Volume 34-Number 5 September-October 2016 Number 54 Indianapolis served as the law enforcement insignia crossroads of the United States and beyond on August 19, 20 and 21 as the Hoosier State hosted the 30th Annual Indianapolis National Police Collectors Show. Matthew Allen Morgan, who did an outstanding job hosting his fi rst show, welcomed collectors and dealers from throughout the United States, Canada, Norway and Japan to the fi rst Indiana National Show at the Indianapolis Convention Center. Hosts Its First The National’s initial visit to Indiana was a tremendous success. It attracted 262 tables. Tableholders came from as far away as California, Florida and Hawaii. National Show There were about 200 tableholders and assistants, as well as 180 walk-ins. Total attendance was estimated at 380. The National Police Collectors Show visited “Thank you to everyone who made the trip to Indy. Nothing would have worked out [more than] everyone trusting me to handle this. I hear I had my doubters,” Morgan said. Indianapolis for the fi rst time on August 19, 20 and 21. “This isn’t an easy venue to put together and was stressful at times. I honestly didn’t First-time host Matthew Morgan did an outstanding have time to look at more than a handful of the great stuff you all brought. I managed to buy one badge for myself, and hopefully get my hands on some more down the road,” job and welcomed collectors and dealers from as far Morgan said. Tableholders offered high praise for Morgan, an Indianapolis police patrol sergeant. away as Europe and Japan to the hobby’s 30th annual He literally thought of everything from comping reduced price hotel parking pass convention. It drew hobby-wide rave reviews. discounts to passing out table packets early to arranging tours of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and the Indiana State Police Safety and Education Center. By Mike R. Bondarenko, Editor Downtown Indianapolis offered collectors and their families unlimited entertainment options, from an Indianapolis Colts preseason game on Saturday night, to more than INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – Indianapolis is known as the crossroads of America for the 300 restaurants, taverns and entertainment venues within walking distance of the Hyatt interstate highways that crisscross the city and connect the Hoosier State capital to the Regency, the host hotel, which was an outstanding venue. rest of the United States. The show was held in the massive Indiana Convention Center, the downtown A posse attends every National! (Bottom row, left to right) Ryan Bertlatto, Ed Another National Show posse! (Left to right) Mr. and Mrs. Ryder Lusk, Andrew Zitek, Dennis Daniels, John Baker and Mike Fejka. (Second row, left to right) and Nancy Nelson, David Martin and Mr. and Mrs. Jim Clark. They have been Donceya Ortiz, Jenny Zitek, Margaret Daniels, Cris Baker and Carmel Fejka. tableholders in the same location at the last several National Police Collectors (Back row) Owen Farrell and Damir Krzdalic. Arthur Fox photograph Shows and have become close friends. Contributed photograph Page 2 POLICE COLLECTORS NEWS Sept.-Oct. 2016 Unless you are a serious collector of Tennessee Highway Patrol emblems, you would never have known that there are so many different emblem styles and designs. This is a segment of Vincent Turocy’s award-winning display at the National Police Collectors Show in Indianapolis. Lewis Surrey photograph National Show. Tableholders judged the displays. “It wasn’t even close for either award. You won both of them by a lot of votes,” said Vincent Turocy (left) accepts the “Best Overall Display” and “Best Badge Morgan as he presented Turocy with the awards on Sunday afternoon. “You were an Display” awards from Matt Morgan (right), host of the 2016 National Police overwhelming choice.” Collectors Show. It was the fi rst time that one collector has won two display Turocy specializes in the Tennessee Highway Patrol. He has an absolutely incredible contest awards at the National Show. Mike R. Bondarenko photograph collection of badges, patches, artifacts, uniforms, license plates and other memorabilia. “I still need a lot of old stuff,” he said. “My goal is to have everything we have ever worn.” 2016 National Show ...Continued Turocy grew up in Massachusetts and joined the United States Army. He served at Fort Campbell and fell in love with Tennessee. convention center, which is connected to all the major hotels. It was the largest National After he was discharged from the Army, he tried to join a police department in the Show venue in many years. Volunteer State. It took him several years before he joined the Tennessee Highway Patrol “We had 262 tables, including seven that went to non-profi t organizations,” Morgan as a dispatcher