TOP COP COLLECTION: BERLIN

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BERLIN is the third badge in my "TOP COP COLLECTION."

This has been in my possession for over 30 years, but off the radar as a collectible until now. With the creation of my "Top Cop display this Berlin Borough Public Safety Director finally has a place to be displayed.

The history of this Borough dates back to Pre-Revolutionary times. It was situated on New Jerseys West Side, between Camden and Philadelphia. Those cities were the population locations then and now. Today there are roughly 7500 people in this community, which officially became a borough in 1927.

A good deal of this community is rural, wooded, and wet lands. The residential section has mainly Victorian homes that have been restored, or just well kept. Looks like a nice place. A bit too far for me to have any memories. Maybe I'll ask Kelly Ripa who once upon a time lived here.

Now to the Badge. Not a common shape for NJ badges. There is an Eagle on top with its' wings spread looking down on a wreath that trims a big circle. Inside is a large ring, and two panels,  The State Seal is at center point and dates back to the 1930's.

Looking first at the Seal, one will see this is a blue ringed seal. It gives one an idea of the age of this badge. It was probably applied to the badge between 1930 and 1960. A close look reveals that it is in excellent condition.           

Next look at the panels. The top reads Deputy Director, and the bottom reads NJ. Last the ring. It reads: Public Safety; Berlin Borough.

As noted above I have found a nice place for this badge in my new "TOP COP Display. I get a peek at it every day hanging proudly, under glass, on the wall facing my desk. I'm Proud to have them all.  

TOP COP COLLECTION: ANDOVER

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ANDOVER is the second badge in my "TOP COP COLLECTION."  

I have had it several years. An uncle gave it to me after moving from Andover to Florida. His home was very close to Police HQ on Lake Iliffe Rd. He moved in the mid 80's and gave it to me at the start of this millennium.

Andover is just like Florida. Farming that is. In the Garden State big red tomatoes were all over the landscape particularly on the farms in Sussex County. It's the same thing here in Florida only the plants are taller and the fruit is Orange. Florida too has more Cows then NJ, if your interested.

The Township has a population around 6000 people living on just under 20,000 square miles. In the old days the area of Andover Twp. was rural. It was picked in the 1930's by a German Nationalist Group to create their headquarters which they called Camp Nordland. 

In the camp's HQ,  propaganda supporting the Nazi's, was passed along to their members. They existed as a malignancy in an otherwise beautiful area.  In 1939 the local Sheriff, Denton Quick, closed the camp for good. That made big news at the time.

Today the Old Barn that was HQ is now part of  Township Property, and is watched over by a 12 man full time police force. Today there is no talk about Camp Norland. It has faded from memory. Today's residents are often surprised, when told about the camps existence on their turf.

This particular shield is a product of the 1970's (I think). The multi color seal was introduced to NJ badges in the early 1970's, so that is one indicator of age. The shape is of the one worn by NY Police Captains. It is not a shape that has large use in NJ.  Even though I like it. This "CHIEF"  is a nice fit for this collection where it becomes the second badge displayed.

LAST CALL FOR ORLANDO SHOW

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 2017

ROSEN PLAZA HOTEL 9700 INTERNATIONAL DR. ORLANDO

CENTRALLY LOCATED IN THE HEART OF THE TOURIST DISTRICT. CLOSE TO UNIVERSAL STUDIOS, SEA WORLD, WALT DISNEY WORLD AND TWO WORLD-CLASS OUTLET MALLS.

EASY ACCESS TO ORLANDO INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT, I-4 AND THE FL. TURNPIKE.

85 TABLES ARE AVAILABLE AT $30.00 EA.

SET-UP BEGINS AT 7:30 AM, THE SHOW OPENS AT 9AM.

A SPECIAL ROOM RATE OF $97 IS AVAILABLE FOR FRIDAY AND SATURDAY NIGHTS.

CALL 1-800-627-8258 FOR HOTEL RESERVATIONS.

PLEASE MENTION THE “OCSO-Doug Sarubbi-VACATION CAPITAL POLICE SHOW” BY NAME.

FREE ON-SITE PARKING FOR ATTENDEES & GUESTS.

Awards will be presented for Best Badge, Best Patch and Best Overall Display. Admission is $3.00

FOR INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:

DOUG SARUBBI at sarubb@aol.com OR CALL

DAY: 407-351-9368 NIGHT: 407-297-1232

Co-Hosts: Ron Bartholome and John Holmes

Please confirm reservations by mailing payment to:

Doug Sarubbi, 4023 Salmon Dr. Orlando, FL 32835

TOP COP COLLECTION: ABSECON

This is a newer collection that I put together starting out a few years ago. The focus is on the top job in as many agencies as I could locate. I now have twenty, and have put them in a display box listing badges in alphabetical order.

ABSECON is the first of my TOP COP COLLECTION. I have had this badge over twenty years and just thought of it as a political boss' badges. That may be accurate but I never checked.

Absecon itself is a City, and is around six square miles in area. Some of that is under water. The population is around 8000. The population might go higher between Memorial Day and Labor Day. That is when the "Shore Season" has the city open for business.

