GULF COAST SHOW, MARCH 18 2022, Dunedin, FL

 

FOR SALE - BADGE SET

 The "BadgeSet" below is now offered to my fellow Collectors.

                SOLD !!! 

I am cutting back and re-organizing after 50 years of collecting. The badge set offered below are duplicates, so it is time to move them along.

As stated, this is a set, and I would like a reduced price  $149. or B/O. 

It is important to recognize that the two items are paired and will not be sold separately.

I will ship only to a known Collector. I may be reached at 

jerseychief@gmail.com

 

ANOTHER BIRTHDAY MEMORY , MY EARLY CAREER & NEWARK'S INSURRECTION

Today is my birthday and I still enjoy the  memories I have of my early career. Its hard to believe they were 55 years ago! Here is a memory that often flashes in my mind. Let me share it as the world has changed since my early work days.

It was 1967. I was just beginning my third year, as a Probation Officer.  I was assigned to an area designated "J-15" on Newark's South Side. Pictured above is the badge I carried. I still have it, and of course it is framed.

In my assignment duty the "J (stood for juvenile), and the 15" designated a specific geographical section of the City. Newark had multiple geographical areas designated for supervision relating to juvenile supervision by the probation department. 

The crime problem was such, that these geographic sections were measured by City blocks, as opposed to miles. The J-15 area had between 80 to 100+  offenders at any given time. That made it easy to get mugged on any given day.

My Office was in an old medical building converted to a satellite office for probation staff. It was located at 32 Johnson Ave. Up the street was South Side H.S. It was renamed, circa 1967, Malcolm X. Shabazz High School.   

Down the street from the office was Peterman's Diner. This was a daily coffee stop. Ten O'Clock it was packed. Today it's no longer in business. 

Back up the street, next to our office, was a six or seven story apartment building. It had a great view of our parking lot. One afternoon, in the early part of 1967, I observed a large amount of glass on the pavement near my car. Other officers had also observed this in our parking lot. 

The broken bottle situation occurred about two months prior to the riots. We believed a kid or two were tossing bottles from one of the apartments. We watched from our office windows. Finally we saw  where the bottles where coming from. A call was made to N.P.D. and our Sheriff's office. 

Officers responded very quickly, and entered the apartment building that was the source of these thrown bottles. Inside they found a woman and her two sons. They were practicing making, and throwing Molotov Cocktails. They also possessed, what was described in 1967 terms, as "radical material." An immediate arrest was made.

Around this same time frame this writer was assigned a routine investigation for "courtesy supervision of an out of State case". The State of Alabama asked us to check out and accept responsibility for  one of their "lads." The kid was only 12. He had "made some mistakes" down South, and a change in scenery was supposed to help. 

The boy's family had an apartment in the "Clinton Hill" section of the City. That meant that this was going to be a routine acceptance for out of state supervision. Everything checked out, except the kids "s.o.b." brother, for whom, I immediately disliked. He carried a knife. That was unacceptable, even in 1967. I confiscated the large blade he held while partially hiding behind a drape. That should have been the end of the story, but there was more a couple months later. 

It was July, while in the Bahamas (honeymoon time), I observed a news paper, in a store, with the headline: "RIOT"S IN NEWARK." It was no surprise. The report indicated fatalities in my City, along with multiple arson's, and looting.

By time the honeymoon was over, the death toll was "officially" just under 30. A Newark Police Officer, and a Newark Fireman were among the dead. I knew the Fireman's family from Church.

Returning to the job in early August, another investigation was assigned to me. It too came as an official request from the State of Alabama. They were inquiring, this time, as to the "status" of the young boy they shipped off to Newark, N.J. 

Along with this assignment was a LIFE Magazine. It was dated July 28, 1967. 

The Magazine Cover showed the body of "Guess Who?" It was the same 12 year old boy I checked out a couple of months earlier. He was now laying on a street in Newark, a shooting victim of the riots. He appeared dead, laying in a pool of blood. The magazine is pictured above. I still have it.

