UNIFORM, POLICE

Description: NAVY BLUE, WOOL POLICE TUNIC WITH TWO CHEST GUSSET POCKETS, AND FRONT FLAP POCKETS, EACH WITH ONE ALUMINUM BUTTON WITH A CROWN IN THE CENTRE SURROUNDED BY "POLICE FORCE". COAT FASTENS WITH 4 LARGE ALUMINUM BUTTONS DOWN THE FRONT, EACH WITH THE SAME MARKINGS AS POCKETS. EACH SIDE SEAM AT WAIST LEVEL HAS A STEEL BELT HOOK TO SUPPORT BELT. ON EACH SHOULDER FLAP ARE 2 DIAMOND SHAPED NICKEL PIPS WITH RED FELT ON THE BOTTOM, AND 1 NICKEL CROWN. EACH LAPEL HAS A BRASS PIN MARKED "POLICE CITY OF LETHBRIDGE 1890-1906 LETHBRIDGE WITH RED FELT ON BOTTOM ALSO. EACH SHOULDER HAS A NAVY BLUE FLASH MARKED "CITY OF LETHBRIDGE POLICE FORCE" IN YELLOW THREAD. THE POCKET ON THE INSIDE OF THE FRONT HAS A LABEL MARKED "MARTIN & LEVESQUE INC. CA 03669 QUEBEC-MONTREAL NETTOYAGE A SEC NOM LEO SINGER LETHBRIDGE", AND TYPED ON BOTTOM OF LABEL IS "FRANK BATHGATE SUPT. DATE 21/3/80", "44". RIGHT INSIDE ALSO HAS A LABEL MARKED "DESIGNED BY LEO SINGER". SECOND PIECE IS A BLUE WOOL BELT WITH BRASS BUCKLE, 116.8 CM LONG WITH A BELT LOOP ON THE INSIDE NEAR THE MIDDLE, AND TWO SETS OF SNAPS SEWN ONTO BELT. TUNIC AND BELT ARE IN EXCELLENT CONDITION, WITH NO VISIBLE DAMAGE.

History: FRANK JAMES BATHGATE WAS BORN IN LETHBRIDGE AND GREW UP IN THE PARK LAKE AREA. HE APPLIED TO THE LETHBRIDGE POLICE FORCE IN 1951 AND WAS APPOINTED CONSTABLE ON JANUARY 14, 1953. HE WAS THEN PROMOTED TO THE RANK OF ACTING SERGEANT IN 1960, AND IN 1967 PROMOTED TO DETECTIVE IN THE CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION BRANCH, WHERE HE WAS APPOINTED HEAD OF NARCOTICS AND DANGEROUS DRUG SECTION OF THE LETHBRIDGE POLICE FORCE. IN 1971 FRANK WAS PROMOTED TO THE RANK OF DETECTIVE SERGEANT AND WAS THE HEAD OF THE NEWLY CREATED CRIMINAL INTELLIGENCE UNIT, IN ADDITION TO HIS DUTIES IN THE DRUG UNIT. ACCORDING TO ONE DOCUMENT (PERM RECORD), HE WAS AN INTEGRAL PART IN THE FORMATION OF THE CRIMINAL INTELLIGENCE SERVICE OF CANADA, WHICH DEALS WITH ORGANIZED CRIME AND OTHER AREAS OF NATIONAL INTEREST. IN JUNE OF 1978 HE WAS PROMOTED TO THE RANK OF INSPECTOR, AND TOOK OVER COMMAND OF THE UNIFORMED PATROL DIVISION. IN AUGUST OF 1979 BATHGATE WAS PROMOTED TO SUPERINTENDENT AND FOURTEEN MONTHS LATER PROMOTED TO DEPUTY CHIEF OF POLICE. HE HELD THIS APPOINTMENT UNTIL HIS RETIREMENT IN 1988. FRANK BATHGATE PASSED AWAY IN 1996.