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.