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Officer Leo Bacon

Monday, 01 July 2013 03:34
Officer Leo Bacon

On this day in Baltimore Police History 9 Oct 1936 we lost our brother Police Officer Leo Bacon to a surgery that came about due to a Line of Duty Injury while moving a semaphore through traffic at the intersection of Eutaw and Saratoga Streets

Published in Fallen Heroes

Baltimore Street Lamps

Monday, 01 July 2013 03:30
Baltimore Street Lamps

The standard chunk of Lorem Ipsum used since the 1500s is reproduced below for those interested. Sections 1.10.32 and 1.10.33 from "de Finibus Bonorum et Malorum" by Cicero are also reproduced in their exact original form, accompanied by English versions from the 1914 translation by H. Rackham.

Published in Integrity

Patrolman Teddy L. Bafford

Monday, 01 July 2013 03:30
Patrolman Teddy L. Bafford

On this day in Baltimore Police History 15 Oct 1964, we lost our Brother Patrolman Teddy L. Bafford to gunfire

Published in Fallen Heroes

Officer John Blank

Monday, 01 July 2013 03:30
Officer John Blank

On this day in Baltimore Police History 12 Feb 1934 we lost our brother Police Officer John Blank to gunfire based on the following

 

 

Police Officer John Blank

On this day in Baltimore Police History 12 Feb 1934 we lost our brother Police Officer John Blank to gunfire based on the following:

Policeman Shot to Death by 3 Burglars

Newspapers of the Times Reported - Feb 12, 1934; pg. 14

Patrolman John Blank Slain in an Effort to Block the Yeggs’ Escape

Safe blowers fleet with $1200 note

Victim, with another officer, called after blast was heard

Less than five minutes to midnight last  and the time for his relief from duty, patrolman John Blank, of the northeastern district, was shot and killed by three safe blowers making their escape from the plant of H. L. Carpel, Inc., mayonnaise manufacturer, in the 1400 block of N. Central Ave.

The policeman fell fatally wounded in an alley behind the plant as Patrolman William Atkinson, who had summoned Patrolman Blank to assist him, covered the front entrance to the building.

Death Instantaneous

Patrolman Blank’s death was instantaneous, according to the Physicians at St. Joseph’s Hospital. One bullet had taken effect. It struck the policeman in the temple.

Earlier this morning, officials in the mayonnaise company said $1200 – drawn from bank to meet a payroll today – was missing from the safe.

The policeman was called to the Carpel plant by a passerby, who heard the blast which toward the door from the strong box. The safes combination has been batted off with Sledges and the charge of explosives did the rest of the work.

Officers Reached Scene

Blank and Atkinson reached the scene about the same time. Blank ran around to the rear of the building and a taxicab driver, I. H. Berman, who was cruising on Oliver Street, said he saw the Patrolman and the three men meet at the entrance of the alley.

Then, Berman said, he saw two spurts of flame, heard the reports of the pistol shots and saw Patrolman Blank slump to the ground. Berman said, He could not tell which of the three burglars fired the shots,.

Yeggs’ Run into the Alley

As the policeman fell, according to Berman, two of the men ran into Oliver Street and then turned the corner at Eden. The other fled through the alley, just as Patrolman Atkinson, who also heard the shooting, came running to his colleague’s assistance.

He found Patrolman Blank, already dead, apparently, with his pistol clutched in his hand. It had not been fired.

Burglar Kit Found

Alongside his body was a bag of burglary tools.

The policeman said they did not believe that the burglar’s new they had been detected and ran unaware in the Patrolman Blank as he started up the alley toward the rear entrance of the plant.

Miss Ruth E. Schultz, 28, who lives at 1439 North Central Ave., next to the mayonnaise plant, reported to the police that she had heard a muffled blast at 11:45 PM and that the shots were fired approximately 10 minutes later.

Forced Garage Doors

An investigation revealed that the burglars had entered the building by forcing the doors of the garage which faces on Oliver Street and communicates with the manufacturing company’s building.

Armed with a meager description which the taxi driver, Berman, was able to furnace, a general search of the city was instituted by the foot patrolman and the radio cruisers. It was only a few minutes after Patrolman Blank had been shot that the report was flashed to the 14 cruisers in all parts of the city.

Appointed in 1922 Patrolman Blank, who was 45, was appointed to the force seven December – 1922. He was stationed during all of his service in the Northeastern District. He was married and lived at 132 South Clinton St.

He was a brother of Patrolman Adam blank of the Southwestern District.

