I obtained this beautiful Badge a couple of months ago from another collector. He is downsizing, as am I. My wife wonders, " How can you downsize, if you keep on buying Stuff?"
Well, this Newark "POLICE SURGEON" item hardly falls in the category of "Stuff." Just give it a "quick eyeball", and you will observe, that this Badge is made in the very rare design used for the making of The Chief's Badge. Of course there are no stars across the top.
Giving this shield a closer look, one will note that, it is heavy. It is gold plated, but that doesn't give it the weight, that I mentioned to my wife. I just knew saying "solid gold finish" sounded better to her, then truthfully saying, gold plated. The point is, this Badge has a real nice finish on its' solid frame.
A quick flip, to the rear, reveals a nice smooth back, with a locking pin. The closer look, with my big magnifying glass, showed the name "Blackinton." That was the correct makers mark. It appears in the upper right rear corner of third picture.
Looking at the front of the Badge the eye will see a Blue Ring about the size of a "half-dollar." It is large, and surrounds the City Seal. The words around the ring read: Police Department, City Of Newark, NJ. Beneath this ring with the Seal, is a single panel that simply reads "SURGEON."
I traced the existence of this title back to the late 1800's. I was able to review a Newark Police "Annual Report for 1893", and at that time there was one Surgeon listed in the table of organization. That would be J. Henry Clarke, M.D.
Dr. Clarke, for the year ending Dec. 31, 1893, submitted a three page report. He stated that for that year he complied "... responded to all calls from the four precincts, day and night, and he has endeavored to give all necessary, prompt and proper attention to every case." His statistics shows he handled for the year a "total number of cases - 1134."
It would appear that Dr. Clarke, judging from his sharp words, was a strong advocate for Police Officers. He wrote about work conditions and chastised the Board of Police Commissioners for failing "to obtain a new and suitable building and location for the Second Precinct." "I would condemn the present building and location."
This bit of History by Dr. Clarke really made my old bones feel good. The Good Surgeon was doing the same for Newark Police Officers one hundred years ago. I'll be sure to remember that, when I look at this fine Badge which has now joined my Collection. I am proud to have this POLICE SURGEON Badge hanging on my wall in a fitting glass display.
