NEWS

Newsletter Article - November 2023

A Car that Shines!

As many of you may or may not know, the San Bernardino Sheriff Historical Society, over the last many years, had the desire to restore a 1950 Ford to conditions that would represent the first known marked units of the San Bernardino Sheriff’s Office (not a department back then) when Sheriff Eugene Mueller was in his first year in office. This was also the first year Ford Motor Company came out with a patrol package for police departments.

The endeavor started after the Society’s Vice President and Aviation Pilot Doug Brimmer flew over a lot in the Verdemont/Glen Helen area and saw a 1950 Ford consigned to a field. He later bought the body from the owner, the Society bought the body from Doug, and then the Society sought out people to help with the project. And time passed. “History became legend, legend became myth.” And for a few years, the car passed out of all knowledge. Then came former reserve deputy Larry Brown, a man with the experience, connections, and passion for restoring vehicles of yesteryear. Larry assessed that the Ford body we owned was not suitable for our needs. So he searched far and wide and located an exceptional sedan that had been kept for 30 years in a car museum in Knoxville, Tennessee.  

Under the direction of the Society’s Car Committee, consisting of Larry, Doug, Jim Munding, Chris Milligan, Ross Dvorak, and Historical Society President John Hayes, funds were raised to put the car together with monetary donations received from the Stater Brothers Family Trust, the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians, many local car club Members, and members of the Sheriff’s Department, both past and present. 

The car was purchased and shipped to Larry, who unveiled it to the rest of the active society members in June of 2022. It was beautiful as it was in stock condition with a pristine interior and an engine that purred. Now we just had to change it…  

To be true to history, we needed a black car, not dark forest green. For that, the car committee approached Joe Ermalovich, the owner of AeroPro, an aircraft paint, interior and modification company. Joe donated the paint and labor to paint the Ford using the same authentic black Emron paint used on the original 1950 patrol units. That paint fits the car like a glove with just the slightest variations in texture to give it an authentic shine. 

After obtaining and installing the correct equipment, such as the radio, lights, and siren, our research showed that in 1949, the US government donated surplus Thompson Sub-Machine guns to the department for use in patrol units. So, of course, the car has been outfitted with a replica Tommy Gun to get the attention of the bad guys, see? 

After those months of work from the committee, the car was ready to take on the road. And it hit the pavement running. On October 1, 2022, it was presented to Sheriff Dicus at the Sheriff’s Expo. Since then, the 1950 Ford Patrol Unit has represented the department at several stations, functions, and car shows. The Automotive Division often uses it to recruit new mechanics for the department. It was shown at the National Police show in San Bernardino, where it took first place and has won several first-place awards among many worthy competitors in other local car shows, including the creme de la creme, the San Marino Motor Classic in Lacy Park on August 27, 2023. This show features some of the finest automobiles in the world, presented to an audience of over 10,000. There were over 500 mint condition entries in every category, from brass-era cars to Ferraris and Lamborghinis. And wouldn’t you know it, our little 1950 sedan won first place in the restored police vehicles category. All thanks to the hard work of Larry and the guys who restored, maintained, and moved the car to any place where it can bask in the glory it deserves!  

The mission of the San Bernardino Sheriff Historical Society is to collect, catalog, preserve, and display articles, records, and information of historical significance and provide educational and research material relating to the San Bernardino Sheriff and the Department. The membership believes this project, along with the many collected artifacts, does just that.

And lastly, this is the outcome of the hard work it took to get this beauty on the road!