CITY IN DISTRESS - POLICE RADIO LOG FROM ANOTHER TIME

During 2020, while locked in my home on the lookout for Civid-19 germs, I saw that there was a Riot, with looting and arson. It was in some place here in the USA. I thought at first,  I  time travelled  back to Newark in 1967. But I found out I was wrong. 

The Story was from Minneapolis. This time the spark was a man named George Floyd. He was under arrest, and died on the ground with a police officer kneeling on his neck for 8-9 minutes. The video of this tragic death caused rioting in the streets. Strange but some of the rioters seemed very well prepared, and a number were from out of State.

In the days that followed there were multiple arsons,  looting and destruction. Posts, Signs and the Media cried out to essentially hang the officers involved. No thorough investigation, indictment, or trial - just hang the officers immediately. After all the Mob knows what is right or wrong.

In Newark, fifty-three years earlier, "a rumor" that police killed a Taxi Driver, John Smith, following his arrest,  caused a crowd to gather at the West District Station expressing their outage over a false report of a police killing. 

The Newark riot also lasted several days and involved killings, robberies, and arsons. A little boy, age 12, was reported by LIFE MAGAZINE, with a cover photo, showing him also as a victim of the police. That too, was grossly misleading and wrong. Yet it made national news at the time.

The aftermath of the riots back in 67 and 68, as well as last summer, are giving me whiplash from shaking my head. I thought back in 67 that the politicians were out of their minds by saying they would eliminate "riots" by just changing the name to "civil disturbance." Absolutely Brilliant !  

In Minneapolis, Seattle, Portland and God Knows Where, the abdication of politicians to just do their job, and allow the police to do their job is mind boggling. They are immune to the day to day problems that an officer faces on a regular basis. Today current politicians are using the "words "Defund The Police. This is insane.

Fortunately there is a remedy. Check your calendar and you will see tomorrow is Election Day. Get out and VOTE.

In case you are looking for some insight of what an officer communicates with his base during a Riot, you can read the description of actual police calls from the Newark Riot in 1967. Try to see yourself in the role of the person making these radio calls. Not much has changed over the last 53 years.  

 A SAMPLE OF COMMUNICATION NOTES

COPIED FROM LOG IN CHIEF OLIVER KELLY’S OFFICE

JULY 13, 1967  

 

9:34 p Store being looted at West Kinney and Livingston. This information received via radio transmission

9:42p Radio transmission advises store at 180 Spruce (liquor store) being looted

9:46p Radio transmission windows being broken at Thomas and Broad.

9:52p Radio transmission looting at Morris and 15^th Ave (Tavern)

9:55p Radio transmission Molotov cocktail being used at Springfield and Bergen

10:00p Radio transmission store being looted at Springfield and Hunterdon

10:02p Radio transmission furniture store going up at Springfield and Morris

11:50p Radio transmission Officer injured

11:51p Radio transmission Hold up and robbery at J & B Avon

11:55 Mayor appraised

July 14, 1967

12:16a Radio transmission Chief …to protect men in field..that is to use firearms if necessary

12:31a Radio transmission request help at Springfield and 6^th

12:48a Radio transmission women shot at Springfield and Plum

3:45a Radio transmission car 45A has man shot and four prisoners. Man was shot by police officer

FOR SALE: THESE ITEMS ARE AVAILABLE

I have had these badges etc. for too many years and my wife insists I "Get Rid Of Them !"  OK, she said it nicer, pointing out that they don't really fit with my primary focus. So take a look at these badges and asking price. If you are interested drop me a line at:   jerseychief.gmail.com



1.     HISTORIC N.M. BADGE:

 Sterling Silver, Presentation Badge. From New Mexico Territory given to Chief U.S. Marshal Horace W Loomis. This Marshal worked in the Albuquerque area, and thwarted, according to Wells Fargo Chronicles, a Train Robbery at the Water Station in Rio Puerco, N.M. .............................$4499.   Note Item Sold

                                                                           

  

Below, the rear of this badge is shown magnified, to reveal makers letters, Silver Marking, and Loomis' Name in lower panel.

