By: Dennis Beyer
This a reprint of a post completed several years ago. I heard, but no confirmed, that the Park Police are being re-established. Anyone know?
Behave in the Park, or the Boys 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, in Branch Brook Park, 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 however 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 (that explains the hay).
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 in order to complete his rounds..
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 Police 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 direct jurisdiction.
I trust Mr. Olmstead would be pleased with my recollections regarding the history and political yarns reported here. I certainly enjoyed the memories. Also allow me to note today is my fathers birthday. He would have been 120 years old. Enjoy the memories.
