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“ 21-50 to Headquarters! ” Mike Chappell , Cornwall Branch A 1:26 scale model of a 1955 Buick Century police car joins my collection of US State Police, County Sheriff and City & Town Police Department patches. I have always had a fascination for the United States law enforcement structures and agencies and as a young Devon & Cornwall police constable; I travelled to Florida back in 1979 and spent time with the City of Miami Police Department. It was quite an experience! Yes, I witnessed the City of

From the earlier time spent in Miami to the later period in Texas, I was in awe of both the cars and the incredible range of equipment and technology packed into them, something I never witnessed during my own police career starting in Devon and ending back home in Cornwall. The lack of volumes of paperwork in the States also impressed me! My other interest is 1950s films and TV series and my favourite is the 156 episode ‘Highway Patrol’ produced from 1955 to 1959 in which the late, great Broderick Crawford drove the gas guzzling, powerful 1955 Buick Century. In his acting role as Police Chief Dan Matthews, Brod’s signature line was to growl his call sign ‘21-50 to Headquarters’ in a voice almost reminiscent of the meaty engine sound of the police car he drove. The ‘55 CHP Buick Century was one of 270 such cars built especially for the California Highway Patrol. They were special Buicks, but not exactly Buick Specials, because they mated the base Special two-door sedan body and chassis, which normally carried a 264-cid 188-hp V8, with the larger, 322-cid 236-hp engine of the more expensive Century, Super and Roadmaster models. Production Specials carried three Buick trademark portholes on the front fenders while the more upscale models featured four, as does the Model 68. For those film buffs (or should I say ‘anoraks’ like me?), all 156 ‘Highway Patrol’ episodes now appear to be in the public domain and so may be found on ‘You Tube’ and similar websites but are also available on DVD. Like so many from Cornwall and of Cornish heritage, I have an American side of my family and a cousin is an officer in the one of the Californian Fire Departments with his department running the paramedic ambulances as well. But that’s another story!

Miami PD handle incidents involving firearms and yes, I was asked how a police officer could ever be expected to enforce the law unarmed! Thinking back, all we had were wooden truncheons and they were only ever used as a final resort! My own was only ever used to gain access to houses where the occupants had not been seen for various periods of time – with the usual mixed outcomes! Many years later and whilst in Texas, I met up with the Chief Officer of Woodville Police situated in Tyler County, the Tyler County Sheriff and an officer of the Texas Highway Patrol responsible for highways in the Woodville area. All three were sharing breakfast in the motel in which I was staying and it was fascinating to share a brief conversation with them.

POLICE WORLD Vol 63 No. 3, 2018

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