FIVE STAR BOSS BADGE - POLICE DIRECTOR

Front view of Newark Police Director Badge. Front has "five stars" at the top. The Badge, and my good luck to acquire it is the story in this post. It represents the highest "rank" in the N.P.D.  The job has been rewritten and the duties may not be exactly the same, but the symbolism is still there. The Badge is "Boss."  Those five stars deliver a message. 

I am most glad to say this Badge is in my Collection, under glass, and hanging on my wall among other memorabilia. 

Front and rear view of Newark Police Director Badge. The rear view shows the makers mark or Hallmark of Blackington Co. 

This was the Top Badge in the N.P.D. years ago. I am not sure it still exists, but I have heard rumors of political changes and "new titles."  So I can only report that in its day this was the "Boss Cop." He had authority over the Police Chief (who had four stars).

People who held this Title did not have to come up from the ranks. Quite a few came from out of the Department. 

Over the years those who have held the job moved on to other "Top Cop" positions. Of recent note is Garry  McCarthy He spent years on the job in New York City before becoming Police Director in Newark in 2006. His "Stars" are linked to Senator Corey Booker, who made McCarthy's initial appointment as Newark Police Director.

Five years later McCarthy became Police Superintendent in Chicago. There he made the news following a shooting incident, and subsequent calls for his resignation. In 2014 he was fired by the Chicago Mayor. 

Other Newark Police Directors have moved on to top jobs in other jurisdictions.  Sheila Coley, became the First Black wWoman to become Boss of three Departments - Newark, East Orange, and Trenton, NJ. Joseph Santiago held positions with other agencies too. The list is interesting.

Looking back, at those who held the Director's Title, is a man I wrote about many posts ago. That would be Dominick Spina. He was tough, but his toughness is not my focus. Luck would probably be a more accurate definition of his attributes.

Spina did his job and did not take any BS. Naturally this made him a target, literally. People hated him and had a major need to remove him from his position. In July of 1968 they went after the man at his home. Spina was seen in his living room, and the shotgun was aimed at him, the trigger pulled, and the target missed. Spina bent over, at the instant of the shotgun blast, to put a leash on his German Shephard named "Nero."

Director Spina, with Nero. Both are smiling only because it was time to take the dog for a walk.

 

THE NEWARK STAR

You may recall every year, in January, I would do a post, on my blog,  with a plea for someone to help me, find the ultimate Newark Badge, to add to my collection. 

I have been collecting over fifty years. How many years over fifty is not important. What is important, is that after collecting anything from anywhere, I finally had to downsize. That shift put my focus strictly on anything from New Jersey, especially NEWARK.

I grew up in the City, as did my wife. We graduated the same school - "West Side H.S."  My Dad was a Detective there, and retired, only after a Thirty-Seven year career. He gave me my first few badges fifty years ago, and that sorta got my full collection on its' way. 

As I looked for Newark's "Star," I was able to acquire some beautiful, and rare, badges from the N.P.D.  I got them, but "No Star."  I tried hard, but to no avail. I looked at shows, I sent letters to other collectors, and I searched on- line auctions, including Ebay. No Luck.

Finally, with 50 years invested in the hobby, I had a conversation with Mike Bondarenko (Publisher of PC News). I asked Mike to contact a Collector, who  like me, writes for the Paper.  Mike was my advocate and did a hell of a job. It took a while, but eventually an arrangement was made for me to purchase the above Newark Star. 

The seller and I agreed that terms of the deal would be private; However It is safe to say, "There were two happy people in the Hobby the day of the sale!" So let me be clear, I have a Newark Star.

My Quest, to obtain The Star, has also given me the finest of memories, and those memories are an important part of my Collection.

Pictured here are a few rare Newark Badges that I have had for some time. As of now, they sit as the foundation for the Badge I treasure most.

These two badges date back to circa 1860. They were the next Edition, after the Star. Both are in good condition. They  show a nice view of the City Seal and number panel with #52 and #1640 respectfully.

Also pictured are two 'sets' of Newark Radiator Badges that preceded the current edition. They were in use circa 1900. The "set" marked #C93 is a very rare piece. It is a "Chanceman' Badge" or probationary officer in today's jargon.

