Different Christmas

My Mom fell on Tuesday breaking a small bone in her back. For the first time since 1965 Christmas will not be held in our family home.
Some family memebers are out of town, others are leaving. Everyone has rallied to help.
Therapy and a back brace are in my 87 year young, somewhat fiesty mother.

Harley-Davidson NYC

Yep I was there once. Long time ago...

Back in the Day. Memories of the Dallas Police Department

January 2011 Dallas Police Shield Back in the Day

I heard today that a bad guy who was handcuffed jumped from the back seat of a squad car into the front and drove off. Now this guy shot at his girlfriend or something over in Oak Lawn so they really need to catch him. It was all over the news this morning. But it’s nothing new.

I remember this happening from time to time in my career. It was usually when you handcuffed the criminal and put him in the front seat with you. Then you got out of the car, or bailed out chasing the arrested person’s partner. Looking back, that seems so ridiculous having the bad guy up front with us. I remember bad guys throwing up on the officer, computer, the citizens car next to the the squad car, everybody.  I always wondered why Dallas never had cages back then?

Yeah okay I know that the sanitation department and water works get most of the Cities money, and we and the Fire Department get what is left over .It’s always been this way. Trash trucks were and still are always a major priority it seems.  Volvo trash trucks? Yep we got ‘em. Yep, the police department just could not afford the cages. The only cages I remember were the massive steel units in squad cars that were built by the City for the K-9 officers. They of course had no glass and were ventilated so the dogs could breathe and take advantage of the cars AC.

Anyway we never got cages until the last five years or so. I believe that a local grant bought them. Okay, I retired after 31.5 years and I know the police way of thinking. WE always want what other departments have until we have it. And like all police, then we don’t want it. That’s the police way.

Then of course I hear some officers complaining that they can’t reach a prisoner who is going crazy behind the cage. All right, just leave him to go nuts back there. At least he’s not sitting next to you, or next to your partner in the back seat.

And there is the complaint that they can’t put the seat all the way back, put their briefcase in the backseat, your buddies can’t ride in the backseat to get something to eat, you name it. I drove a few before I retired and they took a little getting’ used to. But you don’t have the scumbag puking on you anymore. Plus you don’t have to listen to his or her ridiculous questions over and over like, “Why am I being arrested?” Or, just “Where DO you live officer?” I remember this one.

And you can hose out the back seat, of all sorts of stuff.

Okay, I didn’t spend eight hours a day in a car with a cage. But it just seems like a good idea.  You know, all police departments in the civilized world have made cages work. Why can’t we?

The lost but now found Charger looked new, with an equipment number 80... something. That means a 2008 model city vehicle. Where was the cage? By the time you read this, hopefully the squad car thief will have been arrested.

The new black and white squad cars look cool. The City popped for the money and that’s great. Do you remember when Dallas led the pack, and got tons of awards back in 1991 or so with the Whale Tail Caprices? The reflective billboard “Dallas Police” was kind of revolutionary for the time. Others copied it. Kind of old fashioned now, but a big deal then. DPD does a lot of things right believe it or not.  It’s the people my friends.

I’ve seen pictures of DPD cars in the early fifties that were black and white. Around 1957 they went to all black. Stayed that way until the 1966 Chevy Caprices, which were white. It gets confusing around 1970 however. The Grand Fury’s of around 1970 and this writer remembers this from cruising Buckner around 1971, where I remember squad cars with upright shotgun racks and the police cars were a blue-green color. They were supposed to be metallic blue apparently but somebody at the factory read the color code wrong. Then there WAS a real metallic blue in the other early Grand Fury’s, then finally a white. The Plymouth Satellites were white and the AMC Matadors were white in 1975. They ran terrible but had great air-conditioners.

Some masters degree City wiz kid said at one time in the early 1970’s that all City vehicles should have the same logo, and be the same color. At the time the City thought a plant with three green leafs demonstrated what the City wuz all about!

