PHOTO SHOWING CHESTER KEENE RECEIVING MEDAL FROM CHIEF SAM BASS. THIS IS A RE-ENACTMENT FOR THE NAPLES DAILY NEWS, THE MEDAL HAVING BEEN ORIGINALLY GIVEN TO CHESTER BY GOV CLAUDE KIRK
This is a unique photo in that it shows the presentation of a medal to a Naples Police Officer in the 1960's. Up to that time, there was never a medal given to any NPD cop. At least as far as we can determine. And there wasn't another for several years thereafter.
Nowadays, with cop's shirts looking like a Latin-American dictator's, it's hard to believe. But that just wasn't one of the priorities back then. It should've been but wasn't. (Probably had to do with money, the cost of the medals)
Chester won this one by jumping in the water between a dock and a boat slamming up against it to rescue a gent who'd passed out and fallen in after enjoying too much--you guessed it--liquid stupid. Chester risked his own life to save that of another.
About that time, for some reason, Gov Claude Kirk decided that cops were doing heroics around the state that should be recognized. He developed a one-time awards presentation to honor these brave souls. From police reports, Claudius Maximus picked out 16 officers and called them to Miami on July 16, 1968 for a Grand Awards Ceremony. Chester was one of those selected.
These were the only medals given and the only time. The mold was broken to insure that. Researching, we can find no evidence that any other Florida governor has repeated the act.
So, it was indeed an original. First and only of its kind for many years.
And richly deserved.
Nowadays, with cop's shirts looking like a Latin-American dictator's, it's hard to believe. But that just wasn't one of the priorities back then. It should've been but wasn't. (Probably had to do with money, the cost of the medals)
Chester won this one by jumping in the water between a dock and a boat slamming up against it to rescue a gent who'd passed out and fallen in after enjoying too much--you guessed it--liquid stupid. Chester risked his own life to save that of another.
About that time, for some reason, Gov Claude Kirk decided that cops were doing heroics around the state that should be recognized. He developed a one-time awards presentation to honor these brave souls. From police reports, Claudius Maximus picked out 16 officers and called them to Miami on July 16, 1968 for a Grand Awards Ceremony. Chester was one of those selected.
These were the only medals given and the only time. The mold was broken to insure that. Researching, we can find no evidence that any other Florida governor has repeated the act.
So, it was indeed an original. First and only of its kind for many years.
And richly deserved.
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