SUSPECT HELD IN SLAYING OF POLICEMAN

Newspapers of the Times Reported - Feb 13, 1934; pg. 18

Suspect Held in Slaying of Policeman - Officers Reveal Hunt is on for two other’s in the Crime - Gloves believed to be Clue in Killing were found - Stains on Gloves indicate one of Blank’s Murderers may have been hurt

Northeastern District Police revealed shortly after midnight last, that they were holding a suspect in the shooting death of Patrolman John Blank and were speaking to others. They refused to reveal any names.

In revealing they were holding a suspect in connection with the killing they were careful not to reveal too much but did let on that they were seeking two other men in their hunt for these murderers.

The arrest was made at approximately 5:15 pm yesterday [12 February 1934], however police refused to divulge the names of any of these wanted men. Along with the tight lips on suspect information, police were also tight lipped on the circumstances under with which the first suspect was taken down. Neither would they say whether he was believed to have taken part in the crime, or if he was the actual trigger man.

Gloves Believed Clue

Earlier in the afternoon a pair of [blood] stained gray suede gloves, believed to have been dropped in the yard nearby St. Joseph Hospital by one of the three burglars/murders who shot the officer, after looting a safe of more than $1100 had been added to the list of clues helping police in their search.

Blank was shot in the left temple as he attempted to block the escape of the robbers from the H. L. Carpel mayonnaise plant in the 1400 block N. Central Ave. According to Lieut. Elmer O’Grady, who is leading the hunt for the bandits, stains leading up the alley behind the plant indicate that one of the robbers was either injured when the safe was blown or suffered a lacerated hand from the recoil of an automatic pistol when he shot the patrolman.

Murder is Tracked

From information furnished by patrolman William Atkinson, who was guarding the front of the plant one blank was shot, police know that one of the robbers fled up the alley the Hoffman Street. It is believed that that Robber then ran up Hoffman Street to St. Joseph’s hospital, across the yard and dropped a stained glove where he scaled the Eden Street fence.

Corroboration of this theory was contained in information given police by Robert cropper, night engineer at the hospital. He told Lieut. Robert M James, who came to the hospital to investigate blank’s death, that shortly after midnight he noticed a man run across the yard and climb the eager Street fence.

Lieut. James, together with Sgt. Frederick Sullivan, trailed the footprints of the man, clearly visible in the fresh snow, depression Street, where it is thought the Robber caught a westbound streetcar. It is said that the man who was trailed was wearing new over shoes, the prints of which were the same as those found in the snow behind the plant.

Cabman Saw Shooting

According to Hesse H. Glick, a taxicab driver, who witnessed the shooting, two of the robbers ran down Oliver Street from the plant and disappeared around the corner into Eden Street, while the man who shot blank raced up the alley toward Hoffman Street.

Glick had been hailed by blank, who suspected something was wrong in the plant and wanted Glick to find another policeman, when Glick drove by the plant shortly before midnight Glick, however, was caring passengers and was told to drive on one. Returning to the plant within a few moments, he parked opposite the plants garage on Oliver Street just as two men emerged from the garage doors.

“As a hastened down Oliver Street,” Glick told police, “Blank stepped from the mouth of the alley just as they went by. They eventually saw him, because they shouted to the third man who had just emerged from the door, “lookout, Mac!” As a shouted, blank turned, pistol in hand, but just then there were two flashes of fire and blank fell to the ground.”

Neighborhood Searches

Atkinson, hearing the shots, ran to the back of the plant and found Blank lying in the mouth of the alley, apparently dead. Glick and Atkinson, in Glick’s cab, searched the neighborhood for the robbers, but found no trace of them and returned to the plant.

Glick’s description of the three men was:

The first two men were about 30 to 35 years of age and each was 5 feet 7 to 5’8” tall and weighed about 170 pounds. Both wore dark close. The third man [the one who shot Blank] is of the same description, except that he was better dressed and wore a brown overcoat and dark slouched hat and had a fair complexion.

Searching up the alley of the plant soon after the shooting, Atkinson found a brown canvas zipper bag containing numerous tools, including a heavy maul which police believe was used to beat the combination dial from the safe before inserting the explosives.

Police also reveal that the Hunt is on for two other men in the crime

The bag, which the Robber who shot Blank eventually dropped as he fled up the alley, also contained several electric batteries and a coil of wire.

Although the tools in the bag and safe were examined for fingerprints none were found, police said. Footprints on Oliver Street and in the alley revealed is that all three robbers were wearing new overshoes, with the trademark clearly discernible.