 

This is the heart of my hobby. All of these badges are the "Stars" of my collection, but with out a doubt, the Eight Pointed Newark Star, at the top of this post is the ultimate prize.

 

 

 

JAN 30 2021 TITUSVILLE BADGE AND PATCH SHOW

 ALL STATIONS: TAKE NOTE FINAL NOTICE

 

DATE: Saturday January 30, 2021

LOCATION: North Brevard Senior Center, 909 Lane Ave., Titusville, FL

TIME: 9:00 AM Doors Open

HOSTED BY:  Hartfield Volunteer Fire Department

SETUP TIME: 8AM

TABLE COST: Collectors & Traders: $25, 

ADMISSION COST: Free (donations appreciated)

INFORMATION: This is your opportunity to buy-sell or trade law enforcement patches and badges, as well as other Police or Fire memorabilia. Seventy (70) tables are available for $25 each before December 31. After that tables will be $30. Early reservations are recommended because tables are offered on a “first come” basis. Each year the show is a sellout. Please send payment with your reservation. Set-up begins at 8am and the show will run from 9am until 3pm. There is a spirited display contest and awards are presented for the best displays. Reproductions must be marked.  The Senior Center will offer lunch, and there are numerous fast food restaurants. The hotel for the show is the Holiday Inn Titusville/Kennedy Space Center 4715 Helen Hauser Blvd. the rate is $115.00 (plus tax), this rate will be valid January 24-26, 2020 and the cutoff date is January 3, 2020. The phone number is (321) 383-0200 and ask for the Space Coast Patch Show. The hotel includes a hot/cold breakfast. Early reservations are recommended as there is another event in Titusville at the same time.  Titusville is close to Kennedy Space Center and other central Florida attractions. The Police Hall of Fame, which moved from Miami to Titusville, is now open and is a well-done attraction promoting Law Enforcement and has some fabulous patches and other memorabilia on display.  Make table reservations by calling: 321-302-1983 (cell) or e-mail @ csteveb170@gmail.com.Confirm your reservations by mailing table fee to Steve Bridges, 1535 Justin Court, Titusville, FL 32796.

 

NEW YEARS GREETING

HAPPY  2021

 

2021 is here. Best wishes to all.

I trust this will be a good and a healthy year for those of us in the hobby. I have in the past enjoyed going to the various shows in S.E., USA, and hope to do so again. Health is the key, and it is becoming a challenge.

 Our Cataracts have been addressed and road tested, so we are ready. Thank God we had Health Insurance. The wife and I will still be changing who rides "Shotgun"as we travel safely, through the swamp, to get to the Titusville Show in a few days.

 

I hope this is a better year than last. Health and Death literally were to close to home. We hope that you had a better 2020 and an even better 2021

END OF WATCH

 

It has been a several years since one of my friends answered his "last call."  In his memory his grand-daughter drew the picture below. 

 

Since I first posted this "End Of Watch" Recognition Post additional friends and acquaintances have passed on. In their memory I dedicate this page to your memory.

  Miss you guys!

A FLASH FROM THE PAST

During the Covid-19 attack on our way of life I spent a ton of time in the house with nothing but time on my hands. One day I got a little steam in my legs, and motivated myself  to clean out and organize some old pictures stored in a box from the 1930's.

One of the old pictures that I hadn't seen in probably 60 years, or maybe never, is this one of my father: Herman William Beyer. It was taken around 1930. It's amazing how He looks like me.

If you know Newark Police Collectibles, you can easily tell, that the Badges on the uniform are the real deal. Just zero in on the "Hat Badge," and You will see the symbolic "Hammer," held by "an Arm and Hand."  It is high on the top of this Hat Badge in the center. It sends a clear message, that this is the City Seal of Newark, NJ. If you can see close enough there are "Tell Tale" signs on the Breast Badge too.

First you will see,  flying over the "number box," an Eagle. He is just about dead center. This is where other municipalities placed either, a State Seal or their own, but not Newark. They were known for an Eagle. Also on the sides of the "number box" are Pillars. They give the "number box" a nice frame. 

The Eagle and the Pillars make the Newark Badge unique. I'd like to say, of the 500+ municipalities in New Jersey, I have never seen an officer's badge with this design. I just can't say never, as I am aware of two instances where there are "Pillars," and one of those has both Pillars and an Eagle. The City of Elizabeth has an Officer's Badge with Pillars (if still in use); and the Town of Springfield had (now obsolete) an Officer's Badge that had both the Eagle and Pillars.