Most Dallas freaks who hung out at “The Cellar” on Commerce Street and “The End of Cole” on Cole Avenue (now Javier’s,) in the 1970’s thought ,through their purple haze, that the logo looked somewhat like a marijuana leaf. But alas all City vehicles had the plain, blue reflecturized letters with the green leaf until the billboard logo about 1991.

Remember when DPD led all other departments in technology? When I was in Tactical in 1987, I was called to the then radio shop from working the State Fair and had the first big, black, in car computers installed in my 1985 Grand Fury. Cool! We were one of the first to get in-car computers. We thought that the DPD was something special.  And we were.

The only bad thing about the first computers was that the old units came off their mountings during crashes and were the cause of some officers being injured, and sadly some mortally back in the eighties and nineties.

W.H.Croom, II #3973

Dallas Police Retired

January 2011 Asylum Mobilitarium

January 2011 Asylum Mobilitarium

Continuing from last month we will delve into the world of Harley-Davidson culture and how to survive that tense dinner party conversation about motorcycling that as we know always comes up.

I was asked recently if I thought that the term “Biker,” was a term only given to a rider riding a Harley. I said that I believed that the term came from the word “bike rider.” It was made popular and shortened back in the sixties in the then new era of Roger Corman bike exploitation films. We remember “Angels Unchained” and the other Peter Fonda, Jack Nicholson, Nancy Sinatra movies at the drive-in.  And I’m talking about “Easy Rider” which was and is in an entirely different category.

Old timers used such terms as “Throttle Twisters,” to describe a rider. “Biker” became popular with magazines such as “Easy Rider,” in the early seventies. I don’t believe the word “Biker,” is exclusively defining nor has a Harley stamp of approval on it. But then again, I’m not sure riders of Gold Wings or BMW’s would accept the term as their own either.

An “Electric Leg” was a somewhat derogatory term describing a bike with an electric start. Harley people are died in the wool, and don’t accept change easily. When Harley-Davidson came out with their first hand clutch bike in the early fifties, riders didn’t exactly flock to the showrooms to buy one.

Mount a motorcycle like you do a horse, from the left side. If you see someone continually get on his ride from the right side, chances are he or she is or once was a motorcycle officer. That’s because they were taught to mount and dismount on the right to keep from falling into traffic. Makes sense.

KSU is new bikespeak for “kick stands up.” Not Kansas State University at least in the context of you better show up to a ride on time!  A “Dinner Ride” is when a bunch of folks get together and ride to eat. A cage is a car. This is what you might see in an e-mail, like “The dinner ride riding portion is off because of rain, but bring your cage.”

When you are a new rider to the chapter, and attend a dinner ride, don’t be shy. Get up and introduce yourself, and hopefully, other members will do the same thing to you. Don’t expect that you will be bosom buddies to the majority of the chapter right off. You should come to several functions and put yourself out there to be met and greeted! It will come in time.

A Rocker was a rider in the sixties known for wearing classic leather jackets and stovepipe jeans. In the early sixties this rider was known to have a duck tailed haircut. He usually rode a Triumph or BSA. His arch enemy was a “Mod.” A Mod rode Vespa’s and the like, and were sharp dressers. I’m talking suits and skinny ties, or any other current fashion trend. Rockers and Mods were famous in England for ruining many family vacations when the fighting erupted between the factions. Like the Brighton Beach riot. The Who’s album, Quadropenia was about this lifestyle.

Willie Hank

Panther Creek Historian

Youths Gone Astray since 1955

January 2011 Asylum Mobilitarium

Continuing from last month we will delve into the world of Harley-Davidson culture and how to survive that tense dinner party conversation about motorcycling that as we know always comes up.

I was asked recently if I thought that the term “Biker,” was a term only given to a rider riding a Harley. I said that I believed that the term came from the word “bike rider.” It was made popular and shortened back in the sixties in the then new era of Roger Corman bike exploitation films. We remember “Angels Unchained” and the other Peter Fonda, Jack Nicholson, Nancy Sinatra movies at the drive-in.  And I’m talking about “Easy Rider” which was and is in an entirely different category.