An autopsy was performed on Blank early yesterday to find the bullet which entered his brain. According to ballistics expert, the bullet was found to be a steel nose slaughtered which was fired from a .38-caliber pistol.

Three Detectives assigned to the case by Detective Capt. John H. Mintiens, of the Detective Bureau, busy yesterday and last night to all of the robbery. Sgt. Frederick. Hardbourn, Sgt. Benjamin Busky and Sgt. William Feehly, for the detectives assigned by Capt. Mintiens. Three plainclothes policeman, Sgt., Thomas O’Leary, Patrolman Edward Deal and William Atkinson were working on the case under the leadership of the tenant O’Grady. All are of the Northeastern District.

Descriptions of the three men involved in the robbery and sent to police departments other cities. Yesterday checking all know underworld hangouts.

As we take this time to remember Officer John Blank and thank him for his service and sacrifice. We his brothers and sisters of the Baltimore Police Department want him to know will not let him be forgotten. God Bless and rest in Peace.

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Baltimore Police Department
242 W. 29th St., Baltimore, MD.
Emergencies: 9-1-1  Non-emergencies: 410-396-2037
BALTIMORE POLICE Web Site: http://www.baltimorepolice.org

More details

NameDescription
End of Watch 12 February, 1934
City, St. 1400 blk North Central Ave.
Panel Number 11-W: 16
Cause of Death Gunfire
Weapon - Handgun
District Worked Northeastern


 

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POLICE INFORMATION

Copies of: Your Baltimore Police Department Class Photo, Pictures of our Officers, Vehicles, Equipment, Newspaper Articles relating to our department and or officers, Old Departmental Newsletters, Lookouts, Wanted Posters, and or Brochures. Information on Deceased Officers and anything that may help Preserve the History and Proud Traditions of this agency. Please contact Retired Detective Kenny Driscoll.

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deviders our fallen

NOTICE

How to Dispose of Old Police Items

If you come into possession of Police items from an Estate or Death of a Police Officer Family Member and do not know how to properly dispose of these items please contact: Retired Detective Ken Driscoll - Please dispose of POLICE Items: Badges, Guns, Uniforms, Documents, PROPERLY so they won’t be used IMPROPERLY.

Please contact Det. Ret. Kenny Driscoll if you have any pictures of you or your family members and wish them remembered here on this tribute site to Honor the fine men and women who have served with Honor and Distinction at the Baltimore Police Department.

Anyone with information, photographs, memorabilia, or other "Baltimore City Police" items can contact Ret. Det. Kenny Driscoll at  This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. follow us on Twitter @BaltoPoliceHist or like us on Facebook or mail pics to 8138 Dundalk Ave. Baltimore Md. 21222

Copyright © 2002 Baltimore City Police History - Ret Det Kenny Driscoll

 

Published in Fallen Heroes

Silver Star

Monday, 01 July 2013 03:29
Silver Star

Awarded by the Police Commissioner for an exceptional act or execution of duty performed in the presence of great danger and personal risk without endangering or jeopardizing the lives of others, and performed in such a manner as to clearly indicate that the sworn member performance of duty should have resulted in the prevention or solution of a crime, the arrest of those responsible, and thereby sets apart and distinguishes the member from other members. 

Published in Integrity

History of Baltimore City

Monday, 01 July 2013 03:24
History of Baltimore City

Monday, 12 January 1880 was the 150th anniversary of the actual founding of Baltimore- the following pages are from a newspaper article about those 150, now more than 285 years. On January 12, 1730, the first stake was driven into the ground for the survey of the original plats of this great city, which, unlike some of the mushroom cities of the West that presume to be its rivals, has a history as well as a future, a pedigree as well as great expectations. There can be no better guarantee of a glorious future than an honorable and reputable past, and this The Angels of Baltimore present unchallenged to the inspection of the world.

