7815
01-18-2010, 08:07 AM
Last month, I posted an article that I wrote and was published in 1999 in regards to the history of the different CHP badges worn over the years. I also wrote a companion article about CHP patches (25 different styles) which was published in 2000. I have been asked to make that available, so here it is:
SUPER TROOPERS
Published, August, 2000
California - Patches
I guess we could call this month’s column “California - The Sequel” since last year, I wrote about the badges of the California Highway Patrol, promising to return to this state to discuss the CHP patches. Now, many collectors are surprised to learn that there are many patches used by the California Highway Patrol other than the familiar, blue and gold emblem with the state seal in the center, which was adopted in 1948. In fact, I have counted no fewer than 25 patches! Following is a comprehensive listing of the patches used from 1921 (when California had a “dual control” system with County Motor Squad officers employed by the counties but paid by the state) through 1929 (when the California Highway Patrol was founded and the County Motor Squads began to be absorbed into the state agency) to the present date:
· The pre-1929 State of California TRAFFIC patch; this is without a doubt the rarest of the rare. I have seen only one of these and it is forever held captive by the California Highway Patrol museum, under glass, where no one can ever liberate it. I have seen it in my dreams and have yearned for the day when I will find a shoebox full of them in a dusty attic, free for the taking. I have queried many of the retired geezers, but have not found anyone who recalls wearing it, much less having one squirreled away. Somewhere there is one of these, a’mouldering in someone’s underwear drawer, but I’ll be damned if I know where! Anyway, it is the original, worn by some of the old Motor Squad officers on their World War I surplus Army uniforms or maybe by one of the old state Inspectors who oversaw the early squads. It is a round patch, blue and gold with a bear walking by; someone stenciled the word TRAFFIC on the side of the bear, which might explain why he (or she) is skulking away like that.
Ÿ The 1929-1948 round patch; the regular issue is hard, but not impossible to get. It is also blue and gold, with a black center and the same bear (after a bath, which washed off the humiliating TRAFFIC slogan) still walking eternally toward the east. The round one, as I said, is not impossible to find but what is really hard to find is the Sergeant’s patch, which is the same except it has a Sgt’s chevron attached to the top of the patch (it is one piece). I had one of these twenty years ago, but in a moment of unparalleled stupidity, traded it. I have regretted it ever since. If I ever get another one, I am taking it with me when I die!
Ÿ Perhaps tied with the pre-1949 Sgt. for rarity is the old, Highway Patrol Auxiliary patch - this one is a seven point gold star with the words HIGHWAY PATROL AUXILIARY in red letters on a black background. In the center is the familiar Civil Defense logo. Now, only God knows who actually wore this patch (the CHP Auxiliary had a different shoulder patch) but it may have been worn as a breast badge patch in place of a metal badge. Anyway, I was offered one of these many years ago, but like a damned fool I refused to spend the grocery money on it. Here is a lesson for you young, newby collectors; you gotta keep your priorities straight! Now, I have been married (yes, to the same adorable woman!) for 32 years and many times over the years I have thought to myself; “Do I spend the grocery money on this badge or patch, in order to avoid the divorce court or at the very least, a lumpy head, or do I say ‘To hell with it!’ and pay whatever is required to get a really rare patch?” All I can say is, my wife is really cute, but wives can be replaced; you might NEVER get a chance at that rare patch again!!” ‘Nuff said....
Ÿ Next in line, in order of use and rarity, are the California Highway Patrol Academy (once worn by recruits during training) patch, which is gold on blue with a gray center and the California Highway Patrol Auxiliary (a mostly World War II era unit, created to assure that California’s donut shops stay in business while the real cops were away at war) which is gold on blue with a bright red center. The Auxiliary also wore beautiful, custom breast badges and distinctive hat badges. They are best known for riding up and down the coast on their motorcycles, with a Tommy gun, looking for Japanese frogmen with knives in their teeth, crawling up the beach. Alas, the Auxiliary was disbanded in 1963.
Ÿ There are two different CHP Crossing Guard patches - one is felt with a black felt border and gold letters while the other is very similar but with a gold edging. These were worn by old ladies, pimply-faced teenagers and even a few crotchety old men who would yell and scream at the hordes of out-of-control crosswalk felons. No doubt the full power and authority of the State of California impressed these cretins to no end. Anyway, there are no more of these Crossing Guards though some of them will give you a toothy grin and a “howdy” at the local Wal Mart. These patches can be found, but they are not plentiful. If you see one, better grab it!
