GLASCOW POLICE MUSEUM

Due to Covid related Trip Cancellations it took three years for this writer to finally get to visit this great little museum in Glasgow.

Seeing a performance of the Edenburgh Military Tattoo was the primary reason for my visit to Scotland in September of 2022. I can't describe the incredible feeling that immersed me when the "United States Army Field Band" marched by my front row seats. The entire stadium at Edinburgh Castle stood and cheered as they marched by.

While the Tattoo was the primary reason for my visit, there was also a "Plan B". It was across the Country in the City of Glasgow. Thirty Bell Street to be exact. The Museum was  up on the second floor, and there was no admission charge. I sure was  happy about that expense.

Inside the facility I was greeted by Alastair Dinsmore and  Eddie Haggarty,  retired members of the Glasgow Police Force, and members of the Glasgow Police Heritage Society. They work as volunteers and are most happy to show visitors their history through a fabulous collection. They even wanted to take me into custody as the picture below suggests.

(left to right  Al Dinsmore, Dennis Beyer, and Eddie Haggarty)

Glasgow has the distinction of being the United Kingdom's oldest police department. It took twenty years of trying before the Glasgow Police Act became Law on 30 June 1800.  

One of the first exhibits in the museum relates to Patrick Colquhoun, often referred to as "The Father of Glasgow". He had a deep interest in early law enforcement and wrote:  "A Treatise on the Police of the metropolis." His influence in police work also led to the establishment of the Metropolitan Police in London in 1829. Colquhoun is pictured below.

(An early proponent for Law Enforcement Patrick Colquhoun was viewed as the Father of Glasgow and highly regarded in the United Kingdom for his work in the development of  unified police forces).

Moving away from  the Colquhoun Exhibit my eye was drawn to a firearm in a glass cabinet. I thought these guys didn't carry weapons, at least pistols. My guide, Eddie Haggarty, explained that the 'powers to be' have traditionally shied away from arming officers as a rule. This practice was not all encompassing as pistols were stored in a Police Armory. They were issued for use in apprehending offenders "known, or likely, to be armed". The practice of being unarmed has had a need for re-examination and modification over the years. The gun pictured below is an original weapon stored by Glasgow Police in the Armory in the 1860's. It is a single shot muzzle loading pistol with the original inventory number engraved on trigger housing.

(A single shot pistol from Glasgow Police Armory dating back to 1860's. Original inventory number engraved on trigger housing.)  

(The rifle above is from 1969 and played an early role in the pursuit of  James Griffiths who became the fist offender killed by the Glasgow Police. It was a .22 caliber Martini Rifle belonging to the Police Rifle Club who responded to officers needing assistance.)

It took almost one hundred years, since that percussion pistol that was stored in the armory, until the first criminal fatality in 1969. This incident has been chronicled as "The Griffiths Incident"  named after James Griffiths. Griffiths' was wanted for Home Invasion, Assault and Robbery of an elderly couple on July 5, 1969. Police, following leads initially closed in on the subject ten days later, in a flat located at 14 Holyrood Crescent. Five of Glasgow's finest approached the building in an attempt to arrest Griffiths. They were unarmed, however Griffiths was carrying a firearm. He shot and wounded Detective Constable William Walker, who was removed from the scene, while remaining officers then waited for help. 

Armed Detectives responded to the Holyrood scene, and they were also "backed up" by members of the Glasgow Police Rifle Club. Superintendent Alastair Petrie carried the .22 caliber  Martini rifle pictured above. While police now had superiority  with firearm's they were unable to capture the criminal.  Griffiths managed to escape the immediate area.  Leaving a bloody trail the fugitive made his last stand inside a flat located on Kay Street. At this location Chief Superintendent Malcom Finlayson and Detective Sergeant Ian Smith made their way to the room where Griffiths was. Superintendent Finlayson slowly opened the door, keeping an eye on the hallway on the other side, by looking through a letterbox  opener. When Griffiths became visible, Superintendent Finlayson fired a .38 caliber shot through the letterbox opener fatally wounding the fugitive.

A pathology report revealed that Griffith was hit once in the shoulder. The bullet however ricocheted off bone and then sliced the aorta. The Pathologist was quoted saying, that the path of the bullet "was a chance in a thousand."  Medals awarded to Finlayson and Smith are in the same picture above as the .22 caliber Martini Rifle.

