True Blue: A Policeman's Story Jonathan Nerlinger  More Info

About the Huntington Park Police DepartmentThe City of Huntington Park was founded in 1906 and from it's inception, has had it's own Municipal Police Department. Originally a one man Department with a City Marshal, the department grew as did the City. Following World War One, the size of the Department increased to a Marshal and four Deputies. The new Deputies wore their Army uniforms as Police uniforms.

The Policemen remained Deputies until 1932. The title "Deputy" was changed to "Policeman" in 1933. Following the Long Beach Earthquake of 1933, where many buildings in Huntington Park were damaged, the Huntington Park Police Department was built on the Southeast corner of Gage and Pacific. During this period, the majority of the police officers on the Department were motorcycle traffic officers. Their uniforms were tan while the regular Patrol Officers began wearing blue. When a motorcycle officer was hired on, he was issued a badge and a hat badge. He provided his weapon, uniform and motorcycle.

Police cars didn't have police radios so several "Police Call Boxes were positioned around the City. Whenever the station received a call for assistance, the Police Operator would activated a red light which was atop several tall towers throughout the City. The Policeman, on patrol, would need to routinely look for the tower light and when seeing the light, he would call the station from one of the many call boxes. This system was discontinued in the mid-1940's when the Department was equipped with car radios and a main station radio however, the call boxes remained until the mid 1970's.

Jonathan Nerlinger, a veteran of the Huntington Park Police Department (California) published True Blue: A Policeman’s Story.  His work is the fictional account of a police officers life. 

According to one reader True Blue: A Policeman’s Story said, “This is by far one of the better books I have read. The author takes you through the life of John Nolan, a young police officer. From his first day of deciding on a career in law enforcement until the day he retires. It also touches on his personal life too. His marriage and his family which made the book even more interesting. It really gives you a good look into what a tough and challenging career being a police officer really is and how much things have changed over the years.”