where RoboCop’ s uniform, the red light from Starsky and Hutch’ s Gran Torino and other items from police movies and television shows will be on display.
“ There will be video showing police movies and a law enforcement officer explaining how this never would have happened in real life,” Jaeger reveals.“ That’ s what I’ m looking forward to the most.”
On another wall will be 9-1-1 operator stations providing the experience of what it’ s like to be a 9-1-1 dispatcher. At the center of the exhibition floor will be a Dodge police cruiser that people can go through, and a helicopter from the State Park Police will hang from the ceiling.
Near the cruiser will be a display with jail cells from Lorton Prison in Virginia.
“ I think this will the most photographed exhibit in the entire museum,” Jaeger comments.“ We have them up there for people to go in and see what it’ s like to be an inmate and see what it’ s like to be a corrections officer. The museum focuses as much as possible on all aspects of law enforcement.”
Some of the artifacts in the collection include Eliot Ness’ s credentials and the handcuffs used to take the Boston Marathon bomber to jail. In continuing the attraction of the memorial, the museum will have a Hall of Remembrance where pictures of all law enforcement officers who died in the line of duty the previous year will be on display.
As the scaffolding turns into actual display space and the dust clears, the excitement for the opening will begin to build. What will be interesting to see is which exhibits and artifacts are most attractive to law enforcement officers.
“ I think the Hall of Remembrance for some,” Jaeger conjectures.“ For most, I think being able to show off what they do to normal civilians like myself and explain a little bit more about what they do will be what they enjoy the most on a daily basis.” d
A view from the observation bridge overlooking the exhibit floor.
www. njcopsmagazine. com ■ MAY 2018 43