Sometimes, even in this era of collectibles, you find personal collections unique enough to be newsworthy.
That's the case with Kyle Smith and his collection of 900 police patches from the arms of police officers ranging from Maine to Malibu.The patches go from the ornate and arty patch worn by officers in Kodiak, Alaska, to the simple, no-nonsense versions found in Ogden.
And like so many collectors, Smith even specializes within his speciality.
"I collect only current patches," he says. "If a department gets a new one I take the old patch off the board and write to get the new one."
Smith has come by the patches in dozens of ways. Sometimes he'll trade with other collectors, sometimes he writes police departments personally to buy, trade or barter for one.
"I started this when I was washed out of the Los Angeles Police Academy because of an injury," he says. "Another guy there was collecting them then. As far as I know, I'm the only non-police officer doing this."
There are enough collectors on patrol, however, that the hobby now has a newsletter and trading conventions. And since beginning three years ago, Smith has picked up a few insights along with the patches.
"For one thing," he says, "I've found the hardest patches to get are in Utah and Idaho. Most of those departments only give out patches to police officers. A lot of departments are afraid they'll be misused, of course. So you have to be careful not to sew them on clothing or display them improperly.
"My favorite patch is probably from my old hometown, St. Anthony, Idaho. I think the Kodiak, Alaska, patch is probably the nicest, and patches from New York City are probably the most difficult to get."
Needless to say, Smith has them all.
And he has plans to get many more.
"I'm sure I could spend another two years just contacting police departments I haven't contacted," he says. "In the meantime I take my collection around to libraries, schools, convalescence centers. I have 22 display boards in all."
As for would-be patch collectors, Smith's experience is probably true for most: first you start with one, then you get another, then another. . . .