in 1999. said. “I worked in dispatch for nine months before I was selected for the academy as a The cavernous hall could have easily accommodated more than 300 tables. trooper,” Turocy said. “There are defi nitely things that I will do differently if I host again, and I’m giving some “I would just like to say thank you to everyone who voted for the THP display. It was a thought to a 2019 pitch,” Morgan said. true honor to receive both the ‘Best Display’ and ‘Best Badge’ display award. I’m honored If Morgan decides to bid for 2019, he would receive strong support from tableholders for the acknowledgment of my work,” Turocy said. and attendees because Indianapolis was an outstanding show, and he did a great job Turocy intends to present an even larger THP display in 2018. hosting it. “I would also like to acknowledge the other collectors that presented their displays. I thought they were equally as great and worthy of distinction,” he said. Turocy dominates display contest Vincent Turocy, a Tennessee Highway Turocy hopes to ferret out badges and patches stored in drawers and closets by Patrol sergeant, dominated the display contest by winning both the “Best of Show” and former Tennessee state troopers. He needs them to complete the display. “Best Badge Display” awards. “Best Patch Display” went to Gary Schott, a retired Minnesota law enforcement offi cer, It was the fi rst time in 30 years that a collector won two display contest awards at the who was honored for his police and sheriff emblems displayed on state-shaped boards. Vincent Turocy has an incredible collection of badges, patches, uniforms and This is Vincent Turocy’s patch and badge collection from the Tennessee State artifacts from his department, the Tennessee Highway Patrol, where he serves Capitol Police Department, which is now part of the Tennessee Highway Patrol. as a patrol sergeant. He was the fi rst collector ever to win both “Best Badge” and These offi cers patrolled and protected the State Capitol in Nashville, which is “Best Overall” display awards. Mike R. Bondarenko photograph the seat of government in the state. Lewis Surrey photograph Sept.-Oct. 2016 POLICE COLLECTORS NEWS Page 3 “You won these displays by a lot of votes,” said host Matt Morgan, as presented the “Best Badge” and “Best Overall” awards to Vincent Turocy for his Tennessee Highway Patrol displays. These are his communications and special operations displays. Mike R. Bondarenko photograph “I had a great and interesting time at this year’s National Show. I had not been in this One of the achievements that David Kellner is most proud of is the North area before and was surprised at all the fun and interesting things to see and do!” Schott Carolina Highway Patrol cruiser (center) that he built from scratch. “It was a lot said. of work, and it took a long time, but it was very much worth it,” he said. Kellner Schott specializes in Gopher State police and sheriff patches. won a display contest award at the National. Mike R. Bondarenko photograph The collector related a great story about the development of the current McLeod County canine emblem, which he called the “110 Minute Patch.” other memorabilia from the North Carolina Highway Patrol. Schott met with the county sheriff after the canine unit was revived. He showed him “I retired from the NYPD and moved to North Carolina four years ago. I didn’t have images of other canine emblems from Minnesota. The sheriff chose one that was larger anything from that department until I retired, so I decided I wanted to collect the state,” than his current deputy sheriff’s patch. He also wanted a thin blue line on it. Kellner said. “I worked on it with Justin Van Halanger. He came up with the design in a few minutes. Kellner has an outstanding NCHP collection that includes a vintage cruiser he custom It is a dog’s head, and he added the thin blue line. It looked great, and the sheriff built. approved it in 110 minutes. An rocker was added beneath the dog’s name, which is He also has a virtually complete collection of badges and patches. ‘Kilo.’” All four National Show award winners richly deserved the recognition. “Most Unique Display” went to David Kellner, a retired New York City police offi cer, for his outstanding display of patches, badges, photographs, uniforms, license plates and Outstanding Facebook reviews Morgan did an outstanding job using social media to keep tableholders and collectors informed about up to the minute show developments using a Facebook page. His 2016 National Police Collectors Show Facebook page had more than 550 visitors. His postings were extremely helpful, especially in the fi nal days before the show. “Morgan did a great job of keeping collectors informed,” said Dennis Daniels, who traveled from Nevada to attend the show.