UNIFORM, POLICE

Description: BLACK WOOL POLICE TUNIC WITH A VISIBLE WHITE EDGE RUNNING AROUND INSIDE OF COLLAR. FRONT OF TUNIC HAS TWO CHEST GUSSET POCKETS, AND TWO 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 HAVE 2 DIAMOND SHAPED NICKEL PIPS, 1 NICKEL CROWN, AND 1 BRASS "POLICE" BAR, AND FASTEN WITH A SMALL BUTTON. EACH LAPEL HAS A BRASS PIN MARKED "POLICE CITY OF LETHBRIDGE 1890-1906 LETHBRIDGE" WITH MAROON FELT ON BOTTOM. THERE ARE NO LABELS OR IDENTIFICATION MARKS ON THE INSIDE OR OUTSIDE OF JACKET. TUNIC IS IN EXCELLENT CONDITION.

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.