|
Although Fort Worth's longhorn logo appears on some police patrol cars, a different animal -- one whose connection to the
city goes back about as far as the longhorn's -- is prominent on every officer's badge.
Crouched on the badge -- or shield, as it is sometimes called -- is a panther.
The longhorn was added to police cars in recent years, but the panther has been a police symbol since 1912.
It's clear enough why Cowtown adopted a longhorn emblem. But why a panther?
It goes back to February 1875 when a Dallas Daily Herald writer poked fun at Fort Worth, then in an economic slump. A
former Baptist preacher in Fort Worth said a panther had provoked his dogs one night and he showed an acquaintance an outline
in the dirt on West Weatherford Street, insisting that a panther had lain there.
Fort Worth folks evidently didn't give the story much thought. But the Dallas writer described the panther wandering "at
his own sweet will through the streets."
The headline read "FORT WORTH IN A COLD SWEAT -- A 'Panter' Loose In Her Streets."
Fort Worth leaders turned the intended insult around and nicknamed their town "Panther City."
Back to the police badges.
In 1879, "the first badge worn by city marshals was similar to that worn by other frontier peace officers then --
a five-pointed star," said Sgt. Kevin Foster, the Fort Worth police historian.
The badge probably didn't change until 1891, when City Marshal Jim Maddox purchased the first complete set of matching
badges -- a shield with an eagle, Foster said.
The city marshal, who doubled as police chief, wore a five-pointed star dangling from two chains attached to a silver
bar, Foster said.
About 1912, J.A. Allen, commissioner of the police and fire departments, and Police Chief J.W. Renfro ordered new police
badges, selecting a design by city electrician Joseph Oliver Wright.
On these badges, Wright placed a crouching panther -- a nice twist on the tale of the sleeping panther.
One hundred numbered badges were ordered for uniformed officers and 12 for detectives.
At 9 a.m. June 9, 1912, Allen and Renfro held a special roll call to hand out the badges. They were presented to officers
in the order of seniority, except for Badge No. 2, which went to Wright as a reward for the design.
The officer who would have received Badge 13 declined to take it, so that badge was not assigned. There were only 60 officers
on the force then, so the remaining 39 badges were put into storage until they would be needed.
Wright's daughter still has the No. 2 badge, Foster said.
One badge, issued in 1969, has been to the moon and back. Astronaut Alan Bean was made an honorary Fort Worth police officer
before his Nov. 19, 1969, moon landing.
Bean walked in the moon's Ocean of Storms. Recently Bean returned the badge to police for their archives.
During the ceremony, Police Chief Ralph Mendoza said, "Officer Bean walked his moon beat like any good Fort Worth
cop."
|
