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In a 1960's BPD press release, it says police woman "mostly work in plain clothes, have traits that are
varied and complex, must be gentle, yet kind and strong, attractively so and compassionate and firm. Here, the traits that
make a good wife and mother are brought into daily use"...Police woman were assigned to the crime prevetion bureau, "correcting
habits of wayward minors-especially girls"
This is a Police Officer rank set. I believe this paticular style badge was made by Blackinton but
it doesn't have a hallmark. The department switched back to the traditional buffalo badge soon after.
This badge is also not hallmarked but is probably made by Smith and Warren who currently manufactures
Buffalo badges.
Niagara Frontier Police was the police force prior to Buffalo forming it's own department.
These badges are hard to find, although I know of three variations to them . I bought the cabinet card pictured below
it separatley and I was astonished to find the officer is wearing this very badge- badge #9!
Coat button for Niagara Frontier policeman.
Belt buckle for the 1901 Pan American Exposition that was held in Buffalo. Buffalo detailed
policeman to the expo for length of the event, and each had a special uniform with buckle and breast badge. These items were
made by C.C. Penfold which was also located in the city.
These are retired badges that are given to officers by the Erie Club. Buffalo cops are not
allowed to keep their badges when they retire or get promoted, so retired badges are provided for them.
Many badge collectors think these "named badges" were department issued but they were
not. Notice at the bottom of each is a person's name, but aside from that they appear to be the same as badges issued
by the department. They were made by the same company as regular badges, but these were given to civilians by police
commissioners who were friends with the person.
A group of smaller badges. Included is an "IPA-International Police Association Region #1", some "Pass
badges" that were probably given to persons who donated to the Erie Club, then "mutual aid" badges that were also given to
civilians. All these badges are easy to find. Below them are a couple different "reserve" badges, and honorary police
badge and a "juvenile police" badge, that was worn by children at schools in the city (such as an AAA badge). To the
very right on the bottom row is a very small lapel pin for the Erie Club.
Buffalo and Pittsburgh Railroad Police Captain badge.
Buffalo cops are not issued a second badge for thier wallet, but they are allowed to purchase one
of this style for off duty identification.
Buffalo uses two styles of hat badges. Many are like these, with the roaming buffalo
in the center-but facing the opposite direction as the breast badge. Buffalo also uses regular New York State "Excelsior"
hat badges as well, like the badge on the far right of this picture.
The badge on the left is a salesman sample from the now closed "Brownies" uniform shop in downtown
Buffalo. The badge on the right is an honorary badge given to "B.J. Davlin". It's the only honorary badge I've found
like it.
"Bumper badge" that was placed on the front bumper of a police commissioner's car or a high ranking
officer's including the Mayor of the city. These are really hard to find.
The second bumper badge I've added to my collection. This was had been painted and I need
to take the paint off yet....
I bought this badge from Joe Maciolek, a life long resident of Buffalo, who grew up in precinct 13 in Black
Rock. The badge does not say "Buffalo" on it, so with out Joe giving me the history on it I'd never know. Joe tells
me these badges were worn by "patrol boys" as they were called at that time, when he was in the 6th grade in 1950. They patrolled
intersections when kids went home to eat lunch, and at the end of school as well.
Different "special Police" badges used. The one on the bottom row with the cut out numbers (2991) is
a very common style with thousands of them being made. They are still a neat badge with an old "tongue" style catch
on the back. The "reserve" badge in the picture (1167) is also very common.
This is one of the boxes that each of these medals came in originally. Of interest is the
mark "King and Eisele Co., Founded in 1870, Jewelers and Silversmiths Buffalo".
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