          

2. NEWARK  Police Shoulder Patch. Good condition...          ..........................................................................             $4.25

3. HISTORIC ENVELOPE FRONT:  Addressed to Charles A LINDBERGH. Mail was processed shortly after the famed aviator's son was kidnapped by Bruno Hauptmann. Envelope had been kept as a souvenir by a Newark Detective, who assisted on the case. It possibly carried one of over a dozen different Ransom demands, and was in the mail received by the family right after the event.          .........................$175.00   note Item Sold

4. Pewter FIRE FIGHTER limited edition Belt Buckle.  .............................................................................   $10.00

5.  Gag Badge "Brothel Inspector."  ..............  $7.50               

6. ANTIQUE BADGE SET FROM WEST NEW YORK,       N.J.  No longer the shield in use and out of service over  50  years. In very good condition.                            ....................................................................  Matched Set (2 pieces) ........ $89.00

8. NEWARK  RECRUIT Police Shoulder Patch. Good condition...          ..........................................................................             $4.25

9. ORANGE NJ PATCH  Item is in good condition, and priced to go !

                                                                                                                  ........................ $4.25 

 

 

NEWARK BADGE IS NUMBERED "911" - A TIME TO REMEMBER -

What better way to "Remember" that horrible date in 2001 then to carry the number on your badge.

Newark is one of many N.J. departments that responded to the terror attack in New York City. This item probably was not ordered to be associated with the September 11 Terror Attack, but just looking at the number causes memories to boil up.

I recall exactly where I was when the First Plane hit, and watched shocked as the Second Plane hit its' target. Minutes later I watched and listened to the reports of a Third Plane striking the Pentagon, and later the report of a Fourth Plane going into the ground in Pennsylvania.

It was difficult to connect with my kids in Jersey, and it took until late evening to get a call from the last one saying, "I am alright."  That call came from a daughter who rode the last train from Hoboken to Wall St. She was turned back thankfully to N.J. where she observed the smoke from where the Twin Towers once stood. 

At her Hoboken Apartment she asked me, "What did you do?"  She was questioning the large number of Officer Business Cards stuck in her door with the message to "Call your Dad !"  

Damn Right I Remember !

POLICEWOMAN - NEWARK, NJ - THE OFFICER USED LIPSTICK

To start the "pinkish" background was not intended, but maybe the Lady who wore "lipstick," along with this Badge, had a similar match.

This item in Excellent Condition was recently obtained. It is a rare Newark Policewoman Badge. It is numbered 17 within the noticeable Newark Number Box, with pillars on each side.

Looking at it head on, it looks like the present day N.P.D  badge. Note the "Newark Eagle" at the center of the badge,  just over the Number Box.  That tells you 99% of the time, that this is a badge from Newark NJ. Most other Jersey badges, with similar shape, have a State Seal at center point.

At the bottom of  this shield is a panel that spells out the word "POLICEWOMAN." This is a unique tittle and no longer in use. Today Woman get the same badge as the Men.

The rear of this beautiful item yields more information, and a question. First there is no hallmark. That is not unusual. There is a pin and clasp which was in use in 50-60's and on to present day.

With all this said a final look at the Lower Rear Panel you will see the word, in reverse, N E W A R K.  That, and a closer look on the front, mean that "POLICEWOMAN" is an added/over panel.

I believe the City of Newark purchased, as a cost saving measure, the add on panel. This could have been done by someone other the N.P.D. 

In my years of collecting I have seen another original Newark Badge with an added panel.

My understanding is the Town of Springfield purchased a few badges from Newark and had their name placed on the top panel.  If you are curious, below is a front and rear view of that badge. 

I am very happy to have this badge, and have placed it with other "rare" badges from Newark that are in my Collection. They make for great  memories and I can see them every day in what has become "my museum". Thanks to the wife for letting me have this room all to myself. Of course I paid the mortgage off first.

