Mystery surrounds City of Belvidere police cars

By Lisa Rodgers

Reporter

BELVIDERE – It’s 1969 in Belvidere.

What was going on in the world outside Belvidere?

Woodstock took place in July with over 350,000 people attending.

Apollo 11 and the first man on the moon. “That’s one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind,” Neil Armstrong said.

Our 37th President was Richard Nixon.

Popular movies were True Grit, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, and Easy Rider.

The Beatles, Rolling Stones, Jimi Hendrix, Bob Dylan could be heard on the radio.

Project Blue Book, the United States Air Force’s investigation into unidentified flying objects (UFOs), officially comes to an end on Dec. 17, 1969. And the very first U.S troops are pulled from Vietnam, all according to http://www.thepeoplehistory.com/1969.html#popular_culture.

It’s 1973 in Belvidere.

What was going on in the world outside of Belvidere?

Richard Nixon is still President, however Watergate hearings have begun. President Richard Nixon tells the nation. “I am not a crook.”

Popular movies were Jesus Christ Superstar, American Graffiti, and Paper Moon.

John Lennon, ABBA, Rod Stewart, and Pink Floyd could be heard on the radio.

US Troops were withdrawn from Vietnam.U.S. involvement in the Vietnam War ends with the signing of peace.

Elvis Presley’s Aloha from Hawaii television special is seen around the world by more than one billion viewers, according to: http://www.thepeoplehistory.com/1973.html#popular_culture.

It’s now 1969 and 1973 in the City of Belvidere.

What was going on here locally in those years?

Belvidere’s population in 1960 was estimated to be about 13,049.

The Mayor of Belvidere was Dominic Kirane.

The Police Chief was Ken Richardson.

One would be remiss not to mention that in 1969 it was the year of Judi Ford’s Miss America Reign. “Judi was a world-class trampolinist, having competed on both the national and international levels when she entered the Miss America Pageant as MissIllinois. Her trampoline exhibition in the talent competition helped win her the title and helped change the image of women athletes,” the Miss America Pageant website states: www.missamerica.org/our-miss-americas/1960/1969.aspx.

By 1970 the estimated population of Belvidere had grown to 14,061.

It’s now 1973 and the Mayor of Belvidere was Francis Whalen and the Police Chief was Ken Richardson. Facts provided by the Boone County Historical Museum.

They mystery that is currently under investigation by Community Policing Coordinator Officer John E. Fish is what did the police cars from 1969 and 1973 look like? What was the logo, color, and make/model of cars during those specific years for the City of Belvidere Police Department?

“There are two members of our community who have voluntarily come forward to build a replica vehicle of the City of Belvidere Police Department. It is their hobby. The intent would be to use this vehicle during parades or other functions. No taxpayer dollars will be used for this project. They have previously done replica vehicles for other law enforcement departments outside of Boone County,” Community Policing Coordinator Officer Fish of the City of Belvidere Police Department, said.

“We are looking for photos from 1969 or 1973 of City of Belvidere Police Department vehicles. We are asking the community to look through their photo collections to assist us in this mystery. To date, no photos have been located and we have checked with the Boone County Historical Museum and other sources. If any photos are provided, they will be scanned and returned. Credit will also be given to those individuals who provide the photo used for the replica vehicle,” Officer Fish said.

“In addition to the photos from 1969 and 1973, we are looking for other historical artifacts related to the City of Belvidere Police Department to further document the history of the department. Photos, memorabilia, or other historical documentation,” Officer Fish said.

“We are reaching out to the community to help us solve this vehicle mystery within the City of Belvidere Police Department. We would like to thank the community in advance for any assistance and factual information they may be able to provide for this volunteer project,” Officer Fish said.

Anyone with photos and information is asked to please contact Community Officer John Fish of the City of Belvidere Police Department at (815) 547-6312 or at [email protected].