Old timers used such terms as “Throttle Twisters,” to describe a rider. “Biker” became popular with magazines such as “Easy Rider,” in the early seventies. I don’t believe the word “Biker,” is exclusively defining nor has a Harley stamp of approval on it. But then again, I’m not sure riders of Gold Wings or BMW’s would accept the term as their own either.

An “Electric Leg” was a somewhat derogatory term describing a bike with an electric start. Harley people are died in the wool, and don’t accept change easily. When Harley-Davidson came out with their first hand clutch bike in the early fifties, riders didn’t exactly flock to the showrooms to buy one.

Mount a motorcycle like you do a horse, from the left side. If you see someone continually get on his ride from the right side, chances are he or she is or once was a motorcycle officer. That’s because they were taught to mount and dismount on the right to keep from falling into traffic. Makes sense.

KSU is new bikespeak for “kick stands up.” Not Kansas State University at least in the context of you better show up to a ride on time!  A “Dinner Ride” is when a bunch of folks get together and ride to eat. A cage is a car. This is what you might see in an e-mail, like “The dinner ride riding portion is off because of rain, but bring your cage.”

When you are a new rider to the chapter, and attend a dinner ride, don’t be shy. Get up and introduce yourself, and hopefully, other members will do the same thing to you. Don’t expect that you will be bosom buddies to the majority of the chapter right off. You should come to several functions and put yourself out there to be met and greeted! It will come in time.

A Rocker was a rider in the sixties known for wearing classic leather jackets and stovepipe jeans. In the early sixties this rider was known to have a duck tailed haircut. He usually rode a Triumph or BSA. His arch enemy was a “Mod.” A Mod rode Vespa’s and the like, and were sharp dressers. I’m talking suits and skinny ties, or any other current fashion trend. Rockers and Mods were famous in England for ruining many family vacations when the fighting erupted between the factions. Like the Brighton Beach riot. The Who’s album, Quadropenia was about this lifestyle.

Willie Hank

Panther Creek Historian

Youths Gone Astray since 1955

January 2011 Asylum Mobilitarium

Continuing from last month we will delve into the world of Harley-Davidson culture and how to survive that tense dinner party conversation about motorcycling that as we know always comes up.

I was asked recently if I thought that the term “Biker,” was a term only given to a rider riding a Harley. I said that I believed that the term came from the word “bike rider.” It was made popular and shortened back in the sixties in the then new era of Roger Corman bike exploitation films. We remember “Angels Unchained” and the other Peter Fonda, Jack Nicholson, Nancy Sinatra movies at the drive-in.  And I’m talking about “Easy Rider” which was and is in an entirely different category.

Old timers used such terms as “Throttle Twisters,” to describe a rider. “Biker” became popular with magazines such as “Easy Rider,” in the early seventies. I don’t believe the word “Biker,” is exclusively defining nor has a Harley stamp of approval on it. But then again, I’m not sure riders of Gold Wings or BMW’s would accept the term as their own either.

An “Electric Leg” was a somewhat derogatory term describing a bike with an electric start. Harley people are died in the wool, and don’t accept change easily. When Harley-Davidson came out with their first hand clutch bike in the early fifties, riders didn’t exactly flock to the showrooms to buy one.

Mount a motorcycle like you do a horse, from the left side. If you see someone continually get on his ride from the right side, chances are he or she is or once was a motorcycle officer. That’s because they were taught to mount and dismount on the right to keep from falling into traffic. Makes sense.

KSU is new bikespeak for “kick stands up.” Not Kansas State University at least in the context of you better show up to a ride on time!  A “Dinner Ride” is when a bunch of folks get together and ride to eat. A cage is a car. This is what you might see in an e-mail, like “The dinner ride riding portion is off because of rain, but bring your cage.”

When you are a new rider to the chapter, and attend a dinner ride, don’t be shy. Get up and introduce yourself, and hopefully, other members will do the same thing to you. Don’t expect that you will be bosom buddies to the majority of the chapter right off. You should come to several functions and put yourself out there to be met and greeted! It will come in time.

