CASE, GUN

Description: RECTANGULAR WOOD CASE HAS MEDIUM FINISH AND GOLD POLICE BADGE ON LID. CASE HAS FINGER LOCK CORNERS AND TOP EDGE IS BEVELED. HINGES ON BACK AND LOCKS ON FRONT ARE MADE OF BRASS. GOLD POLICE CREST IS OF CITY COAT OF ARMS WITH QUEEN'S CROWN ON TOP, BEAVER AT BASE AND MAPLE LEAVES AROUND SIDES. COAT OF ARMS HAS "CITY OF LETHBRIDGE 1890 - 1906" RAISED AROUND IT. CENTER FIELD IS SPLIT INTO THREE SECTIONS, ONE HAVING A GLUME OF WHEAT, ONE HAVING AN ARM HOLDING A PICK-AX AND THE LAST WITH COAL TRAIN. BANNER AT TOP READS "POLICE" AND BANNER AT BOTTOM READS "LETHBRIDGE". INSIDE LID AND BOTTOM OF CASE ARE GREY FOAM LINERS WITH NAVY BLUE COVERING. BOTTOM LINER HAS TWO HOLES CUT FOR LOADERS. CASE HAS SINGLE STEEL KEY FOR LOCKS ON FRONT.

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.