(SIZE 6) STAMPMARK ON UNDERSIDE OF BACK BRIM "WENDRY LTD. MAKER GLASGOW". FRONT BRIM EDGE IS REINFORCED WITH BRASS FACING. LEATHER-LACQUERED. WOOL LINED.
FROM LETHBRIDGE POLICE COLLECTION.
*UPDATE* IN 2014 COLLECTIONS ASSISTANT JANE EDMUNDSON CONDUCTED A SURVEY OF ART OBJECTS, INCLUDING SOME DONATED BY THE CITY OF LETHBRIDGE POLICE SERVICES. FOR A BRIEF ACCOUNT OF THE LETHBRIDGE POLICE COLLECTION, SEE RECORD P19960112001. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION ABOUT THE CITY OF LETHBRIDGE POLICE SERVICES AND TRANSCRIPTS OF INTERVIEWS AND CORRESPONDENCE WITH CURRENT AND FORMER LETHBRIDGE POLICE, SEE PERMANENT FILE P19960112000.
FLUORESCENT ORANGE RUBBER CAP PROTECTOR. FLAT DISC, WITH 8.5CM RIM ON BOTTOM TO COVER SIDES OF CAP (LAYS FLAT). ENDS UNFINISHED; NO MARKINGS. UNKNOWN WHITISH RESIDUE ON BOTTOM OF COVER.
*UPDATE* IN 2014 COLLECTIONS ASSISTANT JANE EDMUNDSON CONDUCTED A SURVEY OF ART OBJECTS, INCLUDING SOME DONATED BY THE CITY OF LETHBRIDGE POLICE SERVICES. FOR A BRIEF ACCOUNT OF THE LETHBRIDGE POLICE COLLECTION, SEE RECORD P19960112001. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION ABOUT THE CITY OF LETHBRIDGE POLICE SERVICES AND TRANSCRIPTS OF INTERVIEWS AND CORRESPONDENCE WITH CURRENT AND FORMER LETHBRIDGE POLICE, SEE PERMANENT FILE P19960112000.
NAVY BLUE SYNTHETIC PEAKED CAP WITH BLACK VINYL VISOR. VINYL BAND AROUND FRONT OF CAP; BUTTON AT EITHER END EMBOSSED "FD". FABRIC TAG SEWN INTO INSIDE OF CAP, READS "UNIFORM STYLED BY TIP TOP". SMALLER TAG BESIDE, WITH "UNION MADE"; ALSO STICKER HANDWRITTEN WITH "7 3/8". NO CAP BADGE. LEATHER BAND ALONG INTERIOR OF CAP.
STAMP MARK ON UNDERSIDE OF BACK BRIM: "WENDRY LTD. MAKER GLASGOW". FRONT BRIM REINFORCED WITH BRASS FACING. BLACK LACQUERED LEATHER; WOOL LINED. LEATHER SHOWS SURFACE CRACKS. "E.H." PAINTED INSIDE OF HELMET. REGULATION PATTERN (LEATHER) #200. BRASS BINDING ON FRONT VISOR. LEATHER & NYLON STRAPS ATTACHED TO HELMET AND LINER. SEE CONSERVATION REPORT ON FILE.
PAINTED WITH HIGH-GLOSS RED PAINT; SEVERAL CHIPS. METAL PATENT STAMP ON TOP OF INSIDE "CAIRNS AND BROS. MAKERS, NEW YORK". HEAD PART OF HELMET HAS GROOVES RUNNING DOWN. 4 EXTRA PIECES OF METAL COME TO A POINT AT TOP OF HAT. 2 HOLES ON EACH SIDE OF HAT FOR USE OF STRAPS 3 IN FRONT. BACK PART OF HELMET HAS A RING AT THE END TO USE FOR HANGING.
.1 THE LETTER "H" IS PRINTED ON INSIDE WITH BLACK PAINT. SOME PAINT IS CHIPPED ON OUTSIDE AND INSIDE.
.2 THE NUMBER "35" IS PRINTED ON THE INSIDE IN BLACK PAINT.
BLUE & YELLOW CLOTH WITH BLACK PATENT LEATHER CHIN STRAP WITH 2 BRASS 1/2 IN. BUTTONS, BLACK LEATHER PEAK, GLAZED COTTON OR OILCLOTH SWEATBAND. MISSING HAT BADGE. BLACK COTTON TWILL LINING. SEE CONSERVATION REPORT.