Today, as in all of the U.K. police officers as a general practice remain unarmed.

The next item that caught my eye was a "Victoria Cross." This original  medal was issued not for police endeavors, but for Service during World War One to then Sergeant Jock McAulay. He had taken command of his company after all of the officers were wounded. He made sure to get the men to safety, killing several Germans in a hot battle in Europe during a battle in 1916. It took two years but in 1918 the King presented McAulay with the medal pictured below.

(The above medal is a "Victoria Cross." This one was presented to Sergeant Jock McAulay for his acts of heroism in WW I.)

During World War I there were 748 police officers enlisted to serve in the military. Of that number 145 were killed or reported missing, presumed dead. Following the War McAulay returned to his duties with the Glasgow Police. He retired with the rank of Inspector in 1946.

Glasgow issued its' own "Bravery" awards starting in 1871. Constable John Kerr was the first recipient of the Police Bravery Medal. It was minted to recognize Kerr's actions during an early morning fire in a four story tenement building. Kerr detected the fire and ran up four levels getting all 68 inhabitants out of the building. During his exit the building collapsed throwing him from the third floor to the first. Fortunately there was no injury. A photo of the John Ker exhibit appears below.

(This medal was first minted to recognize the bravery of Constable John Kerr who is credited with saving 68 lives during a tenement fire in 1871.)

In different sections of the museum one could observe some artifacts that relate to "Communications." The First, picture below, is of "The Clapper and Rattle."  They were devices that made "clicks" or "clack."  These sounds had a distinct meaning to early officers. I am pleased to have two such Clackers in my personal collection.  The Second photo, below, is an early Police Radio from the early 1900's. The picture is of a face plate with the dials for a automobile Police Radio. These radios could only receive messages from HQ. After the message was heard it was up to the officer to respond via a telephone or Morse Code.  The Third picture below is of a police whistle. It was made in Glasgow and used as a bridge to modern day radio.

(1800 Police Clapper and Rattle or Clacker used in Glasgow up to 1880)

(1936 "One-Way Radio."  Officers could only hear  messages from a Central Location.)

(This whistle was manufactured in Glasgow for use by the local Police Force. It served as a bridge between Rattles and Radios.)

In every little nick and cranny of this fine museum one could view pieces of history and the fabric of being a member of the Glasgow Police Force. There is not enough time to show every exhibit, but in the few pictures that follow allow me to record that the curators of this museum have more than adequately presented:   Lanterns, Billy Clubs, Badges, Handcuff's and most important, Their History. 

(An early Police Lantern used in the mid 1800's)

(A fine wooden Baton that was issued to Women Police Officers)

(Glasgow Police Badges)

A display of hand restraints which includes locking hand cuffs,  Figure Eight Hand restraint, and  Leather Thong wrist controller)

Near the end of the Museum Collection I was drawn to the attention of a Canadian Mountie Uniform. It is pictured below and hard to miss in crimson red, along with the signature large "Mountie Hat." On the wall, in the rear,  are patches from The Cook Islands, LAPD, Massachusetts State Police and Louisiana State police.

 (An exhibit of a Canadian Mountie Uniform in crimson red, with trademark hat lights up a wall of World Police contributions to the Glasgow Police Museum)

I noted that Police Departments from all over the world had made a donation to the Glasgow Museum. It was an easy search for me to find a uniform from the United States. It was also easy to understand why my emotions were in high gear as a spotted a uniform from the "NY & NJ Port Authority Police."

The Port Authority display includes a paper note summary of one horrific day. That was when we lost the Twin Towers in New York City. The events of that Day are crystal clear in my mind, even though 21 years have gone by. I can still see the second plane flying into the second tower. There was smoke and fire pouring out of both buildings. People jumping to their deaths, rather then be burned alive. Then the Towers  collapsed, and  became a memory I shall not forget.

The PA Cops responded that day. They did their job. At the End of the Day 37 Officers Lost Their Lives.

The Badge, below,  carries a simple memorial message. It is Numbered 9-11-01. It was heart warming to see this message all the way across the pond in Glasgow. 

( A Port Authority Police uniform donated to  Glasgow Police Museum. It carries a badge bearing number 9-11-01)

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