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The "scientific staff" badge was not carried by sworn members of the department. A sworn officer would have
carried his "patrolman" shield. These badges were given to civilians who were either employed by the department or volunteers
who assisted with various tasks in the crime unit. In the 1960's, there were five units in the crime unit, chemistry, ballistics,
photography, polygraph and the mobile evidence collection unit. In a press release from then, it says "due to the scope and
nature of our activities in the unit, it is essential we solicit the assistance of experienced men in many fields of
the scientific endeavor, we have a volunteer civilian scientific staff to which we turn for professional assistance when it
is apparent that either our training or equipment is insuffient or the problem might require training or knowledge that would
only be available to persons that have scientific experience and education covering the problem". On staff were a "police
chemist, police ballistician, and two polygraph operators-all experienced officers".
In the 1960's there were 6 police matrons "assinged to the women's cell block at BPD headquarters,
responsible for the well being of female offenders detained therein. Their duties as distinguished as those from police
woman, centers around direct supervision of women prisoners. Upon admitting a women who has been taken into custody,
the matron effects a thorough search of the person and her personal effects, maintains order and cleanliness in the detention
quarters and must be versed in first aid procedures"....
Reproduction badges!! On the left is a department issued badge, and the one on the right is
a cast reproduction of it. I've found a couple others of these same badges-with the same number 1145. The quality
is very good, and its very difficult to tell. In fact, without the real one, you may not be able to tell. When
the two are compared, you can see cast marks. I actually bought these badges at different times coincidentally. If not,
I probably would have never known.
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