WILLIAM SCULLY 6 7/8 STENCILLED ON TWILL LINING. CAP IS CONSISTENT WITH 1907 PATTERN FORAGE CAP MADE BY WILLIAM SCULLY FROM 1908. CAP IS ALSO CONSISTENT WITH OTHER UNIFORM PIECES. SEE P19672564001-GA FOR HISTORY & REFERENCES. NOTE: PREVIOUSLY CATALOGED AS P19760042000-GA.
DARK NAVY BLUE COTTON WOMEN'S SERVICE CAP, WITH RED TWILL BAND AND A BLACK PATENT LEATHER BRIM & NECKSTRAP. ON EITHER END OF NECKSTRAP ARE SILVER PLASTIC POLICE FORCE BUTTONS EMBOSSED WITH THE QUEENS CROWN. GOLD SATIN LINING & BROWN PLASTIC BAND LINING INSIDE BAND. WHITE LABEL SEWN TO INSIDE MARKED "STOKES CAP & REGALIA LTD. SCARBOROUGH, ONTARIO".
IT IS CLAIMED THAT THIS IS "THE SECOND STYLE OF FEMALE HAT ISSUED".
SEE P19960012022-GA FOR MORE INFORMATION.
*UPDATE* IN 2014 COLLECTIONS ASSISTANT JANE EDMUNDSON CONDUCTED A SURVEY OF ART OBJECTS, INCLUDING SOME DONATED BY THE CITY OF LETHBRIDGE POLICE SERVICES. FOR A BRIEF ACCOUNT OF THE LETHBRIDGE POLICE COLLECTION, SEE RECORD P19960112001. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION ABOUT THE CITY OF LETHBRIDGE POLICE SERVICES AND TRANSCRIPTS OF INTERVIEWS AND CORRESPONDENCE WITH CURRENT AND FORMER LETHBRIDGE POLICE, SEE PERMANENT FILE P19960112000.
BLACK WOOL PEAKED CAP WITH A BRASS RCMP BADGE ON THE FRONT, WITH THE KING'S CROWN. YELLOW HAT BAND, AND A BLACK PATENT LEATHER CHIN STRAP AND BRIM. ITEM IS IN VERY GOOD CONDITION, WITH LITTLE WEAR OR DAMAGE.
DONOR JOINED THE ROYAL CANADIAN MOUNTED POLICE IN AUGUST 1951, AT WINNIPEG, MANITOBA. HE WAS IN THE ROYAL CANADIAN MOUNTED POLICE FOR 25 YEARS, AND WAS STATIONED ALL OVER NORTHERN ALBERTA AND CAME TO LETHBRIDGE IN 1974. WORKED IN THE OFFICE MOSTLY IN LETHBRIDGE, AND RETIRED OCTOBER 1976. FOR HISTORY OF KEN VEALS PLEASE SEE P19970084001-GA, OR P19970111001-GA.
CAP C/W HAT BADGE, PLASTIC BRIM, CHIN STRAP, 2 ALUMINIUM 3/4" BUTTONS. BLACK NYLON BAND EMBROIDERED WITH MAPLE LEAF DESIGN. INTERIOR, LEATHER SWEATBAND. PLASTIC "BONE" TO HOLD HAT SHAPE. BADGE IS 1906 COAT OF ARMS FOR CITY OF LETHBRIDGE, "POLICE LETHBRIDGE" IN BLUE LETTERS. BADGE IS SILVER. HAT IS NAVY BLUE WITH A BLACK BRIM. TAG ON RED LINER "STOKES CAP AND REGALIA LTD. DON MILLS, ONTARIO". SMALL WHITE BOW AT BACK OF INNER. 8.0CM (H) X 16CM (D).
