RETIRED NJ TROOPER

This beautiful, and rare, NJ Trooper Badge was a find at the last  show in  Titusville (Jan. 27). 

I can't believe I hemmed and hawed about purchasing this item, when an old time collector offered it to me because of my interest in the Garden State. My wife was near, and that added to my initial reluctance. Ultimately, after giving the purchase of this item fair consideration (60 seconds) I paid the asking price.

As the picture reveals this badge is shaped like a large circle with an Eagle on top. This "old bird" is quite common on Jersey badges. The thing is He is lost, or at least appears lost,  up on his perch at the top of this Badge.

The basic reason the Eagle is minimized is, in part, due to the pronounced circle design. Within in the circle is a very recognizable triangle. That is the logo for the N.J. Trooper.

Looking inside the triangle, and along the outside border of the ring, the badge is identified: NEW JERSEY STATE POLICE. The letters are raised and bold. The panel at the bottom of the badge reads: RETIRED. That is a beautiful word to go with a beautiful badge.

I am not sure how old this item is. The seller had it a few years and purchased it at another show several years ago from another collector.

Shortly after I acquired this badge I told my wife and showed it to her. She showed some enthusiasm, but certainly not as much as mine.  We both agreed on the location for displaying it. When I got home I removed the heavy Glass Top from an End Table in my museum room. This handsome Trooper Badge was given a nice spot on the underlying shelf. Then the Glass Top was put back in place, along with a lamp.

My new addition is in its' new home. It lays with several "new friends" also from New Jersey. It certainly will be given the care that it deserves. The wife and I are proud to have it. Well, at the very least,  I am. 

TOP COP COLLECTION: ELMWOOD PARK

Elmwood Park is number 6 in my Top Cop Collection.

This community has just under 20000 people residing there. One could say it is a bedroom community, as it sits in the shadows of the Big Apple. "The City" is relatively ease to get to via, car, bus and train.

Elmwood Park is this community's third name at a minimum. It was originally part of the affluent community of Saddle River, but cut out its' own identity taking the name "East Paterson." For half a century the town survived with that name.

In the early 1970 Richard Mola took the office of Mayor. He must have like the job as he kept it for forty-five years. Only death could get him out of office. I should remember this, but I don't. Because of this badge I learned some history of this town through enjoyable research.  Under Mola, the municipality took a new name -  "ELMWOOD PARK". That certainly sounds better then "East Anywhere." 

During my life in the Garden State I don't think I had any real connection with this community. If I lived there today I think I would be working in Manhattan. The dollar just seem bigger and hopefully better there!

Now the Badge from this community is a common oval shape, with gold tone finish. At the center is a New Jersey State Seal. It is surrounded by a blue ring which spells out: Elmwood Park, Police Department. At the top of the badge is a single panel with the word "Chief," in blue letters, identifying the rank.

The picture is a good representation of this badge. It fits nicely in my "Top Cop
Collection". Like all my displays this badge has a home in a fine oak case with a locked glass front. I am very happy to have it, and view it on a regular basis.

TITUSVILLE 2018

I drove up from Naples to Titusville a few day ago. It was a little over 240 miles to get there, and it was cold (according to my standard and Florida's). The wife came too and assisted me with driving directions. 

Late afternoon, and "dog tired," I checked us in to Holiday Inn Express. A good nights' sleep, and per the Holiday Inn guarantee,  I'll be a lot smarter the next day.

On Saturday, Jan. 27, we headed over to the exhibition hall, There I assisted my wife with directions on how to set up the tables (I took four tables). I wanted my N.P.D. Blue on every table, then the exhibits on top. Everything had its place. My Lady was extremely good, and she also was impressed with some historic pictures from the Emergency Unit. I had official pictures of THE COMMANDERS of the EMERGENCY BUREAU dating 1930 to 1955.

This year I had a couple new novelty items that I added to the display. These items focused on Dave Toma, the Newark Detective who inspired the ABC TV Series "TOMA" which starred Tony Musante and Susan Strasberg. I had an original TV News Photo, eight by ten, on the table along with a Serbian Movie Poster for the famous Newark sleuth. If nothing else the old picture of Susan Strasberg brought back fond memories. 

At the end of Table One I placed an old Leather jacket. It's  from the 1970's, and while it is no longer of use to the current man on the motor bike, it is in very nice condition. That is because my wife has these magical wipes just for leather. She has shown me several times how to use them, but I just keep forgeting. The jacket sure does look good, and that is a fact I won't forget for a long time.

Sliding down the tables I placed a variety of ancient pictures, iron claw, night sticks, lanterns, glass billy clubs, and badges. 

Pictured are a couple of these items that my wife neatly placed on the tables. She put the old "Night Stick" out with all its' hooks holding: A Jail Cell Key, Whistles, and a Cumalong. 
Some of the other guys there did some similar display work, which I managed to capture with my camera. At the bottom in the beautiful purple shirt is me. I am holding a 1927 picture of my Dad on "his horse" Ginger.

Of the badges that I bought to Titusville this year I am particularly pleased with the two below. The large case holds badges that come from those municipalities classified as a "City."  I accumulated a large number of badges, over the years, including several duplicates, before I could obtain one badge from New Jersey's Top Ten Cities by population. 

They last collection of badges is my treasure. I know some other collectors have a couple items that are better and more desirable, but this is what I have gathered regarding Newark Police History. It only has six badges, but to me they are everything.

On the top are two badges, side by side, that are from circa 1865. They are from Newark's Second Edition Badge. The middle row, and bottom row, are matching sets. The left side is a "Chanceman" badge, while the right side is a matching "Police Officer" badge.

