TOP COP COLLECTION: NORWOOD N.J.

TOP COP COLLECTION: 

CHIEF OF POLICE

NORWOOD N.J.

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"Norwood!" Where on Earth is Norwood, N.J? This Badge is checking in at number 11 in my Top Cop Display.

I never heard of this Community while living and working in the Garden State. Research showed me exactly where it is. Now I am shocked, as it is located in Bergen County, which was extremely close to my home as well as work.

I should have paid attention to "all" the towns in Bergen County. It turns out that this "Borough" is a real nice place, maybe even a Quaint place to live. Had I been more successful with my job application in Bergen County I just might have moved my family there. Maybe, just maybe, my next door neighbor would have been Don Mattingly. How cool would that have been?

Back to History. The community can trace its roots back to the 1600's. At that time a dozen or so families from the Dutch Republic moved into the area. 

Over the years the land area had several names, settling on Norwood in 1905. Today their are a "tad" under 6000 people living their. They are probably commuters to the Big Apple  just across the Hudson River. 

The Badge at the top of this post is next in my TOP COP COLLECTION. 

It is a beautiful old Badge that is comprised of an Eagle sitting on a Sunburst with a single panel at the top, and a ring surrounding the State Seal. It reads:  CHIEF, POLICE DEPT, NORWOOD, NJ. 

One might think I store this badge with my "Old Jersey Road Maps,"  marking the location of this Borough in Northern N.J. That would be cruel. The home this fine badge has found, is inside my Collection of Chief's Badges. On occasion the entire display has traveled to Shows in the South East.

I am proud to have this item, as I am with all of my "Top Cop's."
 It is a pleasure to look at them, and recall memories of my working days in the Garden State. 

***** 

TOP COP COLLECTION: JERSEY CITY

From one of New Jersey's Largest Cities, This Badge is Number 10 in my Top Cops Collection." It is from JERSEY CITY, N.J..

Along the way of publishing this Collection, this Post lost its correct place on my list. That is the reason this number does not seem right.

Regardless of its' order on my list, this is a Major City. All across the Country people have heard of this place. They often have their commentary about it. Some is Bad, but most is Good.

The  City is County Seat for Hudson County, which, although small in size, is quite large in population. It is also an
important location being on the famous Hudson River separating N.J. from N.Y.C. 

In N.Y. whenever there was a homicide with the body washing up in Jersey City, or other Towns along the River, the well trained Cop knew just how to use his toe to give the corpse a little push so it could float back into New York's jurisdiction. I don't know if that story is true, but I do love telling it.

Let me tell you about this Badge. I have had since I retired some 20 years ago. As you can see just looking at the picture it is OLD. The State Seal, with Blue enamel, gives its' age away. My guess is 1930's making it around 85 years old. 

The main body of the badge is a "Sunburst" with an Eagle on Top. Sitting beneath the Eagle are there Stars which means the holder of this badge is "muy importante."

Circling around the State Seal is a ring with the words : Jersey City, Chief." The are recessed with blue enamel fill. It looks to be in excellent condition and El Jefe would be just as proud of it today as he was 85 years ago. 

I display it in a case with a glass window so I can view it every day. It reminds me of my previous drives to work where, from 15 miles out, I could see The Statue of Liberty just off the shoreline of Jersey City. That provokes many fine memories from my Yesterday's.