SERIAL #800. SIZE: ADJUSTABLE. BLACK PLASTIC HELMET HAS SCRATCHES ON TOP AND ON UNDERSIDE. BACK OF HELMET HAS METAL HOOK ATTACHED FOR HANGING UP. INSIDE BACK OF HELMET, IS RAISED LETTERS "SAFETY SUPPLY CHIEFTAIN SAFE-T-HELMET, MADE IN CANADA". INSIDE BACK, IN WHITE PAINT ARE LARGE INITIALS: "R.K.J." WHITE ELASTIC CHIN STRAP IS ADJUSTABLE AND REMOVABLE; STRAP IS GREY WITH DIRT AND IS REDDISH IN SPOTS; HOOKS ONTO HELMET, ON EITHER SIDE BY 2 BLACK SNAPS THAT READ "SAFETY SUPPLY" (IN WHITE). INSIDE BOWL OF HELMET: WHITE PLASTIC PROTECTIVE UNIT, TOWARDS CROWN AND ATTACHED TO INSIDE RIM READS: "PAT. PENDING - MADE IN CANADA- NO. 53-0650 -SAFETY SUPPLY CO. TORONTO". ATTACHED TO ABOVE IS WHITE PLASTIC STRAP, WHICH ADJUSTS SIZE. WHITE SHOE LACE TIES ENDS OF THIS STRAP TOGETHER IN CENTRE. GREEN FOAM IS ATTACHED TO ABOVE STRAP, AND RESTS AROUND INNER RIM OF HELMET. TAN COLOURED LEATHER SWEATBAND IS ATTACHED TO ADJUSTABLE STRAP; ONLY GOES HALF WAY AROUND. BACK OF BOWL IS WHITE LABEL WITH BLACK LETTERING: "SUPER CHIEFTAIN FIREMAN'S HELMET..."
BLACK WOOL PEAK CAP WITH A BRIGHT RED WOOL HAT BAND, A PATENT LEATHER BRIM, AND A SILVER BADGE ON THE FRONT. BADGE HAS A QUEEN'S CROWN ON THE TOP, WITH "POLICE" BELOW, AND A "CITY OF LETHBRIDGE 1890-1906" CREST IN THE CENTRE, WITH "LETHBRIDGE" ON THE BOTTOM, AND THE PROFILE OF A BEAVER ACROSS THE BOTTOM. ABOVE THE BRIM IS A BLACK CHIN STRAP THAT IS ATTACHED AT EACH EAR WITH A BRASS BUTTON MARKED "POLICE FORCE", WITH A CROWN IN THE CENTRE. INSIDE IS A LABEL MARKED "MUIR CAP & REGALIA LTD. SCARSBOROUGH (TORONTO) CANADA". A PIECE OF VELCRO IS ATTACHED TO THE UNDERSIDE OF THE BRIM. POSSIBLY NEVER WORN.
*UPDATE* IN 2014 COLLECTIONS ASSISTANT JANE EDMUNDSON CONDUCTED A SURVEY OF ART OBJECTS, INCLUDING SOME DONATED BY THE CITY OF LETHBRIDGE POLICE SERVICES. FOR A BRIEF ACCOUNT OF THE LETHBRIDGE POLICE COLLECTION, SEE RECORD P19960112001. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION ABOUT THE CITY OF LETHBRIDGE POLICE SERVICES AND TRANSCRIPTS OF INTERVIEWS AND CORRESPONDENCE WITH CURRENT AND FORMER LETHBRIDGE POLICE, SEE PERMANENT FILE P19960112000.
DARK NAVY BLUE COTTON WOMEN'S SERVICE CAP, WITH RED TWILL BAND. SIDES AND BACK OF RIM FOLDED UP. SLIGHTLY QUILTED LINING. SILVER CAP BADGE WITH "POLICE LETHBRIDGE" ON FRONT OF CAP. ADHESIVE NYLON LABEL INSIDE RED SYNTHETIC LINING OF CAP, READS "EST 1875 THE MUIR BRAND MUIR CAP & REGALIA LTD. SCARBOROUGH (TORONTO) CANADA". SIZE STICKER BELOW "6 7/8 55".
BETWEEN 2008 AND 2009, RET. LETHBRIDGE POLICE CHIEF TERRY WAUTERS CLAIMED THAT THE CAP WAS THE FIRST STYLE WORN BY MEMBERS OF THE POLICE FORCE. FIRST FEMALE MEMBERS INCLUDED DARCIE JAMES AND PAULETTE DECOSTE.
*UPDATE* IN 2014 COLLECTIONS ASSISTANT JANE EDMUNDSON CONDUCTED A SURVEY OF ART OBJECTS, INCLUDING SOME DONATED BY THE CITY OF LETHBRIDGE POLICE SERVICES. FOR A BRIEF ACCOUNT OF THE LETHBRIDGE POLICE COLLECTION, SEE RECORD P19960112001. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION ABOUT THE CITY OF LETHBRIDGE POLICE SERVICES AND TRANSCRIPTS OF INTERVIEWS AND CORRESPONDENCE WITH CURRENT AND FORMER LETHBRIDGE POLICE, SEE PERMANENT FILE P19960112000.
