[David Love]

Most recent Fort Worth Reserve Police Officer graduation.

[Herb Jones]

hinzdl - thanks, that must have been him, he did mention he had brothers in on the force. We have been honored to have had - and still have - some great officers representing our city.

Welcome to the Forum!

Here are a couple of pictures from the archives of the Fort Worth Police Historical Association.



This appears to be Officer Wood and his son on the left preparing a float for a downtown parade. Note T&P Station in the rear. Don't have the identity of the other officer at this time.





Sgt. Wood at the Harley Shop 1401 (?). Lawrence Wood joined the FWPD in 1942 and retired in 1978 as Captain Wood, head of the Traffic Division. Drop by the Fire and Police Training Center, 1000 Calvert. His two motorcycles are near the entrance. A lot of other great history items are displayed along the hallways.

Capt. Wood had two older brothers on the Police Department, Thomas Wood, 1936-1963 and J. E. Wood who resigned in 1963 to teach at Northwestern.

Yep...That's Woody, The friend of every youngster that cruised University Dr and hung out at Carlson's Drive-in During the 60's.

[Papaw]

Boy, what I wouldn't give to trade the problems we face today for the ones we faced then. Damn, I must be getting old, I sound just like my Father and Grandfather!

[Cowtown Mike]

Papaw,

I am with you on that. I am sure the problems looked big in those days, but how things have chagned. This reminded me of "Cool Hand Luke"
went to prison for cutting of the heads of parking meters.

[hinzdl]

Fort Worth Police Historical Association 2010 Open-House

Admission is FREE and open to everyone

It could be said that women in the United States have been searching for equality since the birth of this Nation. In 1776, Abagail Adams wrote her husband John, who was working with others to write the Declaration of Independence, “Remember the ladies.” Evidently her request fell on deaf ears, the Declaration was worded, “…all men are created equal.”

Prior to and during the 19th century women were considered “2nd class citizens” whose existence was limited to being "barefoot, pregnant and in the kitchen.” Women were looked on as sub-sets of their husband. Both before and after marriage they didn’t have the right to own property, maintain their wages or sign contracts, much less vote.

The year before Fort Worth was chartered by the State legislators in 1873, Susan B. Anthony was arrested and brought to trial in Rochester, NY for attempting to vote for Ulysses S. Grant in the presidential election. It would be another thirty-four years before women would gain a “toe hold” in the Fort Worth Police Department when Emma Richardson was hired as a police matron. Decades more went by before women were placed into all areas of the Department from clerical positions to street enforcement.

On April 10th of this year, the Fort Worth Police Historical Association will host its 4th Annual open House, “Women in Law Enforcement”, featuring the women of the Fort Worth Police Department. The doors of the Police Training Center at 1000 Calvert will be open, from 10am-4pm, so you can meet and talk with many of these women who in some ways, had to battle their way into the positions they held. For a short six hours we will honor all women of the Fort Worth Police Department, not only those that have worn the badge but also those in support roles, who have kept them safe and helped the Department fulfill its mission.

Bring the family; there will be plenty to do for the kids. Help us say thanks to these women for their dedication.

Hope to see you there.......

[EwingFTW]

Fort Worth Police Historical Association 2010 Open-House

Admission is FREE and open to everyone

On April 10, 2010, the Fort Worth Police Historical Association will host its 4th Annual Open House, “Women in Law Enforcement”, featuring the women of the Fort Worth Police Department. The doors of the Police Training Center at 1000 Calvert will be open, from 10am-4pm, so you can meet and talk with many of these women who in some ways, had to battle their way into the positions they held. For a short six hours we will honor all women of the Fort Worth Police Department, not only those that have worn the badge but also those in support roles, who have kept them safe and helped the Department fulfill its mission.

Bring the family; there will be plenty to do for the kids. Help us say thanks to these women for their dedication.

[lonnzer]

Woody was a FWPD Sargent that was assigned to Carlson's DriveInn and Root Beer Stand on University Dr. in the late 50's and early 60's while I was attending Paschal High School. This might have been an "extra" job as far as I know but he was there nearly every evening - especially on weekends. He drove his police Harley and was there to keep peace and quit amongst the teens which continually drove around and through the drive in with their loud pipes and blazing radios. What was different about Woody, he was one of the kindest person you would ever meet and was the kids best friend. He associated with the teens like he was one of them and he actually won their respect by him respecting them. If he caught you drinking he would pour out your stash and if you had too much he would always see to it someone got you home - but your car stayed there till the next day! He cut up and joked with the kids just like he was one of them. I knew several that had been into some trouble and Woody would spend a lot of time with these kids showing how to change their ways before it was too late, and he was nearly always successful.
Cajunmike - I'm think it might have been Lawrence but not real sure. I was wondering the same thing after reading a very interesting article on JFK's assasination involving Lawrence Wood.
I hope EwingFTW will read the the following article and give us any idea how much is factual or if he could add to it.

http://mcadams.posc.mu.edu/cowtown.txt

The article is "The Cowtown Connection" by Duke Lane and tells about the coincidence of some odd Fort Worth Police activity at the same time of JFK"s assasination that involved FWPD officers LE Wood, HW Sinclair and others. It was very interesting to me and I doubt if many locals have ever read it.