Published in Honor

Flag Proposal

Monday, 01 July 2013 03:24
Flag Proposal

Flag Proposal


Prior to 1970 the Baltimore Police Department didn’t have a police flag. It was rumored that then Police Commissioner Donald D. Pomerleau wanted an Honor Guard, and having seen other department’s Honor Guard Units carrying, an American flag, a State flag, a City, or County flag and their own Department’s Police flag. The Commissioner knew to look our best we would have to have our own police flag. . So he had someone work on a flag, and by the end of 1970, 3 December 1970 to be exact we had our own flag. A little more than a year later, early 1972 Pomerleau would have his Honor Guard. It should be noted that prior to the 1972 Honor Guard, we had a kind of Honor Guard within our Mounted unit, but the official Departmental Honor Guard was founded in 1972.  Mounted has always added a certain touch of class to our department, and their Honor Guard was not lacking. But this is more about the Baltimore Police Flag, a flag that didn’t have a lot of time, or thought put into it. The times much like today for Baltimore back then were busy, and violent, throughout the 1960s and 1970s we had a large number of loss within our department, and Pomerleau felt they should be sent off in honor, he wanted the best honor guard he could form, had he put the time in, seeking a flag that would represent more than just our police, after all, our police represent our city, and the people that live in it, work in it, and spend their recreational time as tourist as they visit this city. Baltimore is a beautiful city, and deserves a well throughout, well designed flag for their police. 

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Pomerleau's 1970 BPD Flag

On 3 December 1970 Commissioner Pomerleau unveiled his flag, a simple light blue field with BALTIMORE in a arched ribbon above our insignia and POLICE in an arched ribbon below our insignia. That's it, light blue, Baltimore Police and the Maryland Flag embossed in our 4th issue badge. ( FOR MORE INFORMATION - SEE OUR PATCH HISTORY ).  The flag had the Department’s name embroidered in a ribbon on a light blue hunk of flag shaped fabric. What our 1970 police flag failed to offer was something other agencies seemed to have over flowing from their departmental flags, cities like the NYPD, Boston, and Chicago just to name a few had meaning in their flags. Flags that connected with the police and the community they serve. Our flag was lacking significance, ties to the police, the communities or the people we serve.

We are hoping to correct that with a new Baltimore Police Flag, a flag that serves to remember our past, our present and our future, it will represent our fallen officers, our injured, our retired, our active and our future police officers. But not just police officers, this flag represents those we serve, those we have protected, the neighborhoods, and communities, of Baltimore. It is important that Baltimore's history be represented in our police flag.

First, lets take a look; this is our current flag, as mentioned above it has a light blue field with no stripes, it holds our police emblem, an emblem that has some meaning, mostly borrowed from other sources within the city. Having the shape of our 4th issue Baltimore Police Badge, embossed with our state flag, the state flag holds meaning, as it is a quartered flag that represents the Calvert, and Crossland families' coats of arms. Over the badge flag combo is the Battle Monument, again full of Baltimore City's rich history. Above and beneath this are two simple banners, telling those viewing it, that it is our, "Baltimore Police" flag.  

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In looking at the Baltimore Police Flag next to an NYPD flag, it is obvious our flag was just slapped together.

bpd nypd

bpd nypd

The NYPD Flag next to ours, as we already discussed there is no significance to our flag, But take a look at NYPD's flag, The official flag of the New York City Police Department (NYPD), first created in 1919. It is flown outside precincts and other NYPD buildings. It bears five alternating green and white bars, representing the five boroughs of New York City; Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, Staten Island and the Bronx. There are 24 stars on a field of blue in the left upper corner of the flag. The blue field represents the Police Department. Twenty-three of the stars represent the separate towns and villages that became part of New York City under the Consolidation that took place in 1899. The 24th star represents New York City itself. Of those towns and villages that became part of New York City in 1899 (creating "Greater New York"), 18 had separate police departments that became part of the NYPD. The flag is in the public domain due to its age.

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Let’s take the Baltimore Police flag, strip it down to blank, and build a flag that has meaning.

14 star slide 1
To start we need a simple white flag, which by the way, even a simple white flag has meaning, but we are not ready to waive that flag just yet... first we'll need to include what is called the "HOIST," normally the hoist is made of canvas, or nylon doubled or even tripled over and sewn onto itself, with two or more grommets added for strength and as a way to attach it to a flagpole. After the hoist, we’ll add a vertical stripe about the thickness maybe a little wider than the hoist but not as wide as the nine horizontal stripes we'll add next. Next to the vertical stripe we'll add nine horizontal stripes, one for each of our nine districts, lastly we'll add a field in the upper left-hand corner of the flag. We'll also make a vertical flag version for special events, and displays. 

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Next to the Hoist, we'll add a Vertical Stripe 

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From there we'll include 9 Horizontal Stripes 

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Next we'll add a Field to the upper left corner and right of the Vertical Stripe we added next to the Hoist 14 star slide 5

Now it could be time to start adding color and explaining what things mean. Let's first talk about something this flag should represent; Since a flag should mean so much it should tell of our, Past, our Present and our Future. To represent our past, maybe we can take the color from the 1970 flag, and use it for the stripes on our flag.