*2015 UPDATE* FOR FURTHER INFORMATION ABOUT AND INTERVIEWS WITH THE FIRST TWO POLICEWOMEN IN LETHBRIDGE, PAULETTE DECOSTE AND DARCIE JAMES, SEE RECORD P20140008001.
GREEN KHAKI WOOL PEAKED CAP WITH BROWN VINYL VISOR AND LEATHER BAND ACROSS WIDTH OF FOREFRONT. TWO BRASS BUTTONS AT EITHER END OF BAND, WITH "EDMONTON POLICE FORCE" EMBOSSED. NO CAP BADGE. INTERIOR LINED WITH BLACK COTTON; LEATHER BAND AROUND PERIMETER. DIAMOND-SHAPED VINYL PIECE SEWN TO TOP; BENEATH IS TAG WITH "STOKES CAP & REGALIA LTD. TORONTO ONTARIO". WHITE DRAWSTRING INSIDE BAND TIED IN BOW AT BACK OF INSIDE CAP.
KHAKI UNIFORM COLLECTED IN 1961 WHEN THE TRAFFIC DIVISION WAS BEGUN AND SGT. WEST WANTED DIFFERENT COLORED UNIFORM WITH BOOTS AND BREECHES. IN 1959 THEY WERE SCROUNGED FROM EDMONTON, AND TAILOR MADE BY 1961 BY LEO SINGER. CAP COLLECTED AS A REPRESENTATION OF THE STYLE WORN BY LETHBRIDGE POLICE.
*UPDATE* IN 2014 COLLECTIONS ASSISTANT JANE EDMUNDSON CONDUCTED A SURVEY OF ART OBJECTS, INCLUDING SOME DONATED BY THE CITY OF LETHBRIDGE POLICE SERVICES. FOR A BRIEF ACCOUNT OF THE LETHBRIDGE POLICE COLLECTION, SEE RECORD P19960112001. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION ABOUT THE CITY OF LETHBRIDGE POLICE SERVICES AND TRANSCRIPTS OF INTERVIEWS AND CORRESPONDENCE WITH CURRENT AND FORMER LETHBRIDGE POLICE, SEE PERMANENT FILE P19960112000.
PLASTIC WHISTLE, PAINTED BLACK (APPEARS TO BE GREEN UNDERNEATH). NICKEL CHAIN WITH U-SHAPED HOOK AT END. CHAIN LINKS ARE FORMED BY TWO CIRCULAR LOOPS ATTACHED PERPENDICULAR TO ONE ANOTHER. BALL IN WHISTLE IS MADE OF CORK. PLASTIC IS SCRATCHED AT EDGES.
BETWEEN 2008 AND 2009, RET. LETHBRIDGE POLICE CHIEF TERRY WAUTERS CLAIMED THAT THE POLICE WHISTLE WAS “USED BY FOOT PATROL OFFICERS TO DRAW ATTENTION TO OFFENDERS SUCH AS JAY WALKERS, PEDESTRIANS WALKING AGAINST TRAFFIC LIGHTS, ETC..”
*NOTE* AS OF 9 NOVEMBER 2007, COLLECTIONS STAFF BELIEVE THIS OBJECT HAS BEEN CATALOGUED TWICE UNDER NUMBERS P19960112034 AND P19960112002 AND DOES - THEREFORE - EXIST. THE ARTIFACT IS LABELLED WITH THE TWO DIFFERENT NUMBERS - ONE ON THE LANYARD HOOK AND THE OTHER ON THE WHISTLE BODY.
*UPDATE* IN 2014 COLLECTIONS ASSISTANT JANE EDMUNDSON CONDUCTED A SURVEY OF ART OBJECTS, INCLUDING SOME DONATED BY THE CITY OF LETHBRIDGE POLICE SERVICES. FOR A BRIEF ACCOUNT OF THE LETHBRIDGE POLICE COLLECTION, SEE RECORD P19960112001. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION ABOUT THE CITY OF LETHBRIDGE POLICE SERVICES AND TRANSCRIPTS OF INTERVIEWS AND CORRESPONDENCE WITH CURRENT AND FORMER LETHBRIDGE POLICE, SEE PERMANENT FILE P19960112000.