Should you have any information, on either of these badges, feel free to let me know at: jerseychief@gmail.com 

OLD NEWARK PUBLIC WORKS BADGE

Take a look at this impressive old badge!  Maybe it isn't that impressive, but it is old. And it is from Newark, NJ

I got it a few months ago, even though it wasn't a "Police Badge." I do have a few City Badges that are from other departments, so when I saw it for sale I purchased it.

This beauty simply reads DEPT OF PUBLIC WORKS,  No "246," NEWARK, N.J. I am not sure what the employees did that carried these badges, but I must conclude they were pleased to have this as part of there ID packet.

I already had two similar (similar - that's a bad word) badges that I frequently take to Florida Badge Shows. One is for the title "STABLE SUPERVISOR,"  and the other is for "ASST. ENGINEER."  They are pictured below, and are much nicer to look at. Both are "Gold Tone" plating, with crisp clear letters, and a  Newark City Seal at the center point.

Now back to my latest PW purchase. I believe it is older then my other two items due to its primitive finish. It has an  almost a gray tone finish, and lacks the same crisp detail of the other two. It appears to be a shield that would be carried by a "rank and file" worker, while the others had "Rank."

In large letters it reads across the top: "DEPT PUBLIC WORKS." At the bottom it reads: "NEWARK, NJ."  At center there is not a "City Seal," just the number "246." 

As noted these badges are not Police, but they are from my home town, so I have to include them in my collection. They all meant something to someone back in the day. I have that feeling with them now as part of my hobby.

TOY OR REAL BADGE

This is a nice Old Radiator Badge.

I purchased this item a couple years ago. I was hoping to prove that it was from Newark, NJ. I can't do that. It could be from anywhere they used this style badge.

You can see the clear letters that spell out POLICE on an angular stamped panel. At the top of the badge is the word JUVENILE, but those letters are much smaller.

The question here is what Police Departments' had staff designated as "Juvenile Police Officer."  I searched some N.P.D. records,  and saw that the Police Force had a handful of officers "detailed as Truant Officers". Of course that doesn't add up to the words I was looking for, but the date was right - 1893 (Annual Report).

Like I wrote above,  "This is a nice Old Radiator Badge." I won't place it with items that I know to be Newark, so I just might be willing to let it go to another collector. If there is an interest drop me a note at:  

jerseychief@gmail.com

For now I'll keep it. Maybe I'll make in a Memory of those days long behind me when I was chased by the "Truant Officer."

SPACE COAST BADGE AND PATCH SHOW STILL A "GO !" - SEPTEMBER 5th

ORLANDO SHOW STILL A GO

By Doug Sarubbi

I wanted to give you an update on our Sept. 5, 2020 “Vacation Capital Police Collectors Show”. The show is still a GO. I have been in contact with the hotel and working very closely concerning safety measures in light of COVID-19.

The hotel is providing us with a bigger space – actually two rooms – this will allow 12 feet of distance between tables. In addition, we will have hand sanitizer stations at the show entrance. The hotel is strictly following all CDC recommendations for the safely of their guests. Orange County currently has a mandatory mask requirement for people in public, so we are asking you all too please wear a mask at all times. This mandate could change prior to the show. I will keep you updated. I will have a limited number of masks available for anyone who forgets.

The show hours have been changed and will start an hour earlier – at 8 a.m. – and close at 3 p.m. Set up will begin at 630 a.m. With these new measures, the hotel is asking me for the full payment for the ballroom, 30 days prior to the show. If you have reserved a table, please send your full amount as soon as possible to confirm.

Doing so will allow us to proceed in organizing an awesome and safe show.

The last day to reserve hotel rooms is Aug. 5. We have already doubled the confirmed room reservations from last year. That’s a very good sign of the attendance we are expecting. The rate is good for 3 days prior to the show and 3 days after. Free parking for all.

We are excited to continue the show despite the challenges. We are looking forward to seeing everyone. Safe Travels, Your Show Host.