Concerning the Eagle and Pillars, The Town of Springfield has a weird story. I posted an article in April of 2020 regarding it. For this article. I'll just say Springfield got this design, because they purchased some used Badges from their neighboring City. 

Back to perusing the breast badge in the picture of my Dad. Look inside the number box, and three ones (111) make themselves known. That was my Father's first badge number. For some reason he had two Officer Badges during his career.. The second was number 30. I have never learned why he was issued a second number. I assumed He asked for it, and his request was honored.

Of course both "111" and "30" made their way to my collection. They are not the original badges, but are from a more recent issue. My Father would be very happy to see his Badges on my wall, as well as the Badge from Springfield, and yet another Newark Badge all the way from the UK. I have them all, on my wall with my "Collection of  Memories".
 

 

This is a Hat Badge from Newark, and as the picture reveals, it has a distinctive "Hammer" held high at the Top Center. It is a "screw back" design for the hat. In the number box are the first numbers assigned to my Father - Herman Beyer.

 

To the Right is a standard Newark Badge. It is a shape that was quite common in New Jersey and New York. Inside the basic shape the badge becomes quite distinctive. Almost at dead center is the Newark Eagle. Flanking the number box are the Pillars, and inside the box, are a matching "111"

 

 

 

 

 

This Badge, showing "30" in the number box was the badge my Father had for most of his career. I remember in the 1950's He purchased "Vanity MV Plates" (HWB-30) so both Car and Badge had same number. The Car is long gone, but the Badge has made its way to my collection.

 

This is the matching Hat Badge on a different background. The hand holding the hammer is a little easier to detect. The number "30" matct Breast Badge perfectly.

Te Badge to the left is from "Springfield". It was originally made for "Newark" prior to being sold to "Springfield." The top pal is new and made for the new owner. The Pillars and Eagle remain in original form.

 

This Badge has nothing to do with my Father, but I am sure He would have enjoyed seeing it. It might very well have been placed on his N.P.D. Horse when He rode on the Mounted Squad in 1927. This was actually part of a Horse attire, but in "Newark" England. It goes well with my Memories.

SPACE COAST "BADGE AND PATCH SHOW" - TITUSVILLE FL - JAN 30 2021

 ALL STATIONS: TAKE NOTE AS FOLLOWS:

 

DATE: Saturday January 30, 2021

LOCATION: North Brevard Senior Center, 909 Lane Ave., Titusville, FL

TIME: 9:00 AM Doors Open

HOSTED BY:  Hartfield Volunteer Fire Department

SETUP TIME: 8AM

TABLE COST: Collectors & Traders: $25, 

ADMISSION COST: Free (donations appreciated)

INFORMATION: This is your opportunity to buy-sell or trade law enforcement patches and badges, as well as other Police or Fire memorabilia. Seventy (70) tables are available for $25 each before December 31. After that tables will be $30. Early reservations are recommended because tables are offered on a “first come” basis. Each year the show is a sellout. Please send payment with your reservation. Set-up begins at 8am and the show will run from 9am until 3pm. There is a spirited display contest and awards are presented for the best displays. Reproductions must be marked.  The Senior Center will offer lunch, and there are numerous fast food restaurants. The hotel for the show is the Holiday Inn Titusville/Kennedy Space Center 4715 Helen Hauser Blvd. the rate is $115.00 (plus tax), this rate will be valid January 24-26, 2020 and the cutoff date is January 3, 2020. The phone number is (321) 383-0200 and ask for the Space Coast Patch Show. The hotel includes a hot/cold breakfast. Early reservations are recommended as there is another event in Titusville at the same time.  Titusville is close to Kennedy Space Center and other central Florida attractions. The Police Hall of Fame, which moved from Miami to Titusville, is now open and is a well-done attraction promoting Law Enforcement and has some fabulous patches and other memorabilia on display.  Make table reservations by calling: 321-302-1983 (cell) or e-mail @ csteveb170@gmail.com.Confirm your reservations by mailing table fee to Steve Bridges, 1535 Justin Court, Titusville, FL 32796.