NAVY BLUE WOOL CAP WITH FUR-LINED EAR AND NECK FLAP. MUSKRAT FUR PIECE SEWN TO EXTERIOR FRONT AS WELL. FLAP IS SLIGHTLY LONGER AT EARS; HAS TWO NAVY BLUE COTTON TIES TO SECURE FLAPS AT SIDES OF CAP WHEN NOT IN USE. CROWN OF CAP PEAKED SLIGHLTY. INTERIOR QUILTED; LINED IN BLACK SYNTHETIC FABRIC. TAG READS "STOKES CAP & REG...SCARBOROUGH-ONTARIO". ALSO "58CM 7 1/4" STICKER.
BETWEEN 2008 AND 2009, LETHBRIDGE POLICE SUPERINTENDENT GLEN MICHELSON CLAIMED THAT THIS STYLE OF CAP WAS IN USE WHEN HE JOINED IN 1950. INSPECTOR BILL KAYE STATED THAT ITS USE WAS DISCONTINUED BY THE LATE 90S, HOWEVER, IT WAS RE-INTRODUCED A DECADE LATER DUE TO ITS WARMTH.
*UPDATE* IN 2014 COLLECTIONS ASSISTANT JANE EDMUNDSON CONDUCTED A SURVEY OF ART OBJECTS, INCLUDING SOME DONATED BY THE CITY OF LETHBRIDGE POLICE SERVICES. FOR A BRIEF ACCOUNT OF THE LETHBRIDGE POLICE COLLECTION, SEE RECORD P19960112001. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION ABOUT THE CITY OF LETHBRIDGE POLICE SERVICES AND TRANSCRIPTS OF INTERVIEWS AND CORRESPONDENCE WITH CURRENT AND FORMER LETHBRIDGE POLICE, SEE PERMANENT FILE P19960112000.
*UPDATE*: ON NOVEMBER 24TH, 2016, UNIVERSITY OF LETHBRIDGE GRAD STUDENT JOSH READ, FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF HISTORY, INTERVIEWED RETIRED LETHBRIDGE POLICE SERVICE (FORCE) MEMBER MARCEL ST. ONGE ON ACCOUNT OF HIS INTEREST IN THE FORCE’S PAST USE OF FUR CLOTHING IN POLICE PATROLS. ON DECEMBER 2ND, 2016, READ JOINTLY INTERVIEWED RETIREES BILL PLOMP AND GLEN MICHELSON ON THE SAME SUBJECT. TO READ COPIES OF THESE TWO INTERVIEWS, PLEASE SEE THE PERMANENT FILE FOR DONATION P20080002002.
PEAKED POLICE CAP AND MAKERS TAG - 2 PIECES.
1. POLICE CAP, PEAKED. NAVY WOOL HEAD PIECE WITH SILVER COLORED BADGE MARKED "POLICE, LETHBRIDGE" DEPICTING SHEILD, CROWN, BEAVER AND LEAVES IN FRONT. BRIM OF HAT IS BLACK VINYL. JUST ABOVE BRIM IS MATCHING VINYL HATBAND ATTACHED TO HAT BY SILVER COLORED BUTTONS DEPICTING A CROWN MARKED "POLICE FORCE". HAT BAND LINED WITH LEATHER. INSIDE OF HAT LINED WITH BLUE CLOTH.
13.5 CM HIGH BY 27.0 CM IN DIAMETER.
2. TAG, COATED CLOTH TAG MARKED, "TAILORED ESPECIALLY FOR HOULT... SEPT 66..."
4.2 CM WIDE BY 6.2 CM WIDE.
ACCORDING TO THE LABEL ON THE INSIDE OF THE HAT, THE OBJECT BELONGED TO A PERSON NAMED HOULT. ACCORDING TO THE LETHBRIDGE HERALD, CONSTABLE CY HOULT RECIEVED AN AWARD FOR GOOD SCORES IN THE "INTERNATIONAL CITY MANAGER'S ASSOCIATION COURSE IN POLICE ADMINISTRATION" IN 1968. HE WAS TRAINED IN BREATHALIZER TESTING AND CONDUCTED DEMONSTRATIONS ON THE SUBJECT IN THE LATE 1970S. FINALLY, IN 2004 HE WAS ELECTED AS HEALTH COMMUNICATION OFFICER FOR "MEMBERS OF REGION 14 OF THE CANADIAN SECTION OF THE INTERNATIONAL POLICE ASSOCIATION... EXECUTIVE."