Although this community became a City over 100 years ago it has remained off the radar for the last 30 + years. One's attention for the most part goes to the neighboring community of Atlantic City. 

For some (probably political) reason the police force in Absecon requires a Superintendent. This badge was issued for that tittle many years ago. It is styled after the New York Police Captains' Badge. This writer likes the design with the five "points" and blue lettering.

Because Absecon is a City, I originally included in my City Collection. Technically it is a City, but is so small it really does not fit with my interest for large NJ Cities. That fact helped give birth to my new collection - The Top Cop Collection. This is my first display item.

Look for similar articles in the future. 

STABLE SUPERVISOR, EARLY 1900's

This unique badge has been with me over 30 years. In my little museum at home, I have placed it with other badges that are not quite "Newark Police," but are related in many ways. This relationship is unique. I have a few different shields that fit in this category, but this item is the nicest. 

First lets' take a look at the center point of the badge. That is the "City Seal" of the City of Newark. If you are not familiar with Newark's Seal, you can check the ring around it. For clarification it reads: City of Newark over New Jersey.  The Seal is rare and is not on true Newark items unless someone authorized use of the special City Seal.

In the primary panel the words are: Department of Public Works. On the bottom panel is the title Supervisor Stable. Well, even if you think the title on this badge to be only some horse manure, this is a very nice badge.

lets note that this early 1900 badge is gold-tone and has very nice features. Note the twin wreaths on the sides and the Castle with Twin Turrets on top. This badge appears to have been made for someone with political stature. 

The job, and the Stables themselves were linked to Newark Police too. While the job relates to the City Stables in Branch Brook (A County) Park. This was the home of Newark's Mounted Squad's horses.

During my father's career he rode on the mounted squad for a couple of years. I don't think he ever saw this badge, but I have to imagine it would be a unique  interest to him. That is my father on Ginger, in 1929.

The items below are a matching set of breast badge and hat badge that belonged to my Father. If you have a good eye, you will see the number corresponds with the number in the picture. The Hat Badge is in the shape of the City Seal which while smaller is dead center of the Stable Supervisor badge.

OLD HAT CIRCA 1910 ADDED TO NEWARK COLLECTION

It has been a while since I obtained a piece of history worth writing about and posting here. But a few weeks ago I made a connection that resulted in a purchase of the above police hat.

The seller is someone I have been acquainted with over the years. You can imagine how happy I was to hear that he wished to "let it go." It didn't take too long before we agreed on the specifics. Soon the hat took a 1200 mile journey to my home, where it now is part of my Newark Police Collection.

I have been in the hobby now fifty years, getting my start from my father who was on the Newark force for 37 years. He gave me some of the badges he obtained over the years. That started my hobby.

After all the time (and money my wife would add if she were here) my focus has been on metal badges. They are rare enough, but while collecting them I never obtained "head dress" from N.P.D. until a few months back when I got a Newark Derby Hat.

The above has now become my second Newark Hat and it has a nice home for sure. It sports a "Hat Badge (Number 1090)" that is in good shape. On the top of the badge are the words: "NEWARK POLICE." I have several of these old badges and this one fits right in, although it stays on the hat (it's wired to it).

Take a closer look at the hat badge. In the center is a familiar Seal. This is a N.J. State Seal. On Newark's badges, and the current Hat Badge in particular, the Seal is a "City Seal." The Hat above, with its' badge, may very well have been the last usage of a NJ State Seal on Newark Uniforms. 

Hope you enjoy these pictures of this old artifact and the history it brings to the table.

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ORLANDO SHOW TO BE HELD SEPTEMBER 2 AT ROSEN HOTEL

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 2017

ROSEN PLAZA HOTEL 9700 INTERNATIONAL DR. ORLANDO

CENTRALLY LOCATED IN THE HEART OF THE TOURIST DISTRICT. CLOSE TO UNIVERSAL STUDIOS, SEA WORLD, WALT DISNEY WORLD AND TWO WORLD-CLASS OUTLET MALLS.

EASY ACCESS TO ORLANDO INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT, I-4 AND THE FL. TURNPIKE.

85 TABLES ARE AVAILABLE AT $30.00 EA.

SET-UP BEGINS AT 7:30 AM, THE SHOW OPENS AT 9AM.

A SPECIAL ROOM RATE OF $97 IS AVAILABLE FOR FRIDAY AND SATURDAY NIGHTS.

CALL 1-800-627-8258 FOR HOTEL RESERVATIONS.

PLEASE MENTION THE “OCSO-Doug Sarubbi-VACATION CAPITAL POLICE SHOW” BY NAME.

FREE ON-SITE PARKING FOR ATTENDEES & GUESTS.

Awards will be presented for Best Badge, Best Patch and Best Overall Display. Admission is $3.00

FOR INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:

DOUG SARUBBI at sarubb@aol.com OR CALL

DAY: 407-351-9368 NIGHT: 407-297-1232

Co-Hosts: Ron Bartholome and John Holmes

Please confirm reservations by mailing payment to:

Doug Sarubbi, 4023 Salmon Dr. Orlando, FL 32835