HORSE TO RADIO

The "Guy" on the horse is my Dad. It was taken in the 1920's. The picture is a "modern day" reprint and looks good. Of course the author is a tad biased on that point

From the stories I recall hearing as a boy, my father had a "radio license." In 1934 the Newark Police initiated "radio transmissions" between a dispatcher and the old "Black and Whites" a transfer was made. I am not sure if this was a requested transfer, or one "in the best interests of the Department." A millennium later that artful language is something that still rings a bell.

The insignia "R-T" is around 70 years of age, and was worn by the guys assigned to the "radio unit." A local bank, The National Newark and Essex Bank, owned the tallest building in Newark, and that building is where the broadcasting antenna was originally located. The current location is not known. Maybe N.P.D. is using "text messages" to contact the troops. You never know.

The number "7" is insignia from what was referred to as the "Seventh Precinct". I believe it was also known as the "Sixth Precinct," and now the "South District". When I was a boy I visited this station many times. It was located at 714 Hunterdon Street, which was easy to remember if you watched Jack Webb's "Dragnet," or re-runs on "Badge 714." This location provided a home for those officers assigned to "Radio Repair." From what I heard this was a good assignment. Unfortunately Motorola Corp. started making better radios, and doing their own repairs. That's life.

The number "2" is insignia from the "Second Precinct." Today it is the "North District." I believe that was where the "Mounted Squad " was located when the above picture was snapped. I know this section of the City was well protected during the 67 riots. It was where my father grew up when he was a boy, and the location of his retirement home on Mt. Prospect Ave. Well it's been years since I have seen any of this. One of these days I will journey North, and do what was referred to in the Probation Dept. as an "Area Cruise." It meant "drive around and see what is happening." It was also good for the expense account. For now the author will just enjoy the memories.

The badge is said to be a more modern issue of those given to "civilian" dispatchers. It is inscribed: "Communication Officer, Newark, NJ #10." I am not sure that this item was actually issued by N.P.D. My source was a "wild child," if you will, who could have had the badge made up for himself. The authenticity is somewhat shaky from this vantage point, but the badge does use the "City Seal" suggesting it just might be legitimate.

NEWARK "LIEUTENANT" & "SERGEANT" BADGES

The focus of my collection has been municipalities that qualify as "CITY'S." I have seen some displays of various Top Tens. They were inspiring, but I am a realist. I just knew this would be an impossible task.

I set my goal at obtaining the "Top Three Cities." They were: Newark, Jersey City, and Trenton (State Capital). I had some luck over the over the years, and I did get the "Top Three," plus a couple more.

The goal had to change, and it did. The goal became to collecting something from the "Top Ten." There I haven't been as lucky. I have eight of ten. The Cities of Camden and Clifton have eluded me.

While I looked for "CITY'S" I also ran a parallel collection on badges from the City of Newark. This focus made sense. After all I grew up in the City, and had many contacts in and around Newark. My Dad was with N.P.D. for 37 years, and I was well aquainted with his friends. Collecting here was going to be easy. It only took 40 years to acquire twenty "City" badges worthy of displaying. In the quest for City badges I was fortunate to acquire fifty badges from "non city" municipalities. They turned out to be very worthy of displaying.

This article will present three badges in that Newark Collection that warranted being "put under glass. " There are "twenty" that catch my eye every day. They stand proud in a nice oak case, that hangs neatly on the wall. That's so my wife won't complain. Anybody have a problem like that?

These three items contribute to making the entire collection of twenty well worth their neat little spot on the wall.

The First Item is a Sergeant's Badge that was issued around World War I. It stayed around about 45 years, and was retired in 1957. It is in good condition showing some signs of its' age. The City Seal is used on Newark badges, and should show clearly in the picture. The seal is similar to the N.J. State Seal, which is used by most municipalities.

The Second Item is also a Sergeant's Badge. This one is in excellent condition. Again note the city seal, and the reverse blue lettering.

The Third Item is a Newark Lieutenant' Badge. This one could be in better condition, but it is not terrible by any means. This badge is believed to have been introduced in the late 1950's.

H. W. "Will" LOOMIS - WHO WAS HE?

Once in the while an item, or two, of major interest finds its' way into a collectors hands. That's the case with the above gun and badge. This collector acquired these items a few months ago. They hang in my retirement "museum" with the countless "things " I have obtained over the last few (40) years.

The gun is a reminder of my days as a young boy. I watched, on that new thing called television, my favorite cowboy shows. Of course my homework had to be done or I might get a whack from my Dad with his nightstick. The heroes back then were: Roy Rogers, Gene Autry, and Hopalong Cassidy. They were always after some cattle rustler or a train robber. The good guys had white hats, and always won.

