DON'T FORGET ORLANDO SHOW ON SEPTEMBER 1 ST.

Hey Readers I hope you don't forget the big show coming up on Sep. 1.

It will be held at the ROSEN PLAZA on International Drive.

My sources say the show is "Sold Out" with over 100 tables set to fill the room. I reserved a couple early on to make sure I got a nice spot. I have even bribed my Grand Son to help me out.

I hope to see some old badges, and new faces. Bring a smile and get one back. Take care Guys.

A BELT BUCKLE FOR A BIG MAN

It took a big man to fix this on his belt and get out there and march. I think it was for protection too.

This old buckle is 4" by 3". It weighs a ton. I'm using it today as a "paper weight" and it is doing a superb job.

It was not made, however to be a desk jockey holding correspondence at bay. The original task, that it was made for, was holding the officers' pants in the up position.

I have been told that it was part of the Dress or Parade Uniform, and that it is made of pewter.

Further I was told that this buckle came from 1880-1910 time frame. That is not offered as a fact. I simply don't know its history. It is marked: POLICE DEPARTMENT; CITY OF NEW YORK.

If you are an expert on these buckles, send me a note, and I'll add your information, or if you would like to purchase it, as the saying goes, Make Me An Offer.

Email:  jerseychief.gmail,com

NEW YORK CITY MUSEUM

Auxil Benevosoc occasionally sends me information regarding "His City." That would be New York City or the Big Apple as locals call it

Having served in NYC Auxil has an interest in Law Enforcement memorabilia. During his searches he often uses this site which you too may find interesting. Here it is:

www.nypdhistory.com

Leave it to New Yorkers. They clog roads and tunnels like it s a sport. That can be quite frustrating, but not info on the City Police.  You will be pleasantly surprised, even if you guess, about the number of sites available. Check this one out if you are picking something out of the air: NYC Police

Hope you enjoy the info that comes your way.

TOP COP: HOBOKEN CHIEF OF DETECTIVES

This  Beauty is the Ninth badge    of the: TOP COP Collection.      It is  from   Hoboken, N.J.          

This item certainly brings back many memories for me. Maybe even you have some memories from Hoboken. After all it is a famous town, here in the USA. Its' roots can be traced back to Henry Hudson who anchored "The Half Moon" at its shoreline in the early 1600's. 

Some of you may argue that it is the home of  "professional" baseball. There is a monument at 11th,  and Washington Street, that marks the location of Elysian Fields where baseball traces its roots.

If you have an interest in music then Hoboken will be recognized as the home of Frank Sinatra.  As I understand it, his childhood home is gone, but there is a brass marker on the Monroe Street sidewalk marking "Old Blue Eyes' Home."  

As a kid I often rode the ferry from Hoboken's Waterfront to New York. Later in life I took the local train to the last stop - Hoboken. There a million people change trains and go into the Big Apple.

My daughter chose the train from Hoboken into the City. She even found her own apartment there (leaving me her lease car, and payments) and joined her gang traveling daily to Wall St for work. That changed on Sep. 11, 2011.

The day started out ok as she boarded the train in the morning. It only took a few minutes for the train to complete its course under the Hudson River. When she got off, she quickly learned that the train she arrived on was the last train coming into New York; and that she should look for, and board, the next train back to Hoboken. It was the last train allowed to leave New York.

Life for everyone changed that day, and there is no need to re-examine those issues again. They only add to the memories I feel when looking at this beautiful badge.

As you will observe, it is a traditional sunburst with an eagle on the top. Over the eagle are three stars, which let you know the original owner had rank.

In the center of this badge is a multi color State Seal. It is surrounded by a ring and a panel at the bottom. The lettering is gold over blue and it reads: "City of Hoboken Police, Chief of Detectives." 

I am quite proud to own this item, and I try to enjoy the good things that surround 9/11 when I look at my display. There are a lot of people that I think of. My little girl is at the top of the list. She now lives in Manhattan. I keep this badge,  and my memories, in a nice spot in my Den where I frequently visit it on a daily basis.

MYSTERY RADIATOR BADGE

LOOKING FOR HELP !  CAN ANYONE IDENTIFY THIS BADGE?  

If you know where this badge comes from please write to:  "jerseychief@gmail.com"

I became the owner of this old Radiator Badge, while hunting for a similar item, from another City (Newark, NJ).   I'm assuming that this badge is from the same time period, 1890 -1910, as my old hometown.

Comparing this, to one of my Newark "Rad's," it is much thinner. It has a similar pin and "C" catch on the rear.

The face of the badge has the markings "MASTER" and the word "POLICE."  There is a number top left (27), and another bottom right (E 21).  I have no idea what these markings mean.  

Your help is appreciated identifying it. Thanks (jerseychief.gmail.com)

TOP COP COLLECTION: HARDYSTON TWP

HARDYSTON TWP. is Number 8 in my TOP COP COLLECTION.

I don't believe I ever heard of Hardyston while I lived and worked in New Jersey. That covered a little over 55 years. I checked with my wife and odd, but she didn't know where it was either.

The location was easy enough to find. I just used my secret investigational tool - Google. It knows everything. It did tell me exactly where the Township was located. It is in "The Woods" or rural Sussex County. No wonder I couldn't find it.

Now that I am in the know, I just could not wait to tell her that our daughter lives only 4.7 miles from Hardyston. In fact parts of this community were carved out to help create Franklin NJ,  which is where our child resides. I have informed my wife just how close Hardyston is to our daughters home,  but somehow she just didn't care.

Well lets take a look at the badge from this community which has over 7000 people napping there at night. My guess is they take a bus to NYC in the morning. Ok, the badge is a full size Sunburst, with a large Eagle sitting on the top. The bird is carrying a banner with the "8" in it.

On the bottom of the sunburst and flowing outward is a nice collection of golden feathers. Just above is a panel, placed over the bottom of what is the the center ring, with the word "CHIEF."  Rounding out the top part of the ring are the words: HARDYSTON TWP POLICE. Dead center is a multi color New Jersey State Seal which finishes this badge off quite nice.

Now I have no recollection as to where or when this beauty came into my hands. My wife doesn't know either. I believe I have had it around 20 -25 years.

This one is a keeper and looks nice with my other Top Cops. It is in a nice display case with tempered glass on the face side. That allows me a fine view of this badge, which now serves as a reminder to me, as to exactly where this municipality is located.

"MAN'S BEST FRIEND," NERO, SAVES NEWARK'S POLICE DIRECTOR FROM ASSASSIN'S ATTACK - 1968

 

An "8 x 10 News Photo" was recently acquired, and has become a part of the collection, focusing on Newark, NJ

Dominic Spina was Director of the Newark Police Department in 1968, when unknown assailants tried to end his life. He survived because of his dog, Nero, and good luck.

On July 23 Spina was in his home when he became the target of a shotgun blast from outside his house. Just as the blast ripped into his house, Spina stooped down to put a leash on his dog. That move saved his life.

The back of the picture reveals News Office Notes (including reference to Grand Jury). I have a few 8x10's of various subjects. They make a nice display and compliment my badges.