Somewhere before three o'clock it became time to pack up and call it a day. For me there were a few new badges that I purchased, without my wife seeing. I packed them away real nice. There was also one more item to pack this year. It was a plaque proclaiming my exhibit as The Overall Best Display (2018). My heartfelt thanks to Steve Bridges for inviting me to his show and presenting this award.

Thank you, and al fine.

2018 A BRAND NEW YEAR: THE SEARCH CONTINUES

The year 2017 was pretty good... This was the first badge ever issued. My search for one continues.

My primary collection of NEWARK OLDIES has grown. I have eight oldies that are the best of my Newark Collection. They are pictured here.

The two C93 badges are a matching set. This is a "Chanceman's" badge, which means rookie or probationary officer. It is quite rare.

The #175 badges are a matching set from 1890-1900. I am very satisfied to have a second Newark "Radiator" in my collection.

These early 1900's Lieutenant and Sergeant badges make up the remainder of my "Top Eight." Both have original gold tone finish and were phased out in the mid-1950s.

Well in 2018, with your help, I will acquire that Newark Star. While I wait for it, I will keep telling you stories.

IN MEMORY OF OUR FRIENDS WHO HAVE PASSED ON

It has been a few years since one of my friends answered his last call. His grand-daughter drew the picture below. It makes a very nice memory. 

In addition to this Officer, there are others who have passed away this year. They leave us, and their families behind. Let us remember them.

  Miss you guys!

*****

TOP COP COLLECTION: DEPTFORD TWP

TOP COP COLLECTION: 

DEPTFORD POLICE, DEPUTY CHIEF

*****

Deptford TWP is number 5 in my Top Cop Collection.

I obtained this fine specimen from a collector who was down sizing. Since it was a New Jersey item I took it off his hands a few years back. At the time I was not sure exactly where it would be placed in my collection.

Deptford is a place that for most of my working years was unheard of. It took a little research to learn that it is in Gloucester County down in SW Jersey, near the Delaware River.

This Community can trace its roots back to 1695, when it was known as Bethlehem. Although this is not the same place as Jesus' birthplace, it is the birthplace of several communities that were carved out of it, including the County Seat, Woodbury, NJ

Today Deptford is home to Rowan College, and also a very large shopping Mall. As to crime the area remains under control by the  boys in blue who monitor activities in this Community of 30,000 people. 

The badge from this Community's Police is for an officer with the Rank of Deputy Chief.  In the center is a multi color State Seal which would make this badge 1970's vintage. Above the Seal is the word Police on a circular panel outside the Seal.

There are signs of wear or age on this shield which otherwise is in good shape. It certainly deserves respect, at least for its' title. Its' placement in my Top Cop Collection gives it that Respect. I have it under glass, hanging on my wall. There I view it on a daily basis which makes me still one happy collector.

NORMAN PARK HAS A FABULOUS POLICE BADGE AND PATCH SHOW

November 11th was the date for the 4 th Annual Patch & Badge Show up in the Great State of Georgia. It took me, and the wife, a tad over 6 hours to get there from our home in South Florida. It was chilly here when we left. Our temperature was dipping into the high 70's. On arrival I was shocked. The temperature needle was now showing 51 degrees. Having been promised a good day in Norman Park, Ga, the Sponsors got the "temp" to low 70's by "show time."

Those in attendance set up their exhibits in the Elementary School Gym. It was spaced nice with 4 rows with plenty of room to move around and do my favorite things:  Talk; Take Pictures, and Trust my wife to Guard my Display. That usually means, I have a great time gabbing, and occasionally buying another piece for my collection. 

In my travels up and down the aisle of the gymnasium I had to calm myself down, and be on my best behavior because of the man below. He was Chuck Snyder and he was there to maintain order. He certainly did a fabulous job. He reported, that his Community, Norman Park, just had an armed robbery. Although rusty with dealing with these type of crimes, it was nonetheless solved in two hours. All of our hat's are off to the Chief of Police, and his police force. 

Now over at the "Blue Tables" were my displays. For this show, with our Grandson, Gunnar, on our minds, we did a USS NEW JERSEY  Display to go along with my major collection of 60, beautiful, obsolete, and shinning, Municipal Badges from NJ. I am pictured with my "sixty" and the wife, Lois, is by the battleship display. At the center is a unique old antique in magnificent condition. It was issued for the Ships' title: "POLICE PETTY OFFICER." This particular badge is believed to have been from the WW II - Korean War era. These badges are no longer issued, and the old Battleship now resides in Camden N.J.

Across from my display's was Gary Taragawa. He has a fabulous collection of California Badges and a good number of stories that he tells. He apparently served as Police Chief for at least two communities at the same time. His badges were "good enough" to win the award for Most Unique Display last year.

I enjoyed talking with Gary, and  enjoyed showing him some of my collection. You can see some antique "Cuffs" that I display at home to dress up my Badge Museum (office). Over in the corner is an old wanted picture. In the upper corner are four rare Detective Badges that are nearing 100 years of age. In the center of this table is an assembly of  some rare badges dating to 1860 +/-.  These two shield are marked "POLICE". At the bottom is a number box. The only way to tell this item comes from Newark is the raised impression of the City Seal.

Underneath are two matching sets of 1895-1899 Radiator type badges, along with matching Hat Badges. Both are numbered. Both are in great shape. Both are beautiful.  One set of these badges was issued to a "Chanceman" a person with a one year probationary police appointment. The other set was issued to a "regular" police officer.

I enjoyed this show very much, and  also enjoyed taking Gary's award away from him this year. He, and all those that I had the opportunity to "confabulate (look it up)" with,  made my experience in Norman Park, Ga. a fabulous memory.

                                                                 

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