FOR MORE INFORMATION SEE PERMANENT FILE.
MUSKRAT FUR CAP, STRING AT TOP OF CAP UNTIES TO ALLOW EAR FLAPS TO HANG DOWN, OUTER SURFACE OF CAP WITH BLACK FABRIC, IN SIDE OF CAP WITH BLACK LINING AND LABEL READING, "RELIABLE FUR CO. LTD....MONTREAL, F. R. KORTH."
DONOR'S FATHER, FRANCIS ALLAN KORTH, RECEIVED FUR CAP AND BUFFALO COAT (P20080002002) WHEN DONOR'S GRANDFATHER, FRANCIS (FRANK) RAYMOND KORTH, PASSED AWAY NOVEMBER 27, 1998. CAP AND COAT WERE ISSUED BY LETHBRIDGE CITY POLICE, AND WORN BY OFFICERS WHO WALKED THE BEAT. ALLAN HAD A FAMILY "KORTH" ROOM IN BASEMENT WHICH FEATURED PHOTOS, OLD IRON, AND OTHER MISC. ITEMS FROM, "BACK IN THE DAY." DONOR'S GRANDFATHER FELT HIS ONLY SON WOULD VALUE THE CAP AND COAT. FRANCIS ALLAN PASSED AWAY MAY 9, 2007. DONOR MAINTAINED CAP AND COAT AT FATHER'S FORMER HOME UNTIL DONATION. THE DONATION WAS MADE ON BEHALF OF THE FATHER AND GRANDFATHER DUE TO THEIR PASSION FOR FAMILY HISTORY.
BETWEEN 2008 AND 2009, LETHBRIDGE POLICE SUPERINTENDENT GLEN MICHELSON CLAIMED THAT THIS STYLE OF CAP WAS IN USE WHEN HE JOINED IN 1950. INSPECTOR BILL KAYE STATED THAT ITS USE WAS DISCONTINUED BY THE LATE 90S, HOWEVER, IT WAS RE-INTRODUCED A DECADE LATER DUE TO ITS WARMTH.
*UPDATE*: ON NOVEMBER 24TH, 2016, UNIVERSITY OF LETHBRIDGE GRAD STUDENT JOSH READ, FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF HISTORY, INTERVIEWED RETIRED LETHBRIDGE POLICE SERVICE (FORCE) MEMBER MARCEL ST. ONGE ON ACCOUNT OF HIS INTEREST IN THE FORCE’S PAST USE OF FUR CLOTHING IN POLICE PATROLS. ON DECEMBER 2ND, 2016, READ JOINTLY INTERVIEWED RETIREES BILL PLOMP AND GLEN MICHELSON ON THE SAME SUBJECT. TO READ COPIES OF THESE TWO INTERVIEWS, PLEASE SEE THE PERMANENT FILE FOR DONATION P20080002002.
FOR MORE INFORMATION, SEE PERMANENT RECORD.
NAVY BASEBALL CAP, PATCH ON FRONT OF CAP WITH YELLOW EMBROIDERED TEXT READING, "CITY OF LETHBRIDGE POLICE FORCE." LABEL ON INSIDE PROPER LEFT OF CAP READS, "CALI FAME OF LOS ANGELES, M."
ACCORDING TO DONOR GLEN MICHELSON AT TIME OF DONATION, THIS CAP WAS PART OF A SWAT UNIFORM. THE UNIFORM ALSO INCLUDED A COAT, PANTS AND MISCELLANEOUS PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT.
