MOUNT UP AND RIDE!

The above picture (copy) was recently obtained. It is Newark Mounted Police leaving their Stable area.

My Dad also rode with the Mounted Squad around 1927. I have his picture on the horse named Ginger. That is it below.

Following a few years on "Mounted" my father moved to the new Newark Radio unit. At the time radio operators had to be licensed, and guess what? Dad had a license.

Over the years collecting badges I came across the unique badge pictured below. It was also from the Stables where Newark kept their Police Horses.  

This is a unique badge, but clearly a Newark item per its' markings and Seal. It may not be a "police" item as the badge is stamped "Dept of Public Works."  I have seen this design used once before by the same City Department.  It is a one of a kind. At least I have not seen another one like it.

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CLASSIC CAR RIDE TO AMERICAN POLICE HALL OF FAME

Oct 3 (rain date Oct 10) is going to be an important day for all Law Enforcement Officers.

To promote a new initiative for wounded officers a Classic Car Show will put on stage by driving their antique cars from the Harley Davidson Store in Sandford, Fl. to the American Police Hall of Fame in Titusville.

A Motorcycle Squadron will make sure the Classic Cars don't exceed speed limits  escorting them for the entire ride.

Cars may enter the event for $40 and Motorcycles will pay $25 per rider.

This Show and the wounded Officer endeavor is led by Peter Hernandez,  Founder & President. Peter is an active officer with the Windemere, Fl. Police Dept.

The group may be contacted through there web site shown below:

woundedofficersinitiative.org 

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ORLANDO SHOW 2015

The Labor Day Holiday causes two items to be marked on my calendar every year. First is the Orlando Police Badge and Patch Show. The second is my annual outing to Disneyworld (to please the wife). 

The Police Show is hosted by Doug Sarubbi, Sgt. Orange County Sheriff's Office. You all know who the host is of Disneyworld (My Wife). That's her watching over my Newark Emergency Bureau display.

My Lady covered the two tables that I took at the show, while I roamed the floor looking for items for my collection. She also helps as assistant photographer making sure to get a ton of pictures of my displays.

I got to stand behind the table for a couple of pictures. One was treasures from the Newark Emergency Bureau including pictures of Commanders from 1935-1955. That's me holding an old Delta hand held electric lantern. On the right side of my table was a couple pictures of my father and display cases of his old badges. Some of the pictures date back to 1929 - Father on Horse named Ginger.  

One item that brings back memories for me was the original Command Citation issued to Det. Frank Donaghy. He was a friend and a tremendous collector in his own right. Frank died a couple years back, but I am positive that He would be smiling at his Citation being part of this exhibit. Frank disarmed a bomb left by a terrorist group from Puerto Rico, known as the FALN. I also placed a few old hand restraints on the table, a clacker, a police lantern, and the night stick.

I enjoyed seeing the guys with their exhibits and some items for sale. I managed a couple additions, and turned down a couple too (the wife is checking the finance books so I have to be careful).

By time it came to packing up and heading out Doug was ready to announce winners.

In the category of Best Patch Display the winner was Gerard J. Van Der Ham of Brooksville, Fl. Helping Doug present the awards is John W. Holmes, who always has a nice display himself. In the background two of Gerard's beautiful patch presentations can be viewed.

The next award was for the Best Badge Display. George W Motley (below) was our winner. He collects Virginia badges, but also has a fine collection of US State Capital Badges. 

They save the best for last. It is the award for Best Overall Collection. The winner flanked by Doug and John, is Major Jeff Peeler, who serves in the area around Ocoee Fl (even the wife knows where that is).

Below are a few of Jeff's items that we managed to catch.  Enjoy them.

Congratulations to all winners and to all participants for making the 2016 Show another huge success. 

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MUNICIPALS; "S" IS FOR SOMERS

"S" is for Somers in my Municipal Collection.

I did not know much about this community when I purchased the badge at the Titusville Show several months ago. 

The price was right, and the shape was right. So I decided I wouldn't mind doing some research on this Town. All that I recalled about it, from my youth, was, this town was where Conway Twitty played in the late 1950's.

I loved Conway's song. "Its' Only Make Believe." I followed his career until his death in 1993. Unfortunately I never got to see him perform, but I did a catch a Lorretta Lynn Concert. She frequently did duets with Conway.

