The Salt Lake City Police Department is asking for the public’s help in finding several “priceless and irreplaceable” historical items almost 10 years after they were stolen.
On May 15, 2013, during the Police Department’s annual awards gala at the Grand America Hotel, the department displayed several items from its museum. But sometime during the gala, someone stole two of the displays, according to a Thursday news release.
The first display is a set of badges that belonged to John J. Roberts Sr. and John J. Roberts Jr., a father and son who served as Salt Lake City police officers for more than 40 years. The display contained their service badges and cap insignias, as well as the “past president” badge they both received for serving as president of the Police Mutual Aid Association.
John Roberts Sr. served in the police department from 1890 to 1932, and John Roberts Jr. served from 1914 to 1955, according to detective Michael Ruff with Salt Lake City police. He didn’t provide specific information about their assignments.
The second display contained antique letterhead from the Police Mutual Aid Association, booklets from the association and possibly a copy of its letter of incorporation.
“The Salt Lake City Police Department is one of the oldest police departments in the United States, founded over 170 years ago,” the department said in a statement.
“The items missing are important to the department’s history and should only be on display in the department’s museum.”
Anyone with information about any of the items may email the police department’s public relations unit at PolicePRUnit@slcgov.com.