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The Past - The light blue comes from our old flag will be used on four of the nine stripes, not just to represent our history, those who have served and who have retired, but, our old flag, and our initial districts. It also represents change, correcting the things that didn't work, while building and strengthening on those that did.

Note: It is not well known, but, when our agency got its start, we only had 4 districts. This is why we are suggesting we alternate the old light blue from our first flag into the new flag serving as a way of preserving Baltimore Police Department's history.

 14 star slide 9

The Present - The next four stripes, will alternate in with the light blue will be dark blue two from the top down, and two from the bottom up. The dark blue stripes will represent our active police, and those that will someday wear our Baltimore Police blue

 14 star slide 10

After this we'll fill that 9th stripe with Black to represent and never let us forget our fallen.

14 star slide 11

Now for that vertical stripe we put next to the Hoist, we'll color that red, for our injured

14 star slide 12

Now for the Field in the upper left corner of the horizontal flag, or the top of our vertical flag. We'll use the same blue we used for the active officer's stripes, this field will blanket the city with our motto. A motto that we have had since 1880 and whether you knew the words, or just what they stood for, our officers since day one have always lived by a code that has had us Ever Ready, Ever Faithful and Ever on the Watch

14 star slide 13

As important to a flag as colors, and the stripes, are the stars. We'll initially add 14 large stars representing our 14 seats of city council, those who took and oath to serve and protect those council districts, past present and future.

14 star slide 14

Then we'll add our Baltimore Police patch, and banner with our 1880 Motto, Ever on the Watch. This is so people will recognize right off the bat, that this flag is the flag of their Baltimore Police Department. 

14 star slide 15

Now going back to the stars, and the Baltimore Police history, the 20 point badge had 20 points to represent the 20 Wards we served and protected. We added 14 large stars for the 14 council seats. We want to add more stars, smaller stars to represent the people that live in the city, lived in the city, or that someday will live in the city. Again we focus on the Past, Present and Future. It is not just the Past Present and Future of our police, it is the Past, Present, and Future of our city, with the small stars and the large stars we have a total of 25 stars. 

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An this f approved would be the New Baltimore Police Flag, a flag that as we have said over and over will represents our Past, our Present and our Future, it represents our Retired, our Active, and our Future Baltimore Police Officers. And lets us remember our fallen officers, while honoring our injured. We have 9 stripes for the 9 districts, with four light blue stripes because our department started with just 4 districts and a light blue flag. We built on from those 4 stripes using that light blue from the first BPD flag to 8 stripes, because until 1958 we only had 8 districts, adding a 9th stripe we also recognize our fallen. And lastly, just as we did with our 20 point badge in 1862 to represent the 20 Wards, and those that lived in them. This flag has the stars to represent the 14 city council seats, the 20 wards, and everyone that has ever lived in, currently lives in, or someday will live in our city. So as you can see the 1970 design had no real meaning, no connection to our police, our citizens or the city we serve. The 1970 Pomerleau flag was just slapped together to fill a quick need. But this flag, has meaning, using historical info we were able to put our heads together, and design a flag that is full of meaning, and will connect us better with those we serve.

Further Flag Research

During research we also found that when hanging a horizontal flag, vertically, someone will almost always hang that flag backward, or it just naturally become backward through a window, or door opening. So we made a Vertical version of our flag that can, or does not have to be used. We just figured for the sake of completeness it might be worth presenting, with this design giving us a version of our flag that cannot be hung wrong and would also serve our Honor guard in a way that other flags have failed us. 

 25 star flag


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Published in Honor

Sgt. Robert J. Barlow

Monday, 01 July 2013 03:24
Sgt. Robert J. Barlow

A mass of Christian burial for Sgt. Robert J. Barlow, an officer for the past 10 years in the City Police Departments Tactical Section, will be offered at 10 a.m. tomorrow at the Shrine of the Little Flower Church in the 2800 block of Brendan Avenue. Sgt. Barlow, who was 43 and lived in the 3400 block of Mayfield Avenue, died Sunday at Union Memorial Hospital after suffering a heart attack at his home shortly after he returned home from a shift with the Police Department. He worked a ballgame and had to break up more than a few fights, during his shift he had become over exhausted several times, at one point even needing help getting to his office so that he could try to rest a little as during a struggle with an unruly fan he had become overexerted.

Published in Fallen Heroes

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