Most of these guys carried silver revolvers. The Lone Ranger even shot silver bullets. If I remember correctly, these "cowboys" shot about 30 rounds without reloading. I guess they were carrying the first "automatics."

The gun above is certainly not made of silver. It only holds six rounds, and they were not made of silver. The gun is just a .36 caliber relic from the real West. It is believed to have been used in the Arizona-New Mexico territories during the 1890's. On its own it is not a collectors treasure. But this gun also carries a name engraved on the back strap: "H. W. Loomis "Deputy U.S. Marshal." This may enhance the value of this old "Six Shooter."

The badge, pictured above, is really sterling silver, or at least it has the word "sterling" stamped on the back left side. On the back right side is what appears to be a hallmark: "A&G". In the lower rear panel there is a name: "H. W. Loomis." These matching engravings of the Loomis name make the gun and badge at least interesting.

Since obtaining these items I learned "Will Loomis" was in fact a U.S.Marshal. He served in New Mexico, for ten years, prior to Statehood. My favorite source of information, "The New York Times," reported (Oct.3, 1896) in an article titled "Noted Train Robber Killed," that the "High Five Gang" attempted to rob an Atlantic & Pacific Train, about 4 miles outside Albuquerque. New Mexico. They "hit" the train at a water station called Rio Puerto. "Will" Loomis just happened to be on that train. There was a gun battle and an outlaw, Cole Young, "bought the ranch" that day. According to the Times the outlaw was shot by Loomis using his revolver. Better sources say Loomis used a shotgun, hitting Young with two blasts to the chest area. Either way Mr. Young, a.k.a, Cole Estes died that day. He was buried in Albuquerque's Fairview Cemetery Oct 5, 1896.

If Loomis was working today he would be one of my heroes. He too had fondness of the government expense account. Loomis, I have learned, was the first U.S. Marshall to be allowed to submit his expenses without a receipt. It was argued that he would be ineffective as an "undercover officer" if he had to ask Saloon keepers for receipts. Of course in granting him this status, the "wise ones" in Washington D.C. decreed that he could not arrest anyone. Some thinking never seems to change.

Beyond the above reported facts this writer knows little about H.W.Loomis. There are a few career tidbits, but nothing regarding his personal life: Was he married? Did he have kids? When did he die? The questions go on, and on.

This collector believes Loomis owned this gun at one time essentially because of the engraving. Why put someone Else's name on a gun that was old even back in the 1890's. The badge, however, does not appear to be of the same time frame. It is newer. The theory is it was a "later life gift" that a now older Loomis, or family member, obtained to put on display with the above gun.

Any information on this gun, or badge, or H.W.Loomis, as they said in that old TV cowboy show, is: WANTED, DEAD OR ALIVE. (denb22@gmail.com)

SNOWMAN

This is another story with no badge.

It was 1974 and I was struggling to make ends meet. I was now working in the Probation Departments' Pre-Sentence Investigations Section. We prepared reports for the court, so judges could impose their sentences on those individuals who definitely were not the "pillars of the community." My job gave me quite a bit of time "in the field." I was constantly traveling from one end of the County to the other. That was great for the expense account and paying the bills.

On April 2, 1974 my daughter Cathy was born. She's 29 now. How time flies, especially when you can't count. Sometime after Cathy's birth I "got a tip" that I could find some nice cobble stone to place around the plant bed in front of my house. They would make a nice addition, and were free. I just had to get myself into an isolated area near US 1. Under an overpass was a small embankment containing "my" landscape blocks. The first problem I encountered was they were heavy. I could only move half in one trip. The second problem was NPD showed up.

The Officer, riding alone, wanted my ID, and to know what I was doing. I couldn't make up a good story so I tried the truth. It seems the person who told me about these blocks also told the officer I might be around that location, and to "look out" for me."

The Officer busted my chops real good, then asked, with a huge grin, if I was done. I told him "No." I intended to get the rest of the pile. He, smiled, and said, He'd be back the next day to "watch out for me." One day later I had all "my" blocks, and 34 years later they are still around my old homestead. I remember those blocks, and meeting the "Snowman."

John Snow was assigned to traffic patrol. He routinely covered US 1 near Newark Airport. He used a "CB" radio and talked to the truck drivers. "Snowman" was his "handle." Those two afternoons were the only contacts I had with with this man.

