BADGE, POLICE

Description: SHOULDER FLASH, CLOTH. HALF MOON SHAPED. MARKED, "MATRON". DETAILED DESCRIPTION, CONDITION AND MEASUREMENTS FORTHCOMING PENDING REMOVAL FROM EXHIBIT.

History: THIS BADGE WAS PART OF A POLICE MATRON'S UNIFORM. MATRONS WERE REGULARLY LISTED IN THE FORCE'S ROSTER UNDER AUXILIARY PERSONNEL. AMONG OTHER THINGS, MATRONS WERE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE SUPERVISION AND BODY SEARCHES OF FEMALE PRISONERS. ACCORDING TO RETIRED CHIEF OF POLICE, TERRY WAUTERS, "THEY WEREN'T THERE 24/7 THEY WERE ON CALL. WE DIDN'T HAVE PRISONERS CONSTANTLY... THEY WERE OLDER LADIES THAT CAME IN AND GUARDED THE FEMALE PRISONERS." THE FIRST DOCUMENTED USE OF MATRONS BY THE LETHBRIDGE CITY POLICE WAS IN 1918. IN 1983, THE USE OF MATRONS WAS ABOLISHED WHEN THREE QUARTERS OF THE JAIL CELLS AT THE POLICE STATION, 502 5 ST. S., WERE CLOSED AND MOST PRISONERS MOVED TO THE LETHBRIDGE CORRECTIONAL CENTRE. FORMER MATRONS OF THE CITY INCLUDE DIDERIKA VISKUP NEE KWARTEL, ANNIE MARIE DEWAR, MRS. L. BREWER, MRS. GLOVER, MRS. E.J. KERGAN, OLGA COMAI, MRS. CONDIE, AND MRS. E. SALLENBACH (THAT ARE KNOWN). THIS BADGE IS LIKELY CONTEMPORARY TO VISKUP WHO WAS WORKING IN THE 1970S AND 1980S; HER TERM ENDED DUE TO THE RELOCATION OF THE PRISON. FOR MORE INFORMATION SEE PERMANENT FILE.