Life Magazine did not report that the boy only had minor injuries. He was treated for superficial wounds. He was released from the hospital a few days later. In professional jargon the State of Alabama was advised that their interest was: "Alive and well, and raising hell."

 A lot of people were raising hell during those terrible days of July 1967! There were so many arrests that the Newark Street Jail was bursting. This was a County facility located in the City. The Roseville Armory, also inside the City, was pressed into service to handle the "overflow" arrests. The prisoner population exceeded the 1000 mark. 

The Courts ran overtime to free up space at the holding locations for fear of another riot inside. Any kind of story got a prisoner out of jail back then. On the lighter side, I recall a story of a defendant charged with pushing a refrigerator, away from an appliance store at "2:00 am." He explained, to the judge, that: "I bought it this afternoon, but they don't deliver." 

The City looked like hell. It would take forever to bring Newark back to life as a big time City. 

 As a result of Newark's insurrection during that hot July in 1967: Cars were burned; Houses were burned; City blocks were burned; Windows were smashed; Businesses were looted; People disappeared: and, sadly in the end, People died.

BIRTHDAY MEMORY

Today is my father's Birthday. He would have been 118 years of age, and still "On the Job."  Happy Birthday Dad!

Of all the old pictures I have, this one hasn't been on my radar in years.   That is 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 his original badges, but are from a more recent authorized issue. 

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.

This 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" matches the Breast Badge perfectly.

 

The 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.

I know My Father would be very happy to see his Badges on my wall, as well as the Badge from Springfield, NJ. I keep them in Oak and Glass Display Cases to present them in an honoring manor. They are a very important part my "Collection of  Memories."

***

WANTED

 

 WANTED!  BY NEW  JERSEY COLLECTOR

Looking for  Badges, Handcuffs, Whistles or Pictures from

Municipal Police or County Probation Departments with

a particular interest in all items from City of  Newark.

 

Contact:

DENNIS BEYER 

 email: denb22@GMAIL.COM

Collecting 50 Years, and Producer of

"badgecollector.blogspot.com"

MAXWELL BADGELY, KIA 1854

The first Officer to lose his life in the line of duty in my home City of Newark, N.J. was Officer Maxwell Badgely. He was murdered in Police HQ by a prisoner.

The first five letters of his name really caught my eye: "B A D G E." As a result I just had to investigate his death. 

My research reveals that he was transporting prisoners on the lower level of Police HQ. There were "four bad guys" in the group he was leading, with two additional officers bringing up the rear. The criminals were "cuffed" two by two, and hand to hand. That was not sufficient restraint. 

One of the bad guys somehow had a knife, or other type of pointed weapon on his person. The fatal opportunity presented itself, when the prisoners turned a corner, and the "bad guy"  stabbed Officer Badgely. The Officer immediately yelled for help.

The other officers found Badgely, and the "six inch knife" that had been used to stab the Police Officer in the chest. The prisoners attempted to escape, but did not get far as one fell. That prevented the restrained inmates from making a get away. 

Officer Badgely was able to identify the prisoner, who stabbed him, before passing away at the age of fifty. This incident occurred October 23, 1854. It was the First Death in the Line of Duty for the Newark Police Dept.

The pictured Badge above was the same type in use by Newark Police during the year of the attack on Max Badgely. This one sits on my desk in a nice Silver & Blue frame. 

The "Star" is the treasured piece of my collection. Unfortunately it also presents a daily reminder of the first Line of Duty death in the N.P.D. 

GLASCOW POLICE MUSEUM

Due to Covid related Trip Cancellations it took three years for this writer to finally get to visit this great little museum in Glasgow.

Seeing a performance of the Edenburgh Military Tattoo was the primary reason for my visit to Scotland in September of 2022. I can't describe the incredible feeling that immersed me when the "United States Army Field Band" marched by my front row seats. The entire stadium at Edinburgh Castle stood and cheered as they marched by.

