It would probably require a psychologist to fully explain, but we’re a society fascinated with the underworld and its cast of characters who seem to have a different cadence to the way they tick. 

If that weren’t true there would be a lot of network executives adding to the long lines of the unemployed. For years nearly half of prime-time TV has been filled with crime shows.  Perhaps part of the captivation is vicariously getting a taste of the taboo without any of the real risk, but for whatever reason, new episodes of lawlessness pop up every season. 

But consider another part to this long-running equation: law enforcement.  If the balancing act of the police were removed from these shows, the constant flaunting of society’s rules would become tiresome rather than engrossing.  

The unfortunate aspect seems to be that along with the desired result of the good guys prevailing, the assessment of police work in most people’s minds is no more connected to reality than what they see on the tube. Yet, there is an opportunity to discover and appreciate these peacekeepers in real life. 

About thirty-five years ago the Akron Police Department realized a need as part of community relations to display and preserve historical memorabilia pertaining to police work and crime fighting. At first it was open to the public only part time, but appeal grew and the outcome is a permanent museum.  

Today it’s located downtown in the Harold K. Stubbs Justice Center. It’s the place where the constantly burning flame and etched memorial wall honors those officers who have fallen in the line of duty. Upon entering the building you’re subjected to a metal detector like all visitors, then directed to the fourth floor Community Relations Office. 

The museum is not a macabre exhibition. Officer Jim Conley, who guides tours through the archives, says it is enjoyable to adults and children alike—and it’s free. You’ll see displays that go back a hundred years—photos, confiscated weapons and police equipment. There is a library of newspaper clippings, counterfeit money, and Breathalyzer and polygraph machines.

There is documentation and evidence of crimes throughout the last century. The most famous, Conley says, is probably that pertaining to Charles Arthur “Pretty Boy” Floyd who in 1930 was a guest in their jail after a bank robbery in Sylvania. Unfortunately when they transported him back by train to stand trial, he escaped. Pretty Boy wreaked havoc all over the Midwest, and a few years later they caught up with him again near Wellsville in Columbia County. Coincidentally, officer Conley’s grandfather was among the posse that ended Pretty Boy’s spree. FBI rising star, Melvin Purvis claimed another proverbial notch in his gun for bringing Pretty Boy down, but there was a hail of lead loosed in Floyd’s direction as he fled across an open field and he was hit more than once—so who knows, maybe it was Patrick Conley’s good aim as well.  

If you think you have detective ability, there is an area where you can practice sharpening your skill of crime solving.  All the evidence is displayed from real crime scenes—photos, ballistics, weapons, and report books of the investigation. And if you should misinterpret the evidence you’ll find the methods of discovering the truth even more remarkable.  

What people quickly realize is that this is not a Hollywood set, and the many stories told by Officer Conley and others are not calculated for an hour-long TV plot with a predictable ending.  These are presentations from the real world, and to most, more enthralling than any fictional tales.  It’s the reason that old photographs and polygraphs are the favorite items to inspect among adults. Naturally, SWAT paraphernalia and weapons captivate the kids. Captured from the bad guys are not just guns, but knives, spears, mallets, spikes, brass knuckles and a whole arsenal of homemade armaments. One section has each gun tagged to a crime scene, and of course a story behind every one of them. 

You can wander through the museum on your own in about a half hour, but most people prefer to have the guided tour led by a knowledgeable officer who is always available. The amount of time depends on how many questions you have, but count on at least an hour. When you leave you won’t have a degree in Criminal Justice, nor will you likely qualify as a CSI investigator, but you’ll have a much better appreciation for what the police are up against every day in our non-fictional world.  

The museum is open Monday through Friday from 8 am to 3:30 pm. They will show individuals through, although they prefer families or groups, and emphasize that you call ahead so they can provide the best assistance possible. It’s a good dose of reality, but let’s not forget that fiction can also bear important messages: Remember Sergeant Esterhaus’ trademark catchphrase at the end of every roll call on Hill Street Blues? “Let’s be careful out there.” 

The museum is located at 217 South High Street in Akron. Call 330-375-2390 to schedule your tour.

By Robert Carpenter