A Rocker was a rider in the sixties known for wearing classic leather jackets and stovepipe jeans. In the early sixties this rider was known to have a duck tailed haircut. He usually rode a Triumph or BSA. His arch enemy was a “Mod.” A Mod rode Vespa’s and the like, and were sharp dressers. I’m talking suits and skinny ties, or any other current fashion trend. Rockers and Mods were famous in England for ruining many family vacations when the fighting erupted between the factions. Like the Brighton Beach riot. The Who’s album, Quadropenia was about this lifestyle.

Willie Hank

Panther Creek Historian

Youths Gone Astray since 1955

January 2011 Asylum Mobilitarium

Continuing from last month we will delve into the world of Harley-Davidson culture and how to survive that tense dinner party conversation about motorcycling that as we know always comes up.

I was asked recently if I thought that the term “Biker,” was a term only given to a rider riding a Harley. I said that I believed that the term came from the word “bike rider.” It was made popular and shortened back in the sixties in the then new era of Roger Corman bike exploitation films. We remember “Angels Unchained” and the other Peter Fonda, Jack Nicholson, Nancy Sinatra movies at the drive-in.  And I’m talking about “Easy Rider” which was and is in an entirely different category.

Old timers used such terms as “Throttle Twisters,” to describe a rider. “Biker” became popular with magazines such as “Easy Rider,” in the early seventies. I don’t believe the word “Biker,” is exclusively defining nor has a Harley stamp of approval on it. But then again, I’m not sure riders of Gold Wings or BMW’s would accept the term as their own either.

An “Electric Leg” was a somewhat derogatory term describing a bike with an electric start. Harley people are died in the wool, and don’t accept change easily. When Harley-Davidson came out with their first hand clutch bike in the early fifties, riders didn’t exactly flock to the showrooms to buy one.

Mount a motorcycle like you do a horse, from the left side. If you see someone continually get on his ride from the right side, chances are he or she is or once was a motorcycle officer. That’s because they were taught to mount and dismount on the right to keep from falling into traffic. Makes sense.

KSU is new bikespeak for “kick stands up.” Not Kansas State University at least in the context of you better show up to a ride on time!  A “Dinner Ride” is when a bunch of folks get together and ride to eat. A cage is a car. This is what you might see in an e-mail, like “The dinner ride riding portion is off because of rain, but bring your cage.”

When you are a new rider to the chapter, and attend a dinner ride, don’t be shy. Get up and introduce yourself, and hopefully, other members will do the same thing to you. Don’t expect that you will be bosom buddies to the majority of the chapter right off. You should come to several functions and put yourself out there to be met and greeted! It will come in time.

A Rocker was a rider in the sixties known for wearing classic leather jackets and stovepipe jeans. In the early sixties this rider was known to have a duck tailed haircut. He usually rode a Triumph or BSA. His arch enemy was a “Mod.” A Mod rode Vespa’s and the like, and were sharp dressers. I’m talking suits and skinny ties, or any other current fashion trend. Rockers and Mods were famous in England for ruining many family vacations when the fighting erupted between the factions. Like the Brighton Beach riot. The Who’s album, Quadropenia was about this lifestyle.

Willie Hank

Panther Creek Historian

Youths Gone Astray since 1955

The War

With WWII being the defining event in many veterans lives, how many would want to go back in time? Would a chance to be young again outweigh the terrible experiences that war always brings on young men and women? 

Pete Townsend

Pearl Harbor

I always think of my parents and what they were doing that Sunday, Dec 7,1941. I wonder how they heard the news. Radio I guess, or from a neighbor. First question probably was, "Wheres Pearl Harbor?"
Mom has said that she does remember being called into the schools auditorium next day to hear FDR's declaration of war. She said she and her friends were very scared...
Always remember and never forget.

Jimi Hendrix

I believe that I read onetime that Jimi never rode a motorcycle.

Much less a chopper. Cool picture though.