Ÿ The regular issue shoulder patch (the one currently worn) is actually somewhat different than the one worn in the early years of the CHP; a side-by-side comparison reveals that the older one was slightly smaller and of different material than the current issue. The state seal is quite different with the lady holding the spear and her pet bear having both improved their posture in recent years. Even the boats in the harbor have been modernized; the original boat with one cheesy sail is now looking quite cool with three masts and lots of sails!
Ÿ Now, in regards to Inspection Specialist patches (now known as Commercial Vehicle Inspectors or Commercial Vehicle Inspection Specialists), the oldest and hardest to find patch is the old one, blue on yellow (or deep yellow) with the state seal in the center and the words INSPECTION SPECIALIST on the bottom. In some areas of the state, inspectors have worn a blue and gold patch with COMMERCIAL VEHICLE INSPECTOR on the top and a seven point star in the center with CHP on it while in other areas, we find inspectors sporting a blue and gold patch with CALIFORNIA HIGHWAY PATROL on the top and CVIS along with a picture of a chunky-looking truck-tractor and semi-trailer headed west.
Ÿ There are a series of “office” patches; these are smaller, blue and gold shield-shaped patches with the famous “winged wheel” in the center; tabs on the top show titles of “Volunteer”, “Operations”, Tech-Service”, “Communications”, “Inspection Specialist” and “Office Service”.
Ÿ There are a few patches worn currently by CHP Explorers; one of these is the same as one of the “office” patches, but instead of a tab on top, there is a small patch worn underneath which says “EXPLORER” - there is also a cloth badge which is light blue, dark blue and gold with a big “E” (for “Eager”) in the middle.
Ÿ Now, with much fear and trembling, I must wander into the mine field of “SWAT” patches. CHP SWAT patches seem to have preceded the SWAT team itself. For many years, the CHP had no such team, but the California State Police did. When the CSP was absorbed into the CHP in 1995, the SWAT Team was part of the acquisition. Now, besides expending great quantities of testosterone while running around in Army fatigues with machine guns, the SWAT team dreams of the day that terrorists will take over the state capitol and (God forbid!) threaten the lives of our devoted public servants. This will give them an excuse to pull an Entebbe-style rescue in which they will be lowered from hovering helicopters, with knives in their teeth and machine guns blazing. In the meantime, they do engage in frequent practice and although they do not have a tank (like the Delaware State Police had) they hope to have one someday. Word is that the original team members, wanting to be set apart from the regular troops, took regular CHP patches and using a box of Rit dye from the local Payless, dyed them in subdued colors. This didn’t work out too good and they ended up looking like regular CHP patches that someone had done a crappy job of dying. Later, a really yucky looking, bright blue on dark blue patch appeared, reportedly a state-issued SWAT patch. I SERIOUSLY doubt this and am sure that some enterprising soul with an abundance of blue Rit dye got his wife to do the deed. Later appearances included a subdued version of the regular CHP patch with a rocker on the top that says “SWAT” (for “Sure Wish we’d Attack Them!) and another one that says “SPECIAL RESPONSE UNIT” on the top. The most recent one, and I am told that this one, at least, is officially sanctioned, is the subdued version of the regular CHP patch which is accompanied by a subdued, miniature breast badge. Finally, there is a large, gold on black patch, with the initials “CHP” which is worn on the back of “raid” jackets - these were rumored to be used during panty raids at the University of California, but the department has straightened me out on this... any such use is strictly discouraged. Actually, they are used by certain guys who serve warrants by kicking down doors while yelling threats and scaring the bejesus out of people in the middle of the night while the “Bad boys, bad boys, what ya gonna do?” theme is played and cameras roll.
Ÿ There are also some rarely seen “semi-official” tow truck patches; one of these is a gold on blue, full size patch with the words CALIFORNIA HIGHWAY PATROL on the top and FREEWAY SERVICE PATROL in the middle; it also has the CHP initials in the middle of the star at the bottom. These are the guys who will change grandma’s tire when she blows one on her GTO while racing a Chevelle GT on the freeway. Another one is the same size and shape, also gold on blue with CALIFORNIA HIGHWAY PATROL on top and OFFICIAL TOWING CONTRACTOR with a picture of a tow truck on it.
Ÿ The CHP’s MAIT team (Multidisciplinary Accident Investigation Team, which since no one can pronounce it with a straight face is always known only as “MAIT”), not to be outdone by those SWAT guys, has a pretty cool, round patch, in large and small sizes; it has the CHP’s “winged wheel” hat badge in gold on a black background with the letters M.A.I.T. in white.
Ÿ There are a couple of different cloth badges - one is sort of a bright gold, seven point star with a full color state seal; the rank on mine is TRAFFIC OFFICER. A more recent issue is a seven point gold star with blue lettering; the center seal is gold and brown and the rank is OFFICER (this rank has replaced the old Traffic Officer rank).
