International Police Museum - Oregon, USA

08/31/2026

Oh my, oh why, do so many bridal parties end up in jail in Rockaway Beach?

Camaraderie, laughter, adventure, and I think they might even had a good time looking at some of the exhibits in the Museum!

08/30/2026

The BEACH BARGAINS garage sale is coming up quickly - less than two weeks.

If you would like to participate but don’t live in Rockaway, consider renting a table in IPM‘s community room. Your table and goods will be
secure overnight.

503-457-5018 for faster response or contact [email protected]

08/25/2026

A couple of days ago we had the makings of a Chicago officer checking out the Museum. Note that in the background there are a couple of possible suspects - or possibly brothers – checking out the jail cell.  These youngsters provided more than a few “made my day” moments when they visited. Kudos to the parents of children like these young fellas.

08/24/2026

I imagine in the future years people will say “look how much AI has done for the world.” I don’t expect to live that long.

Meanwhile, I put this photo into Google lens and ask for an explanation of the arms in the middle of the helmet. I pretty much know the answer, but it was one of those days to double check what I think I know versus what I do know. Next to the photo of the Bobbe helmet is AI’s response- a description of a molded plastic cap on a royal coin tube with the royal arms of the UK.

I cannot make this stuff up.

BTW, the coat of arms for Durham is for rampant lions, each in a quadrant formed by a Blue Cross. In heraldry, lions represent strength, nobility, courage, and royal authority.

How AI turned this Bobbe helmet into a plastic cap of a Royal Coin tube is, well, I have no words.

08/23/2026

Yep! Another variation on a theme day. See the differences? I think this would be a sneaky way to teach geography, and attention to detail.  It does keep my volunteer who helps with inventory on her toes. Yay!! This batch has already been inventoried.  Think of the ecstatic feeling of getting ready for a huge task that you find has already been completed for you!!

08/22/2026

08/22/2026

08/22/2026

It’s variation on a theme day, with a shout out to the state of Kentucky. These patches represent only 11 of Kentucky’s 120 counties, but we are proud to have them. And if anyone happens to have a couple we are missing…?

08/16/2026

And DOWN the rabbit hole of historical research we go

One of my young volunteers and I have been working on creating themed patch boards. (Don’t tell Ed). The modus operandi is that we have a few hundred inventoried patches (yes, really) that are
demanding to be displayed, and we are sorting them by what we think you think would be fun and interesting to see. Within the next couple weeks we hope to have a patch board that represents:
each of our states,
a variety of K-9 patches,
animal patches,
and patches that are a bit unusual for one reason or another. This patch is one of them.
We put it in the “unique” collection because of the frog. It was only today that I read ALL the words on the patch, so where does it go? Unique patches? K-9 patches? And you know there HAS to be a reason why there is a frog on the patch. This post is already too long, so if you’re curious check out https://connecticuthistory.org/bridge-ornaments-help-tell-the-legend-of-the-windham-frog-fight/, which will tell you all about the 1754 “frog fight” or some say “frog fright”, which led to the frog being the seal and official mascot of the town of Windham, Connecticut.

08/15/2026

In the last couple days I have come to work at International Police Museum to find bags of cans left by our recycle bin. I do not know if it is a local, a tourist, or a wandering minstrel, but all I can say is

THANK YOU!! YOU ROCK!!

If you haven’t been here in the last month or so, I can almost guarantee there is something new to see. 320 Highway 101-S, T-F-S-S 10am-4pm.

We like kids of all ages!!