Police memorabilia collecting
Encyclopedia
Police memorabilia collecting is a hobby
involving the collection and trading of law enforcement related patches or badges, and other memorabilia including bobby helmets
, training manuals, police medals, and historic artifacts such as turn-of-the-century screw-based handcuffs
and police-box globes.
, many laws have been enacted which control possession of law enforcement insignia for security purposes, and this has impacted civilian collecting because they do not want the patches to be given to anyone other than law enforcement officers. In addition to this, patch reproductions have also become a problem amongst collectors, and most serious historians regard the reproductions as having no value. Various organizations, such as the California Law Enforcement Historical Society, sponsor annual events which spotlight the historical significance of preserving accurate information for future generations. West Virginia Law prohibits trading patches, yet North Carolina law prohibits departments selling patches.
Though many do not trade or give away patches, many agencies nationwide sell their patches, for around $5, some being for a new police cruiser, charity, or for their explorers program.
There are several publications tailored for those who pursue police
patch collecting:
, where hundreds of police badges and patches are on display, including those from other American forces, and all constabularies of the United Kingdom
police force, as well as forces from South East Asia and Australia
.
Hobby
A hobby is a regular activity or interest that is undertaken for pleasure, typically done during one's leisure time.- Etymology :A hobby horse is a wooden or wickerwork toy made to be ridden just like a real horse...
involving the collection and trading of law enforcement related patches or badges, and other memorabilia including bobby helmets
Custodian helmet
Custodian helmet or centurion helmet, technically known as a 'Home Office pattern helmet', is a helmet worn by many policemen in England and Wales.-History:...
, training manuals, police medals, and historic artifacts such as turn-of-the-century screw-based handcuffs
Handcuffs
Handcuffs are restraint devices designed to secure an individual's wrists close together. They comprise two parts, linked together by a chain, a hinge, or rigid bar. Each half has a rotating arm which engages with a ratchet that prevents it from being opened once closed around a person's wrist...
and police-box globes.
Public collection
Since the September 11, 2001 attacksSeptember 11, 2001 attacks
The September 11 attacks The September 11 attacks The September 11 attacks (also referred to as September 11, September 11th or 9/119/11 is pronounced "nine eleven". The slash is not part of the pronunciation...
, many laws have been enacted which control possession of law enforcement insignia for security purposes, and this has impacted civilian collecting because they do not want the patches to be given to anyone other than law enforcement officers. In addition to this, patch reproductions have also become a problem amongst collectors, and most serious historians regard the reproductions as having no value. Various organizations, such as the California Law Enforcement Historical Society, sponsor annual events which spotlight the historical significance of preserving accurate information for future generations. West Virginia Law prohibits trading patches, yet North Carolina law prohibits departments selling patches.
Though many do not trade or give away patches, many agencies nationwide sell their patches, for around $5, some being for a new police cruiser, charity, or for their explorers program.
There are several publications tailored for those who pursue police
Police
The police is a personification of the state designated to put in practice the enforced law, protect property and reduce civil disorder in civilian matters. Their powers include the legitimized use of force...
patch collecting:
- Police Collectors News, BaldwinBaldwin, WisconsinBaldwin is a village in St. Croix County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 2,667 at the 2000 census, and was estimated to be 3,903 in 2008, a growth rate of 39%...
, WisconsinWisconsinWisconsin is a U.S. state located in the north-central United States and is part of the Midwest. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michigan to the northeast, and Lake Superior to the north. Wisconsin's capital is...
, first printed in 1986, monthly - Police Insignia Collectors Association Magazine (begun in 1974), monthly
- The Encyclopedia of Federal Law Enforcement Patches Raymond Sherrard (2000)
- SheriffSheriffA sheriff is in principle a legal official with responsibility for a county. In practice, the specific combination of legal, political, and ceremonial duties of a sheriff varies greatly from country to country....
's insignia of the United States James V. Claflin (1997) - The California Patch Book Randall Grago (1996)
Between agencies
Police memorabilia is also exchanged between police forces themselves. The exchange of patches has begun to be seen as a sign of respect and cooperation between agencies since patches came into more common use in the 1920s for agency identity. With the development of more modern communication between various law enforcement agencies, the trading of insignia has become widespread. One particular example can be seen at the New York Police Department's Museum in New York CityNew York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, where hundreds of police badges and patches are on display, including those from other American forces, and all constabularies of the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
police force, as well as forces from South East Asia and Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
.
Museums
- The Greater Cincinnati Police Historical Society Museum
- Cleveland Police Historical Society Museum
- Maryland State Police Museum, Pikesville
- New York City Police MuseumNew York City Police MuseumThe New York City Police Museum celebrates the history and contributions of the New York City Police Department since its establishment in 1845. The museum is located in Lower Manhattan in New York City, near Wall Street and the South Street Seaport...
- Hong Kong Police Museum
- Police Heritage Centre (Singapore Police Force)
- Winnipeg Police Museum
- Seattle Metropolitan Police Museum
- Thames Valley Police Museum
- Sheffield Fire and Police MuseumSheffield Fire and Police MuseumSheffield Fire and Police Museum is a museum in Sheffield, England. Established in 1984, it is based at a former fire station at the junction of West Bar and Tenter Street near the city centre. A notable feature is the only remaining Fire Brigade observation tower in the UK.The collection covers...
- Rotary Museum of Police and CorrectionsRotary Museum of Police and CorrectionsThe Rotary Museum of Police and Corrections is a museum in Prince Albert, Saskatchewan, Canada. It covers the history of law enforcement in early Prince Albert and Saskatchewan....
, Prince Albert, Saskatchewan - Alaska State Troopers Museum
- Texas Ranger Hall of Fame and MuseumTexas Ranger Hall of Fame and MuseumThe Texas Ranger Hall of Fame and Museum in Waco, Texas, is the state-designated official historical center of the famed Texas Rangers law enforcement agency. It consists of the Homer Garrison, Jr. museum gallery, the Texas Ranger Hall of Fame, the Texas Ranger Research Center and the Headquarters...
. Waco, Texas - San Diego County Sheriff's Museum
- Glasgow Police Museum, Scotland
- San Diego Police Department Museum
- National Law Enforcement Museum, Washington, DC and online catalog
See also
- Patch collectingPatch collectingPatch collecting or badge collecting is the hobby of collecting souvenir patches or badges.-Souvenir patches:...
- A list of police rank badges from around the worldPolice rank- Australia :Generally, all police forces of Australia follow this rank structure with some individual state police forces have ranks differing slightly.Insignia of rank displayed on epaulette in italics and brackets...
- SouvenirSouvenirA souvenir , memento, keepsake or token of remembrance is an object a person acquires for the memories the owner associates with it. The term souvenir brings to mind the mass-produced kitsch that is the main commodity of souvenir and gift shops in many tourist traps around the world...
- United States law enforcement decorationsUnited States law enforcement decorationsUnited States law enforcement decorations are awarded by the police forces of the United States of America. Since the United States has a decentralized police force, with separate independent departments existing on the state and local level, there are literally thousands of law enforcement...
- Police MuseumPolice MuseumThe Police Museum is housed in the former Wan Chai Gap Police Station, which is located at 27 Coombe Road, The Peak, Hong Kong. About 700 exhibits are displayed in the Museum.-History:...
External links
- The Constabulary, a collectors site
- British Police memorabilia collection website
- Police Insignia Collectors Association
- California Law Enforcement Historical Society
- Police Collectors News
- International Police Collection
- http://boards2go.com/boards/board.cgi?&user=bscarpanera Australian Police and Emergency Services Trader]