RELICS FROM DEFUNCT ESSEX COUNTY PARK POLICE

Behave in the Park or the guys in blue will get you. 

Essex County, N.J. is a small geographic area, but it has many parks. Branch Brook Park, and Weequahic Park are two well know pieces of real estate located in the City of Newark.

Each year there is an annual Cherry Blossom festival. The park has around 4000 trees. That's a lot, and that is the reason this festival is the largest in the entire U.S.

The design of the park was by Frederick Olmstead. Mr. "O" had some good experience having created Central Park in New York City. He did not create the muggers that enjoy all of these parks.  

Weequahic Park is on the South side of Newark. It was the centerpiece for what was a very nice neighborhood. It has a lake, and in its 'hey day' even had a race track for trotters.

The County Park Commission established a police force to protect all county parks. The officers' authority was limited pretty much to inside the borders of the county's parkland. On many a day the officer had to drive from one park to another. 

Things change and in the 70"s the County created the Essex County Police Department. They had jurisdiction now over Roads, County Property, and the Parks. 

You can see how jurisdiction may have had its conflicts within the municipalities, who had their own police forces. There was also a conflict with the County Sheriff's Department. As a result it was possible to have three cars on a scene representing three police departments, all paid by the same taxpayer.

After the new Millennium  this jurisdictional problem went away as the County Police were absorbed into the Sheriff's Department. Now there are only two cars at a crime scene.

This all means you might see some "County Police" badges floating around for collectors. I don't have any. What is pictured is from the original Park Police. They are in great condition and remind me of many stories involving the Parks in Essex County.

They warrant their own display case and are part of my museum (den). Sure I like them, and I am very happy that I can remember some of this history. My father, a Newark Officer was awarded a National Life Saving Medal for pulling a man out of the lake in Branch Brook Park. As noted above that is in Newark, but not my father's jurisdiction.

I trust Mr. Olmstead would be pleased with my recollections regarding the history and political yarns reported here. I certainly enjoyed the memories.

LAST CALL FOR TITUSVILLE SHOW

This is a reminder that there will be a Show in Titusville, Fl. It will be at the Elks Club on January 25.  See earlier post for all the details.

VILLAGE OF SOUTH ORANGE

These fine old items come from a municipality known as South Orange. Since I have six of these badges they are displayed separately from my other Municipal Badges.

South Orange is certainly unique. Originally there was one community with this name, but the lower portion pulled away after the Civil War seeking its own identity. It took over 30 years, but the NJ Legislature in 1904 formally created The Village Of South Orange.  The other piece of this original community just dropped their claim to the name and became Maplewood. It's confusing as to why this happened.

Today the "village" is one of four villages in New Jersey. There is  a Village President instead of a Mayor. The community is home to just over 15,000 people. You can add another 5000 when  Seton Hall University opens its campus. 

The University has its' own police, however once in the while the locals come in for an assist. That's called cooperation. The need is minimal as this is a great school in a great little Township (technically correct as the Village adopted the Township form of government in 1981). Now that is confusing.

Today the Police Department is around 60 officers. The head of the Department is a Police Director.

The badges above are around 60 -70 years of age. At the top is younger "Special" Officer badge numbered # 11. 

Following are: Patrolman, Lieutenant and a Captain badges.

The last two are from the head honchos' They are Chief Badges. One is Chief of the Police Reserves.  The last is a Chief of the Police Department.

These badge have been with me since the early 1980's. I am very pleased to have them as part of my collection and have had them under glass in my home for close to twenty years now.

The remind me of many memories I had as a kid. I could ride my bike to the Village and often played baseball at Cameron Field. In the winter my friends and I would sleigh ride down the hill at the same park. That was cool. So cool it makes my bones ache. I like the memories, and there is no confusion about that.