Expert: Jack Toomey - 4/14/2010

Question
QUESTION: Hey Jack,

Hopefully a very quick question but I'll imbed it in a little context first.

I'm a screenwriter (repped, but alas unsold) currently writing a scene whereby a body is discovered that turns out to be an ex-cop who stole millions from a crime syndicate while working undercover.

My question is, what items of identification might the ex-cop have around the house that alluded to him being a cop, but that also had his name on? Obviously he has his old police badge but that only displays number. Is anything name ID wise ever carved/engraved on the back of badges? If a badge is in a wallet, would it be accompanied by photo ID with name?

Okay..... turned into quite a long question. Thanking you in advance.

regards

Alex

PS. If it makes a difference, he's LAPD.

ANSWER: Hi,

I can't speak for the LAPD but I would think it strange if he had kept his badge.  Maybe in California they let you keep it or give you a retirement badge.  But on my department it is one of the things that you have to turn in the day you leave.

What he might have (basing it on what I have) is a badge plaque.  Its a plaque to hang on the wall which has your name, dates of service, a fake badge, and maybe a few words of commendation.  I think that just about all departments give these out on the day of retirement or at the retirement party.

I'll tell you something from experience.  Sometime, a long time ago, I had a case where a body was found in a house, and we noticed one of these badge plaques on the wall.  It was a natural death and it turned out to be a member of my own department who had retired decades ago.

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Hey Jack,

Thanks for your response. Probably should explain something. My fault. I wasn't clear :)

As mentioned, the dead ex-cop in question stole millions from a crime syndicate while working undercover. What I neglected to mention was that at the point he did so, he disappeared without a trace (in fact the backstory is, he migrated to Ireland with the stolen money). So he never reached retirement and would in fact have all the ID/badges etc. that he would have as a cop.

So I guess the question is, what would a cop, still on the force, keep on him as ID containing his name? And another important question would be, has that ID changed over the years since the dead ex-cop in question is 65 when he dies and mid-thirties when he disappeared. Which would mean he was on the force mid-70's.

Hope that hasn't complicated the question :)

regards

Alex

Answer
If he just took off it seems to me that he would not want any type of police ID anywhere around him.  If he left town quickly I don't see how he would be carrying anything from the LAPD unless it was his gun.  The serial number would be traced back to the department when it was found.  That is one thing that he would never get rid of.  In the 70's they probably were carrying six inch revolvers.

The only other thing that I can think of is maybe a paystub or an inter-department phone book or something inconsequential.

If his move to Ireland was planned and he had sometime to pack then there would be more things like paperwork or maybe some photos of when he was in uniform.