For Clarence Zimmerman, being a police officer was more than a profession — it was his passion.
Zimmerman, 76, has long since retired from the police force. Throughout his career, he saved nearly everything police-related that he had in his possession. From his badge to his handbook, he kept it.
And not only did he keep those items, he kept them in pristine condition. Late in his career, he began collecting other pieces of police memorabilia.
To say it became a hobby would be an understatement.
“I don’t have any more shelves,” Zimmerman says with a laugh. “I don’t have any more space.”
Zimmerman has thousands of pieces of police-related items in the basement of his Port Matilda home. Now, he’s hoping to share them with Centre County — and beyond. Zimmerman has designs on opening an International Police Museum somewhere in Centre County.
For now, his basement is the museum. There are badges, books, model cars, patches and action figures. There’s even an old set of handcuffs or two among the treasures. But the most impressive items in Zimmerman’s vast collection are, without a doubt, the police uniforms. The police forces represented span the globe. Sure, he’s got a Pennsylvania State Police uniform. But there are uniforms from Iraq and Italy, just to name a few. The Canadian Mounted Police uniform and one from San Quentin certainly stand out from the rest.
He had to look long and hard for a uniform from right here in his own backyard.
“The hardest ones (to acquire) are the Pennsylvania State Police because they don’t come up that often. The one I have, there just happened to be an auction and I was alerted to it. I got that and the Canadian one at the same time,” he said.
The uniforms line his basement. Zimmerman has put most on display using mannequins. Some, however, rest on hangers. The uniforms have come from a variety of places. Some have come from contacts he’s made over the years, some are simply donated and others are bought at auction.
Zimmerman can’t venture a guess as to how many he has.
“I have quite a few. Some, I don’t even have out. I’m just waiting to get space,” he says.
That’s where the International Police Museum idea comes into play. Zimmerman has the name — International Police Museum, Inc. He has a website and a Facebook page. But he’s missing the key ingredient — real honest to goodness space.
“I just need a start. I have it out there. I’d like to get some donated space. Everything I do is out of my own pocket. I want to share it with everyone,” Zimmerman says.
Zimmerman’s not looking to make any money off this. In fact, it’s not about the badges, model cars or uniforms.
In a world where police are often vilified by the media, Zimmerman has hopes that his International Police Museum could help change perceptions.
“I want to help develop a better rapport between children and the police departments. I want them to not be scared of the police. It’s really bad. I’d like to help reverse that,” he says. “I think a museum would really help to educate not only younger children, but college students as well.”
Zimmerman’s hope is that someone with extra space — an empty storefront or warehouse — would be willing to donate the space to house the International Police Museum. He wants to see his dream come to fruition.
“It’s very hard in a college town. Everyone is looking for money. There’s space out there, but it’s very expensive and the museum will be a non-profit. Who knows? I would like to think there’s someone out there who is sympathetic and willing to help,” he said.
Zimmerman has also been in contact with Centre County legislators about getting grant money to launch a museum.
“They haven’t been able to find anything state-wide, so now they’re looking to see if there’s anything federal-wide,” he says.
In the interim, Zimmerman will simply keep gathering items with the hopes of opening the museum one day.
“I’m getting older,” Zimmerman says with a laugh. “I’d love to see this come together. I think it would be a great place for people to visit.”
For more information about the International Police Museum or if you have space to donate, visit www.theinternationalpolicemuseum.com or check out the museum’s Facebook page.