While the Tattoo was the primary reason for my visit, there was also a "Plan B". It was across the Country in the City of Glasgow. Thirty Bell Street to be exact. The Museum was  up on the second floor, and there was no admission charge. I sure was  happy about that expense.

Inside the facility I was greeted by Alastair Dinsmore and  Eddie Haggarty,  retired members of the Glasgow Police Force, and members of the Glasgow Police Heritage Society. They work as volunteers and are most happy to show visitors their history through a fabulous collection. They even wanted to take me into custody as the picture below suggests.

(left to right  Al Dinsmore, Dennis Beyer, and Eddie Haggarty)

Glasgow has the distinction of being the United Kingdom's oldest police department. It took twenty years of trying before the Glasgow Police Act became Law on 30 June 1800.  

One of the first exhibits in the museum relates to Patrick Colquhoun, often referred to as "The Father of Glasgow". He had a deep interest in early law enforcement and wrote:  "A Treatise on the Police of the metropolis." His influence in police work also led to the establishment of the Metropolitan Police in London in 1829. Colquhoun is pictured below.

(An early proponent for Law Enforcement Patrick Colquhoun was viewed as the Father of Glasgow and highly regarded in the United Kingdom for his work in the development of  unified police forces).

Moving away from  the Colquhoun Exhibit my eye was drawn to a firearm in a glass cabinet. I thought these guys didn't carry weapons, at least pistols. My guide, Eddie Haggarty, explained that the 'powers to be' have traditionally shied away from arming officers as a rule. This practice was not all encompassing as pistols were stored in a Police Armory. They were issued for use in apprehending offenders "known, or likely, to be armed". The practice of being unarmed has had a need for re-examination and modification over the years. The gun pictured below is an original weapon stored by Glasgow Police in the Armory in the 1860's. It is a single shot muzzle loading pistol with the original inventory number engraved on trigger housing.

(A single shot pistol from Glasgow Police Armory dating back to 1860's. Original inventory number engraved on trigger housing.)  

(The rifle above is from 1969 and played an early role in the pursuit of  James Griffiths who became the fist offender killed by the Glasgow Police. It was a .22 caliber Martini Rifle belonging to the Police Rifle Club who responded to officers needing assistance.)

It took almost one hundred years, since that percussion pistol that was stored in the armory, until the first criminal fatality in 1969. This incident has been chronicled as "The Griffiths Incident"  named after James Griffiths. Griffiths' was wanted for Home Invasion, Assault and Robbery of an elderly couple on July 5, 1969. Police, following leads initially closed in on the subject ten days later, in a flat located at 14 Holyrood Crescent. Five of Glasgow's finest approached the building in an attempt to arrest Griffiths. They were unarmed, however Griffiths was carrying a firearm. He shot and wounded Detective Constable William Walker, who was removed from the scene, while remaining officers then waited for help. 

Armed Detectives responded to the Holyrood scene, and they were also "backed up" by members of the Glasgow Police Rifle Club. Superintendent Alastair Petrie carried the .22 caliber  Martini rifle pictured above. While police now had superiority  with firearm's they were unable to capture the criminal.  Griffiths managed to escape the immediate area.  Leaving a bloody trail the fugitive made his last stand inside a flat located on Kay Street. At this location Chief Superintendent Malcom Finlayson and Detective Sergeant Ian Smith made their way to the room where Griffiths was. Superintendent Finlayson slowly opened the door, keeping an eye on the hallway on the other side, by looking through a letterbox  opener. When Griffiths became visible, Superintendent Finlayson fired a .38 caliber shot through the letterbox opener fatally wounding the fugitive.

A pathology report revealed that Griffith was hit once in the shoulder. The bullet however ricocheted off bone and then sliced the aorta. The Pathologist was quoted saying, that the path of the bullet "was a chance in a thousand."  Medals awarded to Finlayson and Smith are in the same picture above as the .22 caliber Martini Rifle.

Today, as in all of the U.K. police officers as a general practice remain unarmed.

