Museum of Natural History and the White House Visitor Center
among many others.
“(Lawrence is) a great artist,” acclaims Looney. “She is able to
take a story and get to the essence of what’s appealing and get
it to anyone. A 30-year grizzled officer can sit next to a 10-yearold, and they’ll both come out with a better understanding of
what officers do.”
Following the first flick, visitors can experience various
aspects of law enforcement via different mediums and
approaches. For example, in the “Take the Case” exhibit on
forensic work, school groups will be able to come and learn
about science and technology and their application in professional law enforcement.
In the “Reel to Real” exhibit, visitors will get an opportunity
to compare the real job of law enforcement officers against
famous TV cops, both “realistic” like those in Law and Order
and uber-fantastic like RoboCop. Props, toys and even the costume worn by Peter Weller in the 1987 movie are on display –
“always a crowd favorite,” says Looney, though her own favorite
exhibit is called “Officer Stories.”
“I’ve learned officers are great storytellers,” Looney prompts.
“They all have a story to tell and everyone’s experience is
unique, so we want visitors to come and hear the stories from
the officers themselves.”
A multi-touchscreen experience will offer visitors the opportunity to listen to officers’ best day of their career, their worst
day or even just something funny that happened one night.
“These are very short snippets about what officers do and
why they do it,” Looney elaborates. “We’ve recorded maybe 20
so far and we’re going to have dozens for the final exhibit.”
Be on the lookout during future National Police Weeks as the
museum plans to set up a recording studio where officers from
across the country will be able to tell about their careers or
those of others that make up the great quilt that is the history of
American law enforcement.
On that note, the museum is looking for additional objects
and artifacts to display, so if you have your grandfather’s old
badge or anything you think might be relevant to that great
American law enforcement quilt, contact Museum Programs
staff at 202-737-3400 or email museum@nleomf.org.
“Everyone is very excited,” Looney emotes. “A lot of people
have worked on this for a very long time. You get financing and
put fencing up but today you go there and there’s dirt being
moved around and it’s a reality that it’s really happening.” d
www.njcopsmagazine.com
■
MAY 2016
47