Wichita Police Photos I had hanging around. My how the times have
changed!
Photo taken sometime in 1974 at Linwood Park (1901 S Kansas St).
These two Wichita Police Officers (Ed Burnett, left & Jerry
Burnett, right) each have a revolver, handcuffs and stop watches. I
presume the baton and flashlights are in the car. Back before the days
of MCT's, body armor, Tasers and all the other nifty gadgets.
The patrol car is a Dodge Coronet, 5th generation 1971 - 1973 model. The lightbar is a Federal Signal Visibar with twin red beacons.
Over the years the equipment and technology have changed but it's still the same job. I have the highest respect for those that do it.
If anyone else has any pictures of WPD from a while back I would love
to see them. I'm very interested in any photos of Black & White
WPD cars from the past.
Feel free to add our own notes & comments.
MiracleMachine, vckbryant64, charlene699, .A.A., and 17 other people added this photo to their favorites.
![Wichita Police good old days [1974]](http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2085/2279150634_653f5b64a9_s.jpg)
N.J. & R.J. [deleted] 64 months ago | reply
I like the hair ..my how times have changed. Remember when almost every police car was a bif dodge like this one.
malagent 64 months ago | reply
I was not sure of the make or model of the car, but big is right. As for the hair - each time I see this pic the thing that stands out the most to me (other than the giant "Wichita Police" placard) is the mustaches. Been a long time since I've seen someone with one like that!
Assassin Photography 64 months ago | reply
Oh...this is great. I think I've seen the officer on the left before...lol. What era was this, back in the 70's or pre that even?
I looks a bit like Alley Pool in the background too. Any idea on the location? I know it's not Alley pool, because the parking lot is on the wrong side.
malagent 64 months ago | reply
Assassin, I wish I knew a little more about this picture and the specifics. It was emailed to me by a friend I have in WPD. I've had it for quite some time now, I know it's not one from the history pages on WPD website, but it should be.
I know that in 1971 the cars still had the placard in between the lights, in 1977 they did not have them any more.
Someone somewhere knows about this photo, perhaps they will find it and let us know?
Katie and Joe 64 months ago | reply
This is a great period photo. I believe the nameplate on the front fender says Coronet. This was a mid-sized Dodge that was popular with the police. The signs on the lightbar probably knocked a few mph off the top speed.
I'm the admin for a group called Vintage Police Cars, and we'd love to have your photo added to the group.
vckbryant64 64 months ago | reply
Hey I am just wondering how you got this picture? I know the two people in the picture as the on the left is my uncle and the one on the right is my dad. They had the picture made as a christmas present for their mom.
kris
vckbryant64 64 months ago | reply
just an FYI the picture was taken in 1972
jerrybnkaw 64 months ago | reply
This picture is of my brother and myself. It was taken in 1972 at Linwood park. I am the one next to the car.
During that time they switched to solid colored cars hoping to increase their resale value. It must not have worked because they went back basic police package.
My brother (Ed Burnett) on the left retired from the WPD and worked for the Kay Co. Sheriff in Oklahoma. He died in 2001 as their Chief Investigator and captain.
The radar used at that time was Custom Signal TR6. There were still some marked spots where you could use the stop watch to check speeders.
The picture isn't that clear but Ed carried a 44mag.
Assassin Photography 64 months ago | reply
Awsome, Jerry... thanks for sharing the infomation about the image. It's a classic at this point in Wichita's history. Dig that goofy car...
malagent 64 months ago | reply
Jerry,
Thank you very much for the info & allowing me to keep the photo posted.
I know that until the "Mustache Squad" in the early 70's that officers were not allowed to have mustaches, were you involved in that at all?
Was this before WPD started bringing back the batons?
That time period in WPD history is fascinating to me. The department started using the helicopter, had the “Buzz with the fuzz” ride along program and much more.
This is one of the best pictures I've come across, it's as good or better than the photos of Ofc. Bruce Benaway with the 1971 Plymouth posted on WPD's history pages.
I'm trying to locate my photos from the late 70's & early 80's of my Aunt's patrol car. She has recently retired as a Captain of the Reno County Sheriff dept.
charlene699 64 months ago | reply
Absolutely fantastic Malagent!
Thanks for posting it - and Thanks to Jerry & Kris for the information. I wish there were more like this. I reminds me of snooping through my dad's photo's as a little girl. I never really knew my dad but he started as a police officer when Hannon was chief and he is still on the force as far as I know.
jerrybnkaw 64 months ago | reply
After looking at this picture it was not in 1972. It had to be in the winter time because Ed is wearing the winter uniform and I had on a tie (winter required). I was in rookie school in the winter of 1973, so this was most likely 74.
We had "Mace", just a straight wooden baton, and the body armore was not use yet. The first body armore was Safariland, I purchased myself. The department was ready to buy Second Chance but I gave training the test result for Safariland vs Second Chance and they change their order to Safariland.
As you can see we didn't have a cage so the prisoner was in the front seat when being transported.
Before starting rookie school I was assigned to the air section for 2 weeks to ride right seat. The pilot was Sgt. Quin and as luck would have it we had a forced landing in a field southeast of town.
As I remember more I will write.
Irakli_B [deleted] 64 months ago | reply
cool image, tells a whole history
abej2004 63 months ago | reply
Hazzard County?
randomonix 63 months ago | reply
Hi, I'm an admin for a group called Photos from the 1970's, and we'd love to have your photo added to the group.
conner395 62 months ago | reply
Malagent: THanks for addign this to the Police History group. The information that's turned up here is just what the group was set up for - "the story behind the photo" stuff.
I would like to invite Jerry (and kris) to the group too in the hope they may wish to upload some police photos and share them with us.
It was obviously "moustache time" in the '70's!! (Me too!!)
Jonathan Ryan - Tipperaryphotos.com 60 months ago | reply
Hi, I'm an admin for a group called Old Photographs given new life., and we'd love to have this added to the group!
kineticperplexity 59 months ago | reply
Hi, I'm an admin for a group called Back The Blue (Law Enforcement), and we'd love to have this added to the group!
Alejandro Marentes Photography [Buggs] 54 months ago | reply
Hi, I'm an admin for a group called Police Officer Photographers, and we'd love to have this added to the group!