Ÿ Last and not least, how can we forget the only other patch worn by the CHP - this is the standard, blue and gold Sergeant chevrons?
SUPER TROOPERS
Published, August, 2000
California - Patches
I guess we could call this month’s column “California - The Sequel” since last year, I wrote about the badges of the California Highway Patrol, promising to return to this state to discuss the CHP patches. Now, many collectors are surprised to learn that there are many patches used by the California Highway Patrol other than the familiar, blue and gold emblem with the state seal in the center, which was adopted in 1948. In fact, I have counted no fewer than 25 patches! Following is a comprehensive listing of the patches used from 1921 (when California had a “dual control” system with County Motor Squad officers employed by the counties but paid by the state) through 1929 (when the California Highway Patrol was founded and the County Motor Squads began to be absorbed into the state agency) to the present date:
· The pre-1929 State of California TRAFFIC patch; this is without a doubt the rarest of the rare. I have seen only one of these and it is forever held captive by the California Highway Patrol museum, under glass, where no one can ever liberate it. I have seen it in my dreams and have yearned for the day when I will find a shoebox full of them in a dusty attic, free for the taking. I have queried many of the retired geezers, but have not found anyone who recalls wearing it, much less having one squirreled away. Somewhere there is one of these, a’mouldering in someone’s underwear drawer, but I’ll be damned if I know where! Anyway, it is the original, worn by some of the old Motor Squad officers on their World War I surplus Army uniforms or maybe by one of the old state Inspectors who oversaw the early squads. It is a round patch, blue and gold with a bear walking by; someone stenciled the word TRAFFIC on the side of the bear, which might explain why he (or she) is skulking away like that.
Ÿ The 1929-1948 round patch; the regular issue is hard, but not impossible to get. It is also blue and gold, with a black center and the same bear (after a bath, which washed off the humiliating TRAFFIC slogan) still walking eternally toward the east. The round one, as I said, is not impossible to find but what is really hard to find is the Sergeant’s patch, which is the same except it has a Sgt’s chevron attached to the top of the patch (it is one piece). I had one of these twenty years ago, but in a moment of unparalleled stupidity, traded it. I have regretted it ever since. If I ever get another one, I am taking it with me when I die!
Ÿ Perhaps tied with the pre-1949 Sgt. for rarity is the old, Highway Patrol Auxiliary patch - this one is a seven point gold star with the words HIGHWAY PATROL AUXILIARY in red letters on a black background. In the center is the familiar Civil Defense logo. Now, only God knows who actually wore this patch (the CHP Auxiliary had a different shoulder patch) but it may have been worn as a breast badge patch in place of a metal badge. Anyway, I was offered one of these many years ago, but like a damned fool I refused to spend the grocery money on it. Here is a lesson for you young, newby collectors; you gotta keep your priorities straight! Now, I have been married (yes, to the same adorable woman!) for 32 years and many times over the years I have thought to myself; “Do I spend the grocery money on this badge or patch, in order to avoid the divorce court or at the very least, a lumpy head, or do I say ‘To hell with it!’ and pay whatever is required to get a really rare patch?” All I can say is, my wife is really cute, but wives can be replaced; you might NEVER get a chance at that rare patch again!!” ‘Nuff said....
Ÿ Next in line, in order of use and rarity, are the California Highway Patrol Academy (once worn by recruits during training) patch, which is gold on blue with a gray center and the California Highway Patrol Auxiliary (a mostly World War II era unit, created to assure that California’s donut shops stay in business while the real cops were away at war) which is gold on blue with a bright red center. The Auxiliary also wore beautiful, custom breast badges and distinctive hat badges. They are best known for riding up and down the coast on their motorcycles, with a Tommy gun, looking for Japanese frogmen with knives in their teeth, crawling up the beach. Alas, the Auxiliary was disbanded in 1963.
Ÿ There are two different CHP Crossing Guard patches - one is felt with a black felt border and gold letters while the other is very similar but with a gold edging. These were worn by old ladies, pimply-faced teenagers and even a few crotchety old men who would yell and scream at the hordes of out-of-control crosswalk felons. No doubt the full power and authority of the State of California impressed these cretins to no end. Anyway, there are no more of these Crossing Guards though some of them will give you a toothy grin and a “howdy” at the local Wal Mart. These patches can be found, but they are not plentiful. If you see one, better grab it!
Ÿ The regular issue shoulder patch (the one currently worn) is actually somewhat different than the one worn in the early years of the CHP; a side-by-side comparison reveals that the older one was slightly smaller and of different material than the current issue. The state seal is quite different with the lady holding the spear and her pet bear having both improved their posture in recent years. Even the boats in the harbor have been modernized; the original boat with one cheesy sail is now looking quite cool with three masts and lots of sails!
