION: L IS FOR LINDEN

L IS FOR LINDEN. I never knew Linden was a "City" until I got this badge a decade ago. The place formally became a City in 1925, on New Years Day. Before that date it was a Borough, or Township in Union County, New Jersey.

I always thought this place was just that - "A Place," but it was "A Place" with one big oil refinery.

The Refinery is just across the water from Staten Island. It's called Bayway Refinery, and it is a major employer. Some have said it is a major polluter. I always thought the smoke above the refinery was a landmark that gave new meaning to the phrase "heading south," or going to the shore.

The area around the refinery is not the place where you would want to reside. The place however is nicely cut apart by major highways such as US 1 & 9, and the NJ Turnpike. On one side is "Cancer Alley" and on the other is a fairly nice residential area.

There are just less than 40,000 people living and cutting grass here. Linden does not make the Top Ten Cities (by population) in N.J. It is, however, most likely in the top fifteen cities. This means it fits in my top twenty collection very nice.

The citizens of Linden have a fine law enforcement agency. It is not a "Car 54 Where Are You" operation. They have a full compliment of good guys in blue. These officers do their job and keep their citizens safe.

They are well organized and even have at least one Captain. The vintage badge pictured above is no longer in use. It has been in the collection for well over a decade. It is a fine looking badges, and in very good shape.

It is an unusual shield. It resembles the design that is more likely associated with fire professionals. Linden is not the only "Place" to use this design for its' Police Department.

As one can see it is gold finish and has black recessed letters. The rank of Captain stands proudly at the top of this item. Just below it are the words: Police Dept., Linden, N.J. The State Seal is in the center and also is gold finish.

Gunther Toody and Francis Muldoon would be proud to have this badge in their collection, along with their old Car 54. I am also very happy to have this badge. As to that old police car I'll just settle for the memory.

FIFTY YEAR OLD PICTURE

This picture is from an old poster that was created after the Newark Riots in 1967. I believe it was an answer to a changing attitude in the City. Newark was a dangerous place in the late 1960's . This poster gave fair warning to some, and was also seen on shirts and coffee mugs.

OLD MEMORIES HERE: N.P.D. ANNUAL REPORT 1893

I recently acquired this old book entitled: REPORT of the POLICE DEPARTMENT of the CITY OF NEWARK, N.J. - 1893. It is quite a piece of history.

The good news is that there is nothing in it about me, or anything I could possibly remember. I guess that made 1893 a good year.

An Irish Cop I knew, and a member of the Italian American Police Society of NJ, once told me that I would find history about "my family" if I ever got the opportunity to read one of these documents. I was filled with skepticism about that. I imagined a book, probably 1588 pages or more long; but then I read it. I got a fair idea as to what crime was like back in 1893, and then I found some "roots."

First let me present the crime facts from the man in charge who boasted that crime was down! Police Superintendent William H. Brown wrote that arrests in the City "...were but six thousand six hundred and five, a falling off of over four hundred." I guess that is good information to know. He should see Newark today.

Superintendent Brown further reported that there was only "one murder" in the City during 1893. "The homicide case, the killing of the poor old recluse, Miss Petty, was the most serious offence brought to the attention of the department." He got my attention.

Brown wrote that the perpetrator of this murder had not been arrested, but pointed out that officers are working the case hard to bring about an arrest. "If they are not successful it will not be from a lack of zeal upon their part, but rather to the manner of the woman's mode of living." This guy was way up front protecting his guys. I could almost hear the words coming out of his mouth. This too was neat information, but still I wanted to find something related to my family.

Every officer (287) in the Department was listed in this book. This section looked good. Reviewing the names was the purpose in getting this book. I wanted to check out names to see if any fit in the family genealogy picture.

Officers were presented according to their duty assignments. Here I found the name of Patrolman Herman Beyer. Coincidentally that was my father's name, although he was born in 1903. The officer listed in this book could possibly be his father or my grandfather. Their names were identical. On the next page I found Patrolman William Loftus who my cousin says is her Uncle.

Patrolman Beyer, in 1893, was assigned to the "First Precinct." They covered the Broad and Market Streets' business area. According to the annual report He was "Detailed - Broad St. Depot, C.R.R." That was a long time ago. Both He and the Central Rail Road (C.R.R.) are long gone. I never knew him and that is unfortunate.

Just reading the report, and appreciating the language of the day, coupled with the names of some relatives made me pleased with this addition to my collection. It took me on a trip through time, and enabled me to collect some more memories.