Los Angeles herald., 1907-04-22
SMALL PORTION OF POLICE STAR
RECALLS DAYS OF ANCIENT PUEBLO

tell you it's history? Yes, to all your
questions.
Know It? why, It brings back to
me the days when as a young man /
wore the blue uniform as an officer on
the Los Angeles force. when the police
district was bounded by the present
Lorders of Sonoratown. It brings back
to me the days when merry dances
around the Plaza, dainty senoritas,
dark eyed senors and old Spanish music
held our attention. Days when the
knife thrust was common, but when
the crack OF the revolver was frequent
ly heard. Not a policeman who served
during the days OF ~ but will worship
this little piece of steel which was
once a part of the star that adorned
the breast of our chief and the first
head of the police department in Los
Angeles.
1T was a part of the first police
star ever made for a local officer in
this city. Chief j. T. Jenkins was the
owner Of It and right proud he was of
his badge UP to the time he was APP
pointed head of the department the
only stars we had seen we're those worn
by United States marshals and their
deputies. Then Jenkins was appointed
to the head of a local police force and
he found It necessary to obtain some
DadBe OIL authority.
There was no stamping house in
Los Angeles in those days and he was
compelled to send to San Francisco to
have the star made. When 1t was re-
turned to him those of us who had
been appointed to the force gathered
in his office to gaze at It with admira-
tion, and that same night orders were
sent north for five other stars for the
patrolmen.
For nearly year Chief Jenkins
ruled the department. The night be-
fore he left he called us all into his
room and there we found Emil Harris,
the man who was to relieve him.
Boys said the chief, tomorrow l
will no longer be head of this depart
ment. have been the first chief of a
force which in days to come will rank
with the best in the country. Many
of you will live to see the day when
it will take many times our number to
safely guard the peace and protect the
interests of this city. l do not care
whether these new men ever think of
me or of the work 1 have done, but l
do wish to live in your memories. My
career as chief has been stormy one,
and frequently I have been compelled
to be what may have seemed to you
unnecessarily harsh. 1t was for the
department, though, and 1 want you
to remember that.
Breaks Star in Pieces
"T am going to give you each lit
tie souvenir. l want you to prize 1t.
Here, and with these words the chief
unpinned from his breast the star he
was wearing. With strong fingers he
broke off the spears, laying them on
the table until the six were side by
side.
ITO each of his five officers he gave
one, retaining the sixth for himself.
Then turning to Harris, he handed him
the center of the star with the words,
Chief Of on it.
mot a word was said by one of US,
as we slowly left the room. Now
come with me and l will give you
proof of my words"
With slow step and all the time gaz-
ing at the little spear point in his
hand, Murdoch led the way into his
dwelling and with gentle fingers lifted
from a book case little plush case
which he opened. There in a little hol-
low lay an exact counterpart of the
spear which had been given the re-
porter at the police station.
"For more than thirty years 1 have
kept this little spear in memory of
nv old chief" said Murdock, ''yet some
one has evidently not priced its mate
so much"
He then returned the spear and with
curiosity satisfied, the reporter left the
dwelling, but that spear will be given
a place of honor among relics of Los
Angeles, where it will recall to the
minds of the old settlers the days when
Los Angeles was but a child.