1950's OFFICER CHET HUGHES; THE GENTLEMAN POLICEMAN

I don't like to use the word "cop." I think it suggests a certain amount of disrespect. The photo above is of Officer Chet Hughes. I have written about him in the past as the compassionate police officer who allowed me to park along the E. State Street side of State and Broad in downtown Trenton on Thursday nights at 9 as I came to pick up my then fiance from her job at Yard's. I only took a minute or two, but in busy downtown Trenton on those Thursday evenings, it saved a lot of parking problems. My timing was always perfect. Judy had the time it took to get down from infants' wear on the upper floor down to the minute, and I had the arrival time in the Trenton Transit bus area down to the minute (plus or minus a minute or two). Usually I would pull up to the curb just as Judy came around the corner and hopped in my car. A belated thanks to the gentleman Trenton police officer Chet Hughes....thanks also to Chet's daughter Jill for taking the time to send this photo. It is exactly as I remember him. He reminds me of James Coburn, the cool cowboy in "The Magnificent Seven."

This from Ms. Jill J. Hughes: 

Thank YOU for posting this precious memory along with your very kind words about my Dad, Tom! My Dad will appreciate your sentiments and I will be sure to tell him your belated thanks and the James Coburn "looks" comment! Funny, many others have told him that too!
Keep up the great job - your blog is a wonderful walk through so many wonderful memories!

 =========

C. Henry III wrote:

I read with interest your comment about "cop" suggesting a lack of respect--as a teen growing up and the son of a police officer I always responded to the querry "your father is a cop/" with "yea, he's a Constable On Patrol--a COP and I'm gonna be one too". I was true to my word and when I was called a "pig" I thanked my distractors for recognizing I had "Prid, Integrity and Guts"