In Conway I missed seeing a great performer. With Lorretta, I got to see half the act. She did quite a good show.

Well now I have a nice badge to remind of two great singers from yesterday, and the Community of  Somers Point. On the badge the word "Point" is not there. I think this might have been a mistake.

I looked this community up  in Wikipedia and learned that it was created as a Borough in the late 1800's. Almost every community in New Jersey seems to have done that. Checking further I had a huge surprise. In 1902 Somers Point became a "City".

Finding that this badge, which simply reads Somers, Police number 11 comes from a "City," makes me quite happy. 

I will have these memories that I  come from this Community including the music from Conway Twitty, and one more for my NJ City display.

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INSPECTION TIME

Inspection Time.  Glad it didn't rain.

This scene comes from, believe it or not, 1906. I wasn't even born yet. In fact it was a while, a long while, before any thought of me was on anyone's mind.   

The picture though is History. Taken in 1906 it captures the force in their blues with gray high hats.

This location was an important spot for the City dating back to the 1600's. During my time, it was torn apart and dug up to build an underground parking lot. It was "progress."  Somehow I think the old way was better.  Enjoy the picture.

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MUNICIPALS: "C" IS FOR CLEMENTON

The above is a municipal badge that fit into my Municipal Collection in a very nice way. It brings this collection, which focuses on similar shaped Municipal (not city) badges, up to fifty-eight pieces.  

There are over 500 such communities in New Jersey. Cities are not included in this collection. While the focus is on those badges that have the "New York" look. It is not known how many communities used this shape.

During the early part of the year I was fortunate to obtain two badges from this community. I have placed one in the display  and sold the other.

Clementon is on the top row (3rd from right). Along with a couple other new badges I was forced to rearrange my five row exhibit into a six row display. It is due to my increasing the numbers in the collection now at fifty-eight.

The Town of Clementon was new to my ears. I never heard of the place, and realy had doubts that this was the real thing. I knew the seller so I was in a trusting mood when I bought it.  A quick check using my I phone told me Clementon was real.

History shows that Clementon "Borough" was created out of the larger (now defunct) Clementon Township in 1925. Maybe I will live to see the Community celebrate its 100th birthday. I'd be just a little older.

In its day there was a popular amusement park within its' borders that featured The "Jack Rabbit" Roller-coaster. It made it to the 21st Century, then gave way to progress. It was demolished in 2002.

There are roughly 5000 people in this Community by the Lake. They are reportedly happy as their dispositions are sweetened by a major candy producer (Giambri's Quality Sweets)) that resides there too. Sounds good to me.

Well the badge is something that I consider sweet too. It is obsolete, but in very clean condition.

This badge clearly is that shape that I like. It is also stamped with the State Seal at the center, and a number box at the bottom. In it is number 33. The letters "NJ" are stamped below the number box.

At the top are two panels that were proudly filled with: Clementon, and Police.  Step back twenty feet and you won't be able to tell this badge from any other my collection. Be that as it may, I am proud to have each one.

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MUNICIPAL COLLECTION: NEW ADDITION NUTLEY

This is Nutley. It is an item I have in my municipal display.

I got this a few months ago at a show in Titusville, FL. The Gentleman had almost everything. At least he had a handful that I wanted, so a deal was made.

It is that standard shape that I like. Nothing fancy at all. Stamped from the rear, including State Seal, and State letters, N.J., at the bottom.  All that is needed to make it complete are words and numbers.

The panels on this badge have been stamped and enamel filled with the words: Nutley and Police.

At the bottom, the number "16" has been added to a box that could contain up to four letters. That's it! It is ready to go as another distinct, or not so distinct, municipal badge. It was a money saver for sure, and the design was used all over New Jersey and in other States as well. Just add your town and a number.

Most of these badges, regardless of the community, are obsolete. Even the replacement badges seems to have been retired like me decades ago.

Despite my retired status I still stretch the mind every now and then, and of course I remember Nutley, NJ.

It is a small town on the Passaic River, just a stones throw from glamorous Newark N.J. In today's world it is not a good idea to throw stones in Newark direction. They might shoot back. In the Old Days it might have been a different story, as Annie Oakley was a resident of Nutley. She knew something about shooting too. That's okay as my memories are vested in badges, and the one above, is one I am pleased to own, and have on display in my collection. Even Annie likes it.

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