SPECIAL DEPUTY SHERIFF: ESSEX COUNTY

This is the Second installment of  Special Deputy Sheriff's  in New Jersey. The County featured in this post is ESSEX. This is the County where I grew up. My Father was a Police Officer in Newark, My Brother was an Honorary Deputy, and I was a Probation Officer.

With all those connections you would think I would have a box of these "Specials" just from Essex. But "No, I Don't." I do have two, and I am quite happy to have them.

The Top Badge is a Six Pointed Star. This one was my brother's.  He donated it to me as I was developing my interests in badge collecting. That was around 50 years ago! Seems like yesterday.

His shield measures 1.50" by 1.50."  It is gold tone with reverse blue lettering (not bad - usually cost a bit more too). Note the fine etching at the edges of this nice badge.

There are four panels on this Star. The read from Top to Bottom: SPECIAL,  DEPUTY SHERIFF,  ESSEX COUNTY NJ. At the bottom is a number panel marked "D-62."

The Bottom Badge is an Eagle over a traditional N.J. style shield. I received it from a Probation Officer who worked with me some 30 years ago. Time flies. 

This item is a 2" by 2," gold tone badge with four panels. The lettering is recessed with a worn blue/black fill.

There are four panels on this Shield. They read from Top to Bottom: SPL  DEPUTY,  SHERIFF,  ESSEX COUNTY NJ. At the bottom is a number panel marked "421." 

Both badges are in nice condition and display well in my case. Of course they hang on my wall, and gets their customary daily examination from this old collector. 

SPECIAL DEPUTY SHERIFF: BERGEN COUNTY

 

 

This is the First Installment of  Special Deputy Sheriff's in New Jersey. The County featured in this post is Bergen County.

It is the first single badge in my display because of its' size. It measures 2.25" by 2.00". Of the "Specials" that I have in this collection this is the largest.

I estimate this historical piece to date back to the 1950's. I have had it over thirty years. Since receiving it as a gift I have added others to fill the collection as shown in an earlier post.

There are four panels on the face of this badge, with recessed letters. The enamel fill is still in good shape with the very visible words:  BERGEN CO,  SPECIAL, DEPUTY SHERIFF.

The fourth panel is the number panel. It shows near center number 252. What is interesting about this panel is that it takes the place of a State or County Seal at CenterPoint. Of all the "Specials" in this collection only two are without a State Seal. 

Despite its' age this badge is in excellent condition. It is under glass with several brothers in this Special Deputy Collection. It hangs on the wall in my Den where I see it every day. I am very glad to have it. 

BADGE COLLECTOR IS NOW ON FACEBOOK !

We recently started a Page on Facebook Groups. The official name, in Face Book Groups, is BADGE COLLECTOR.

The page is new and we are just trying to learn as well as show off our Badge Collection. If you have suggestions please make them. Your help is needed.

The specific address is listed as:

       https://www.facebook.com/groups/1706870299841551

"SPECIAL DEPUTY SHERIFF'S COLLECTION

The picture below shows the 16 "Special's" that I have. I have accumulated them over the last 50 years. I gave them a lesser priority in my badge collection, as you know, I was focused on the "City of Newark". That said, these "Special Deputy Sheriff's Badges" are quite interesting.

New Jersey has 21 Counties so quick math reveals I do not have a "Special" from each county. I have some doubles which also has an impact on the Goal of one from each County. The Bottom line is, I would be interested in purchasing additional "Special Deputies" for the Counties I am missing. Hopefully I can make a set of all 21 counties.                                      

The people who carried these badges were not real members of the Sheriff's Department. They were "Honorary Deputies." In some cases they had certain (special) powers granted or extended to them by the local Sheriff - hence the word and title "Special."

The word Honorary usually translates to "Friend," "Relative," or perhaps "Contributor."  The County Sheriff would distribute these badges, along with an "ID Card," listing the person as an Honorary or Special Deputy. The practice of having this type of Special Deputy (I believe) ended over 40 years ago. Based on that, I estimate that these badges are 40 -60 years of age.

I am going to show these badges individually over the next few months (gives me something to write about). They will appear in the order shown in the above picture. 

***

Contact me if you have a "Special Deputy" for sale or trade:      

jerseychief@gmail.com 

PC NEWS PRINTS FALKLAND ISLANDS STORY

About a year and a half ago The Wife and I took a nice cruise around South America. One of the stops was the Falkland Islands'. Once there Mr Beyer took a minute or so to meet members of this Police Dept, and quickly secured a brief tour of the HQ. When he got home he wrote this article for P C NEWS. The article was published in the Collectors Paper  in the Mar-April 2024 edition.

You can read it IF your eyes are good, or if you have a magnifier, or wish to look for it in the June (23rd) 2023 postings.

Here is a scanned copy of the article:

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, New Jersey.

 

Contact:

DENNIS BEYER 

 email: denb22@GMAIL.COM

Collecting 50 Years, and Producer of

"badgecollector.blogspot.com"

A LITTLE POLICE HUMOR

 

Even us collectors got to laugh once in a while.