Ÿ Now, in regards to Inspection Specialist patches (now known as Commercial Vehicle Inspectors or Commercial Vehicle Inspection Specialists), the oldest and hardest to find patch is the old one, blue on yellow (or deep yellow) with the state seal in the center and the words INSPECTION SPECIALIST on the bottom. In some areas of the state, inspectors have worn a blue and gold patch with COMMERCIAL VEHICLE INSPECTOR on the top and a seven point star in the center with CHP on it while in other areas, we find inspectors sporting a blue and gold patch with CALIFORNIA HIGHWAY PATROL on the top and CVIS along with a picture of a chunky-looking truck-tractor and semi-trailer headed west.
Ÿ There are a series of “office” patches; these are smaller, blue and gold shield-shaped patches with the famous “winged wheel” in the center; tabs on the top show titles of “Volunteer”, “Operations”, Tech-Service”, “Communications”, “Inspection Specialist” and “Office Service”.
Ÿ There are a few patches worn currently by CHP Explorers; one of these is the same as one of the “office” patches, but instead of a tab on top, there is a small patch worn underneath which says “EXPLORER” - there is also a cloth badge which is light blue, dark blue and gold with a big “E” (for “Eager”) in the middle.
Ÿ Now, with much fear and trembling, I must wander into the mine field of “SWAT” patches. CHP SWAT patches seem to have preceded the SWAT team itself. For many years, the CHP had no such team, but the California State Police did. When the CSP was absorbed into the CHP in 1995, the SWAT Team was part of the acquisition. Now, besides expending great quantities of testosterone while running around in Army fatigues with machine guns, the SWAT team dreams of the day that terrorists will take over the state capitol and (God forbid!) threaten the lives of our devoted public servants. This will give them an excuse to pull an Entebbe-style rescue in which they will be lowered from hovering helicopters, with knives in their teeth and machine guns blazing. In the meantime, they do engage in frequent practice and although they do not have a tank (like the Delaware State Police had) they hope to have one someday. Word is that the original team members, wanting to be set apart from the regular troops, took regular CHP patches and using a box of Rit dye from the local Payless, dyed them in subdued colors. This didn’t work out too good and they ended up looking like regular CHP patches that someone had done a crappy job of dying. Later, a really yucky looking, bright blue on dark blue patch appeared, reportedly a state-issued SWAT patch. I SERIOUSLY doubt this and am sure that some enterprising soul with an abundance of blue Rit dye got his wife to do the deed. Later appearances included a subdued version of the regular CHP patch with a rocker on the top that says “SWAT” (for “Sure Wish we’d Attack Them!) and another one that says “SPECIAL RESPONSE UNIT” on the top. The most recent one, and I am told that this one, at least, is officially sanctioned, is the subdued version of the regular CHP patch which is accompanied by a subdued, miniature breast badge. Finally, there is a large, gold on black patch, with the initials “CHP” which is worn on the back of “raid” jackets - these were rumored to be used during panty raids at the University of California, but the department has straightened me out on this... any such use is strictly discouraged. Actually, they are used by certain guys who serve warrants by kicking down doors while yelling threats and scaring the bejesus out of people in the middle of the night while the “Bad boys, bad boys, what ya gonna do?” theme is played and cameras roll.
Ÿ There are also some rarely seen “semi-official” tow truck patches; one of these is a gold on blue, full size patch with the words CALIFORNIA HIGHWAY PATROL on the top and FREEWAY SERVICE PATROL in the middle; it also has the CHP initials in the middle of the star at the bottom. These are the guys who will change grandma’s tire when she blows one on her GTO while racing a Chevelle GT on the freeway. Another one is the same size and shape, also gold on blue with CALIFORNIA HIGHWAY PATROL on top and OFFICIAL TOWING CONTRACTOR with a picture of a tow truck on it.
Ÿ The CHP’s MAIT team (Multidisciplinary Accident Investigation Team, which since no one can pronounce it with a straight face is always known only as “MAIT”), not to be outdone by those SWAT guys, has a pretty cool, round patch, in large and small sizes; it has the CHP’s “winged wheel” hat badge in gold on a black background with the letters M.A.I.T. in white.
Ÿ There are a couple of different cloth badges - one is sort of a bright gold, seven point star with a full color state seal; the rank on mine is TRAFFIC OFFICER. A more recent issue is a seven point gold star with blue lettering; the center seal is gold and brown and the rank is OFFICER (this rank has replaced the old Traffic Officer rank).
Ÿ Last and not least, how can we forget the only other patch worn by the CHP - this is the standard, blue and gold Sergeant chevrons?