In 1976 I heard his name mentioned on the radio. It was August and Friday the 13th. John was making a delivery of cash to a Bank when he was robbed. Gunfire took his life that day.

I really did not know the man, but I smile every time I think of those blocks. That smile soon fades when I remember Aug. 13 1976.

Newark Police Band

Boom, Boom, Boom Boom Boom.

That's the sounds, I remember, of the big base drum playing in the Newark Police Band. I heard that beat during the late 1940's through the 1950's. The badge above was from that time frame.

Thinking Back, I recall seeing the N.J. National Guard, with Tanks, Jeeps, and Soldiers, parade down Broad Street in Newark, N.J. They were impressive, but somehow the above badge reminds me of the moment when the Newark Police Marching Band approached the reviewing stand in on the steps of City Hall. In front of the Mayor and Council they played "Stars and Stripes Forever," and then they marched away to the cheers of their loyal supporters.

This Band was good, and was frequently invited to participate in parades in neighboring communities. They once did a special performance for veterans at Lyons Hospital up "in the mountains." It was far from the City and my Mom and Dad took me to see it. I also recall this Band in a competition in a N.J. shore community called Asbury Park. In addition to the usual Drum Major there was also the unusual addition of a Drum Majorette. I am not sure where she came from, but the N.P.D. Band really looked exceptional that day.

My Dad was in the Police Band. At one point in time I had a large picture from the 1930's showing the musicians on the steps of City Hall. If I looked hard I could find my father with his clarinet back in the second row.

Another picture I had was from 1954. It showed The Band again on the steps of City Hall. Standing in front were some City official; the Drum Major, his name was Cookie; and my Dad. He was now the Commander of the Newark Police Band.

I donated the pictures to the F.O.P. Museum a few years ago, but not the Badge. That is in my "Newark Collection," hanging on my wall. It is more than a badge. It is a memory.

NEWARK CAPTAINS' BADGE

Somehow we are back to my Newark Collection of badges.

In my last "Post" entitled "My Second Badge" I displayed a badge that is common in New York City. I related it was not my first choice.

The design, in the pictured N.P.D. badge above, was what I wanted. Unfortunately it was a "No can do" item. The "hardware" to create this badge was closely guarded by Newark's' finest.

Over the years I have seen only one other badge like this available for a collector. I obtained this one 30 years ago. It is in excellent condition, and I keep it "locked" under glass in my Newark Collection.

I recall having this item in my pocket just after the acquisition. I had to go to one of those silly department meetings. I remember the subject addressed that day was access to the County Jail and seeing prisoners. The Correction Officers were doing a "rule book slow down" and it had an impact on other agencies. After our meeting the Assistant Chief inquired of me: "How come you don't have a problem over at the lock up?" I shrugged and responded: "I don't know. I just show my ID, and write down the guys name." A shrewd man was my Assistant Chief, and he instructed me to: "Show me your badge." I reached in my pocket and produced this fine N.P.D. shield.

The Asst. Chief smiled from ear to ear. He turned and just walked away shaking his head. He was a good guy, and was a major help to me over the years.

My Second Badge

Leaving the School System in Warren County gave me two opportunities. The First was to continue feeding my family, and the Second was to buy my own badge AGAIN.

Well, with my second "tour of duty" as a probation officer, I had a greater understanding of badges. I knew for sure that the previous badge I had looked most unimpressive. I didn't like looking at it, maybe that's why I gave it away. That first badge was small, and had some silly lion in the center as that was the County Seal. No way was I going to have that same shield.

I knew where to go. H Buchlien & Son. They were a Newark based manufacturer of badges. I had their catalog, and I did a lot of research before deciding to buy a badge that was actually my "second choice." The first choice will be covered in another story. I picked a design used by NYC Police (Captain Rank).

After making my initial choice I quickly learned that this badge was not going to cost $8.00 That was "ok", as it was going to look good in the end. I chose a "multi color seal" which was relatively new in 1971. I chose "blue" lettering which really looked great on the "gold finish." I was paying the bill, and this badge was going to look great.

Other Officers liked it too. Soon they were asking me to get them an identical badge. I complied, and made a small profit on the transaction. I did this for several years until the Chief P.O. learned of my "extra curricular activities." He decided I could handle other work, and assigned me the job of: issuing badges, maintaining a record of each issue, and collecting the badge when an Officer left the department. Ouch! hat killed the small profit.

I liked that badge and I still have it. I display it with other badges I acquired over the years from the now defunct "County Probation Departments." In 1994 those departments became part of the State Court System. In future posts I will show other badges on the "probation wall" in my personal museum.