Greg,
 
The picture of the crime scene photo from the accident that killed Chicago Police Officer Melvin Gossmeyer, 33 on July 17, 1960. Officer Gossmeyer was rammed by a fleeing vehicle that was being chased by another patrol car at 106th and Ewing on Chicago's SE side.
 
This was my father, it was a something to find of picture of this accident seeing that it happened over 50 years ago, I was only a small child when it happened. Below is some more information on this accident.
 
Thanks
 
Melvin L. Gossmeyer, Jr.
 
 
P.O. Melvin Gossmeyer #9775

 

I have a question on Chicago PD that I hope someone can answer; During the 1950's-60's, I know CPD has a distinctive "whooping" siren that was NOT electronic, but mechanical..I heard it might have been a MARS. I'm curious about this and how it worked. Thanks!
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The distinctive sound came from a Federal Model 28P siren which was a standard Federal Model 28 with a baffled cone attached to the front called a Pulsator. They were used from 1961 until approximately 1972.

Greg
copcar dot com

What year did the Chicago Police start using the light bar on the squad cars and using a sticker for the motto "We serve and protect" instead of painting it on the door?

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1971 saw the first Mars lightbars on a few cars. More were added each year and by 1974, all new cars came with the Mars bars. The fender sticker first appeared in 1972 and was used until the department switched to white cars in 1975.

Greg
CPD and
copcar dot com

The Officer on the right is the great John Pappas.

Greg,

Didn't CPD officers call these cars a "blue goose" when the street deputy super. used them?

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That's a little before my time, Larry. I'll ask my dad. He was on the job back then.

Greg
copcar dot com

Mr. "poop"...this is 1969...they didn't have safety holsters and this officer probably signed on in the late 30's when it was "cool" to wear your gun like that.

how do you know they are "backup officers"? reserve aux?

looks like a promo picture for the next NBC friday night series..."Vice 69" watch as Dan and Don take to the streets enforcing the law in leather.

btw they issues assault rifles back then or did "don" bring it back from Vietnam?

it is a 1967. its not a ranger... or a camper special. in fact it looks like its on a short bed chassis.

that is a very dangerous way to carry a gun, i know in NY corrections it is not allowed. many holsters have a safety where you have to pull the gun forward to get it out (in his case hed have to pull it back, also making him vulnerable to getting his gun taken from behind.) just some random info.

These CPD Travelall's sure got treated roughly, didn't they? Did CPD just use them for prisoner transport, or for other things as well? Did CPD only use the utility panel versions, like in this photo, or did they also use the "normal" passenger versions with windows?
Thanks.
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Back then the CPD's squadrols (their official name) were used for two things: prisoner transports and the removal of dead bodies. In either capacity, the person in the back didn't need a window. The trucks were utilities without windows.

Greg
CPD and
copcar dot com

This car seems more like an old FAA or a NASA police vehicle, because they didn't have lights, door decals or anything.

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I believe this picture was taken when a Saturn rocket crashed on a downtown Chicago street and the NASA command vehicle shown here put out a call of 10-63 "All Astronauts Report to Scene" to lend assistance.

Greg
copcar dot com

That intersection hasn't changed. That's the border of 014 and 018 district.

"Automatic Pinspotters" what a classic sign.

I was talking about Chrysler brand only, not Dodge and Plymouth.

Actually Greg, only the CHP Enforcer's had the mirror mounted on the headliner. All other 1962 Chrysler's still had them on the dash.
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Thanks Gary, but I'm going to have to argue that point with you unless you are referring ONLY to Chrysler cars and not including Dodge or Plymouth. In 1962, Plymouth and Dodge cars had headliner-mounted mirrors. Here is a CPD 1962 Plymouth from my album: http://images2.fotki.com/v19/photos/4/42477/128761/feb20c-vi.jpg
The mirror is not dash mounted. Maybe Chrysler badged cars were different- I know very little about them. But, the other full size Mopars for '62 had hanging mirrors.

Greg
copcar dot com