“The Policeman Third Edition” is a 1967 color educational film produced by Irving Rusinow for Encyclopedia Britannica Films in cooperation with the Washington D.C. Police Department (aka the Metropolitan Police Department or MPD). This educational film seeks to inform elementary school-aged youth about the various roles and responsibilities of a police department. Made in cooperation with MPD’s Police Chief John B. Layton and Inez R. Brown of the Washington D.C. Public Schools, the film relays this information in the context of a minor hit and run investigation involving a little girl as she walked to school. At the time the film was made the D.C.
police had a 2,800 man force; roughly a year after the film was made in April, 1968 the police force was overwhelmed during race riots, and President Johnson had to call in the National Guard as a backstop.
Opening credits (0:06). Pedestrian traffic school aged children cross at street corner on way to school; pass red brick row houses intersection of 17th St and Euclid St Washington, D.C. (0:19). Billy, young boy, on street crossing duty stops some students from crossing street due to oncoming traffic (0:31). Little girl in pink dress jumps to safety, narrowly missed by perhaps green 1960s Ford Falcon Two Door that speedily drives away (0:34). Kids gather around girl, help her up and dust her off, police officer runs over to check on her (0:50). Close-up officer talking into handheld police walkie talkie radio (1:06). Side of perhaps 1960s white MPDC Ford Galaxie police car with insignia for Metropolitan Police Department of the District of Columbia Accident Investigation Unit (1:29). Two officers gather evidence from collision site: scrape paint samples from perhaps white 1960s Ford Country Sedan Wagon, hubcap (1:42). Billy back at street corner, kids walking home from school (2:06). Tire skid marks on street (2:14). Billy and the girl hit by the car head to police station to share some evidence (2:19). Close-up officer’s hands flipping through book of registered license plate numbers (3:17). Police broadcaster sits in front of police broadcaster radio (3:43). Four officers sit around large-scale radio system, central switchboard with perhaps Shure 55S Unidyne Dynamic Microphone at police HQ Communication’s Center (3:51). An officer checks on call of reported missing automobile; young woman stands on porch with her mother (4:19). Billy and girl get tour of station house: how to use the handheld radio (4:27). Fingerprinting, close-up child’s finger rolled on ink pad and then paper (5:19). Girl holds up magnifying glass, eye becomes disproportionately large (5:32). Police officers sit in student chair desks in assembly room for shift change assignments (5:46). Officer shows off perhaps MPD motorcycle perhaps 1960s white Harley Davidson (6:55). Officers cruise city streets in perhaps 1960s white MPDC Ford Galaxie police car (7:05). Foot patrolman: montage of officer walking city streets throughout various seasons – check on empty storefronts, break up fights, report damaged areas in street in need of repair (7:18). Officer stands with group of school-aged boys and their bikes, urges them to register their bikes (8:36). Officer heads to red brick town house on Adams St, alert wife that husband is in the hospital (9:07). Police officer on horseback trots through empty park (9:29). Various sailboats and small yachts docked on Potomac, police officer patrols water in MPD harbor patrol boat (9:39). MPD helicopter patrols sky, aerial views of city streets below (9:56). Traffic officer stands in busy intersection with whistle, directs cars (10:21). Police lab technicians looks through microscope (10:35). Officer takes photos of suspect who has been booked into the station (10:38). Police academy self-defense class, instructor wears traditional white martial arts robe (11:22). Police K-9 dogs, German Shepherds, taken for walk in field for special training (11:41). Young man in green 1960s Ford Falcon Two Door pulls up to police station, officer questions him (12:53). Original responding officer patrols streets at dusk (14:48).
Filmmaker Irving Rusinow worked for the Office of Inter-American Affairs during WWII and then the Department of Agriculture. He produced and directed more than 100 films and documentaries for government agencies and organizations including Encyclopaedia Britannica.
This film is part of the Periscope Film LLC archive, one of the largest historic military, transportation, and aviation stock footage collections in the USA. Entirely film backed, this material is available for licensing in 24p HD, 2k and 4k. For more information visit http://www.PeriscopeFilm.com