The next item that caught my eye was a "Victoria Cross." This original  medal was issued not for police endeavors, but for Service during World War One to then Sergeant Jock McAulay. He had taken command of his company after all of the officers were wounded. He made sure to get the men to safety, killing several Germans in a hot battle in Europe during a battle in 1916. It took two years but in 1918 the King presented McAulay with the medal pictured below.

(The above medal is a "Victoria Cross." This one was presented to Sergeant Jock McAulay for his acts of heroism in WW I.)

During World War I there were 748 police officers enlisted to serve in the military. Of that number 145 were killed or reported missing, presumed dead. Following the War McAulay returned to his duties with the Glasgow Police. He retired with the rank of Inspector in 1946.

Glasgow issued its' own "Bravery" awards starting in 1871. Constable John Kerr was the first recipient of the Police Bravery Medal. It was minted to recognize Kerr's actions during an early morning fire in a four story tenement building. Kerr detected the fire and ran up four levels getting all 68 inhabitants out of the building. During his exit the building collapsed throwing him from the third floor to the first. Fortunately there was no injury. A photo of the John Ker exhibit appears below.

(This medal was first minted to recognize the bravery of Constable John Kerr who is credited with saving 68 lives during a tenement fire in 1871.)

In different sections of the museum one could observe some artifacts that relate to "Communications." The First, picture below, is of "The Clapper and Rattle."  They were devices that made "clicks" or "clack."  These sounds had a distinct meaning to early officers. I am pleased to have two such Clackers in my personal collection.  The Second photo, below, is an early Police Radio from the early 1900's. The picture is of a face plate with the dials for a automobile Police Radio. These radios could only receive messages from HQ. After the message was heard it was up to the officer to respond via a telephone or Morse Code.  The Third picture below is of a police whistle. It was made in Glasgow and used as a bridge to modern day radio.

(1800 Police Clapper and Rattle or Clacker used in Glasgow up to 1880)

(1936 "One-Way Radio."  Officers could only hear  messages from a Central Location.)

(This whistle was manufactured in Glasgow for use by the local Police Force. It served as a bridge between Rattles and Radios.)

In every little nick and cranny of this fine museum one could view pieces of history and the fabric of being a member of the Glasgow Police Force. There is not enough time to show every exhibit, but in the few pictures that follow allow me to record that the curators of this museum have more than adequately presented:   Lanterns, Billy Clubs, Badges, Handcuff's and most important, Their History. 

(An early Police Lantern used in the mid 1800's)

(A fine wooden Baton that was issued to Women Police Officers)

(Glasgow Police Badges)

A display of hand restraints which includes locking hand cuffs,  Figure Eight Hand restraint, and  Leather Thong wrist controller)

Near the end of the Museum Collection I was drawn to the attention of a Canadian Mountie Uniform. It is pictured below and hard to miss in crimson red, along with the signature large "Mountie Hat." On the wall, in the rear,  are patches from The Cook Islands, LAPD, Massachusetts State Police and Louisiana State police.

 (An exhibit of a Canadian Mountie Uniform in crimson red, with trademark hat lights up a wall of World Police contributions to the Glasgow Police Museum)

I noted that Police Departments from all over the world had made a donation to the Glasgow Museum. It was an easy search for me to find a uniform from the United States. It was also easy to understand why my emotions were in high gear as a spotted a uniform from the "NY & NJ Port Authority Police."

The Port Authority display includes a paper note summary of one horrific day. That was when we lost the Twin Towers in New York City. The events of that Day are crystal clear in my mind, even though 21 years have gone by. I can still see the second plane flying into the second tower. There was smoke and fire pouring out of both buildings. People jumping to their deaths, rather then be burned alive. Then the Towers  collapsed, and  became a memory I shall not forget.

The PA Cops responded that day. They did their job. At the End of the Day 37 Officers Lost Their Lives.

The Badge, below,  carries a simple memorial message. It is Numbered 9-11-01. It was heart warming to see this message all the way across the pond in Glasgow. 

( A Port Authority Police uniform donated to  Glasgow Police Museum. It carries a badge bearing number 9-11-01)

***