Captain Wood also escorted many funeral processions. I met him when I was a funeral director in Ft. Worth before moving to Austin. He escorted my grandfather's procession. My family thought that was a big honor by Captain Wood. He was a well respected gentleman and police officer.

[hinzdl]

The Lawrence Wood you are talking about are the same as the one in the article. He also had two brothers on the Department, J.E and T.M. Both of them resigned taking other jobs but Lawrence retired from the Department. He rode his motor until the day of his death. He did motor escorts at funerals and the morning of his death, he was doing an escort, he went out kicked over his motor (no electric starter for him) and decided he did not feel well. He shut it off went back into the house and sat down. That's were he passed....His son Larry is still alive and live in Fort Worth. Larry is the kid on the motor with Lawrence in one of the above photos.

He retired at the rank of Captain and was commander of the Traffic Division for several years. He would never give up his side-shift Harley. After his death thefamily donated his motor to the Department and it is now house at the Police Training Center. They also donated his shriner cycle, a miniture of his regular Harley which is also on dispaly at Training. Come on down and see it on the 10th of April from 10AM-4PM when we have the Police Historical Association's Open-House.....Dale

[EwingFTW]

Fort Worth Police Historical Association 2010 Open-House

Admission is FREE and open to everyone

On April 10, 2010, the Fort Worth Police Historical Association will host its 4th Annual Open House, “Women in Law Enforcement”, featuring the women of the Fort Worth Police Department. The doors of the Police Training Center at 1000 Calvert will be open, from 10am-4pm, so you can meet and talk with many of these women who in some ways, had to battle their way into the positions they held. For a short six hours we will honor all women of the Fort Worth Police Department, not only those that have worn the badge but also those in support roles, who have kept them safe and helped the Department fulfill its mission.

Bring the family; there will be plenty to do for the kids. Help us say thanks to these women for their dedication.

Just a reminder from a previous post. This Saturday, April 10, the Fort Worth Police Historical Association will have its Annual Open House.

You'll get to meet women in law enforcement, past and present, see helicopters, motorcycles, police cars, (old and new), an old jail wagon, mounted patrol officers, K-9 officers and their partners, etc., etc.

Bring the kids, they'll love it and they can even have their picture taken.

[EwingFTW]

Here is a 1938 picture of a Fort Worth Police car and two officers.
Note the front fenders with the police badges, the lack of red lights or siren
and also the officer's badge worn on the belt.






Can you help identify the location where this picture was taken?
Seems to me, I've seen this store front on South Main or Magnolia.

[Cowtown Mike]

Anyway to make the photo larger for viewing?

[hinzdl]

Jim, just to let you know, the officer on the left is Captain J.B. Derden and the one on the right is Wade Langley. I'm still working on the location. Also if you look closely you'll notice they are wearinig cross draw flap holsters.

[hinzdl]

I haven't posted anything for a while but found this and thought you might enjoy it. Also if you'd like to read our Historical Newsletter go to www.fortworthpd.com and in the center of the page is a badge, below is the information on the current badge and when that page is opened a link to the Police Historical Associations website is on the left. I hope that all that are interested in FWPD history will look at it and join the Association. Have a great day.....


Always a Cop:

Once the badge goes on, it never comes off, whether they can see it, or not. It fuses to the soul through adversity, fear and adrenaline and no one who has ever worn it with pride, integrity and guts, can ever sleep through the 'call of the wild' that wafts through bedroom windows in the deep of the night.

When Cops Retire

When a good cop leaves the 'job' and retires to a better life, many are jealous, some are pleased and yet others, who may have already retired, wonder. We wonder if he knows what he is leaving behind, because we already know. We know, for example, that after a lifetime of camaraderie that few experience, it will remain as a longing for those past times. We know in the law enforcement life there is a fellowship which lasts long after the uniforms are hung up in the back of the closet. We know even if he throws them away, they will be on him with every step and breath that remains in his life. We also know how the very bearing of the man speaks of what he was and in his heart still is.

These are the burdens of the job. You will still look at people suspiciously, still see what others do not see or choose to ignore and always will look at the rest of the law enforcement world with a respect for what they do; only grown in a lifetime of knowing. Never think for one moment you are escaping from that life. You are only escaping the 'job' and merely being allowed to leave 'active' duty.

So what I wish for you is that whenever you ease into retirement, in your heart you never forget for one moment that 'Blessed are the Peacemakers for they shall be called children of God,' and you are still a member of the greatest fraternity the world has ever known.

[hinzdl]

I have been placing some stories I've written on the Fort Worth Police Dept on this post and thought I'd let you know about some other places to look for FWPD stories, are at the Fort Worth Police Historical Assoc. webpage in our Newsletters....... FWPD Historical Assoc or at Panther's Rest. I hope you enjoy these......Dale