THE SWAT TEAM WAS FORMED BY CHIEF RALPH MICHELSON. ACCORDING TO THE DONOR IT WAS FORMED "IN CASE OF AN EMERGENCY; IT WAS A GOOD CHOICE TO HAVE A TEAM, LIKE OTHER CITIES, IT WAS NEEDED." MICHELSON WAS UNABLE TO PROVIDE NAMES OF OTHER TEAM MEMBERS, HOWEVER, HE DID SAY TEAMS WERE FORMED THROUGH BOTH VOLUNTEERS AND SELECTED MEMBERS. DESIREABLE TRAITS FOR SWAT TEAM MEMBERS INCLUDED EXPERTISE IN USE AND TRAINING WITH REGARD TO FIREARMS, GOOD COMMON SENSE AND GOOD PHYSICAL CONDITION. MICHELSON SAID, "SOME (OF OUR) TRAINING (TOOK PLACE) IN LETHBRIDGE. OUR TEAM TRAINED WITH FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION (FBI) TEAMS IN BUTTE, MONTANA, AND BOZEMAN, MONTANA, A WEEK IN EACH PLACE." THE TEAM OFTEN TRAINED AT THE LETHBRIDGE POLICE RANGE. THEY LEARNED TO USE M16 FULLY AUTOMATIC RIFLES (308 CALIBRE), REMINGTON MODEL 870 SHOTGUNS, SNIPER RIFLES 223 CALIBRE, GAS EQUIPMENT, REVOLVERS AND AUTOMATIC WEAPONS.
MICHELSON SERVED AS A LEADER OF THE SWAT TEAM. HE WAS IN CHARGE OF GOOD TRAINING. HE WAS A MEMBER FOR APPROXIMATELY TEN YEARS. THE EARLIEST REFERENCE TO A LETHBRIDGE SWAT TEAM DATES TO 1975. ACCORDING TO THE LETHBRIDGE HERALD, ON APRIL 29, 1975, CHIEF RALPH MICHELSON WAS PURCHASING SHOTGUNS, BULLET-PROOF VESTS, FACIAL HOODS AND BOMB DISPOSAL EQUIMENT FOR THE SWAT TEAM.
GLEN MICHELSON RETIRED FROM THE POLICE FORCE IN 1984.
SEE PERMANENT FILE FOR MORE INFORMATION.
BROWN FELT STETSON WITH A LARGE WIDE BRIM AND A POINTED CROWN DENTED ON 4 SIDES OF THE TOP, WITH A BROWN LEATHER HAT BAND AROUND THE CROWN. MARKED ON THE INSIDE OF LEATHER HAT BAND MARKED "ENGLISH MANUFACTURE CHRISTY'S LONDON", "R.C.M.P." IN GOLD LETTERING, AND STAMPED INTO LEATHER "ENGLISH MANUFACTURE". LEATHER NECK STRAP ATTACHED TO BOTTOM OF BRIM. LEATHER BAND IS TEARING ON THE INSIDE OF THE HAT, BUT OTHERWISE IS IN VERY GOOD CONDITION.
BELONGED TO DONOR WHILE A MEMBER OF THE ROYAL CANADIAN MOUNTED POLICE. KEN VEALS RETIRED FROM THE LETHBRIDGE DETACHMENT ROYAL CANADIAN MOUNTED POLICE IN 1976 WITH 25 YEARS OF SERVICE SPENT THROUGHOUT ALBERTA. VEALS WAS BORN ON APRIL 14, 1928 IN WINNIPEG. HIS ROYAL CANADIAN MOUNTED POLICE TRAINING BEGAN IN AUGUST 1951 IN REGINA. HIS FIRST POSTING WAS IN EDMONTON WHERE HE SERVED SIX MONTHS. VEALS THEN TRANSFERRED TO RED DEER FOR ONE YEAR BEFORE HE WAS TRANSFERRED TO THREE HILLS IN 1954 AND THEN CAMROSE IN 1955. VEALS WAS TRANSFERRED TO PLAIN CLOTHES DUTY IN 1956. THE FOLLOWING YEAR HE WAS TRANSFERRED TO MAYERTHORPE, THEN TO WHITECOURT AND WESTLOCKE WHERE HE SERVED EACH LOCATION FOR ONE YEAR. BETWEEN 1959 AND 1964 VEALS SERVED IN ANDREW. HE WAS MARRIED TO HELEN ON FEBRUARY 28, 1959. VEALS TRANSFERRED TO SLAVE LAKE FOR ONE YEAR BEFORE GOING TO PEACE RIVER FOR A FIVE YEAR POST, WHERE HE WAS PROMOTED TO CORPORAL. HE TRANSFERRED TO LETHBRIDGE SUB-DIVISION IN 1974 WHERE HE WAS POSTED UNTIL HIS RETIREMENT IN OCTOBER 21, 1976.
FOR MORE INFORMATION, OR OTHER DONATIONS MADE BY DONOR PLEASE SEE P19970111001-GA.