|
The
Fort Worth Police Department has worn only four badges in its history.
In April of 1912, the Fort Worth Police Department adopted the current
badge. The badge is in the shape of a shield with a panther on top.
The
panther is historically significant, as Fort Worth's nickname is
Panther City. In 1875, the Dallas Herald published an article
by a former Fort Worth lawyer, Robert E. Cowart. Mr. Cowart wrote
that the decimation of Fort Worth's population, caused by the economic
disaster and hard winter of 1873, had dealt a severe blow to the
cattle industry. He further stated that the impact on the cattle
industry, combined with the railroad stopping the laying of track
30 miles outside of Fort Worth, had caused Fort Worth to become
such a drowsy place that he saw a panther asleep in the street by
the courthouse. The nickname Panther City was enthusiastically
embraced when in 1876 Fort Worth recovered economically. Many businesses
and organizations continue to use Panther in their name.
The
Fort Worth Police Department badge is the only police badge to go
to the moon. Astronaut Alan Bean, a graduate of R. L. Paschal High
School in Fort Worth, was given a honorary police commission and
badge before going into space in November 1969 as pilot of the Apollo
12 spacecraft. When he walked on the moon, the Fort Worth Police
badge was in his space suit.
For more information,
click here for the Fort Worth Police
Historical Association website.
© 2009 Fort Worth Police Department
All Rights Reserved.
350 West Belknap Street
Fort Worth, TX 76102
|
|
|
