The Mafia Twice Today

Mims, Florida
Crystal Lake RV Park

We needed to pick up prescriptions at Walmart so thought we'd visit the American Police Hall of Fame and Museum in Titusville.  I knew the museum would mention criminals and mafia, but I didn't know Walmart would.

When I went to pay for our medication which is usually under $400, this time it rang up as $443.  I asked the pharmacy manager why it was higher and he said "you're at the mercy of the mafia."

As we began the museum we were told it went around in a circle with the memorial wall in the center.  I really thought the museum would be a collection of items to memorialize fallen law enforcement, but was I ever wrong.

It was very impressive.

Florida lost another officer this week.

  Bill and I were looking for a specific officer's name who was loved by everyone in Casa Grande.  

 
I found a directory which led us to wall number 109 and found Sgt. Tate Lynch, of Casa Grande, Arizona listed.

We expected to see many police vehicles.

This was the prop car used in the 1982 movie Blade Runner which starred Harrison Ford.

I had to have a photo of Bill in the back of the police car but he wouldn't let me shut the door.

Part of the World Trade Center from the 911 attack where used with the names of those who lost their life in a separate memorial.  

Here's the McAllister Hotel phone that Al Capone used to give orders on whom to kill.

The first uniformed police officer was employed in 1693 in New York.

There was the story of Ma Barker. Can you imagine a four hour gun battle.  Ma's son Herman was killed with 14 gun shot wounds and Ma died of a self inflicted head shot.

The movies had the story of Bonnie and Clyde all wrong. Yes they did kill 13 people, but did you know Clyde Barrow was a homosexual?  How about Bonnie Parker was a nymphomaniac and there new partner Ray Hamilton slept with both of them?

Al Capone said Baby Face Nelson was unreliable so  George Nelson joined Dillinger's gang for awhile.  When spotted by the FBI near Barrington, IL he was hit 17 times but still managed to kill two FBI agents.  

"At that time the media made a folk hero out of the incident describing the body of Nelson as a man smiling.  That upset John Edgar Hoover, head of the FBI, whose agents, Growley and Hollis, had died so valiantly, and whose bullets ended the mad dog killers life of crime.

Yet, even today, it appears that criminals like this are often pictured as heroic, while the law enforcement officers who are their victims, are given very little thanks for their dangerous jobs."

I've never seen a guillotine up close before. 

Here's the back side.  Looks like the basket makes clean up easier.

Naturally, Bill had to sit in the electric chair.

We noticed that Fisher was still on the 10 most wanted list.  He killed his family in Scottsdale many years ago.




There was a forensic exhibit that was interesting.

I liked that the museum also had an area of interest for children.

Let's hope these numbers will improve.  







There were so many other interesting things in this museum I highly recommend visiting it.  Oh yes, admission was $2.00 for Bill and $6.50 for me.

Oh yes, I almost forgot.  We did see the Falcon 9 launch today.  Sorry I got so excited I didn't think to take photos.

Turtle Safely........