That smiling character on the left is me, Jim Broker, during my 23 year career as a railroad agent/control operator. First for the old CB&Q and last for the Burlington Northern. I worked the territory from Kansas City, Missouri to McPaul, Iowa and west as far as Parkman, Wyoming.
It was a very good career, paid very well, with good benefits and I made a lot of fine friends. I am currently engaged in writing a book about my experiences "Along The Line" but having trouble finding time to get much on paper. Maybe this winter, or some day?
The picture to the right was taken in March 1968 while I was "moonlighting" as Deputy Marshal for the City of Mound City, Missouri. The car was my own personal police car and the building behind me is Mound City's City Hall, Fire Station and, at that time, also contained the city jail where I put my prisoners. We had a pretty good jail with an inner solitary cell where we put the "wild" or agressive prisoners. I once had a prisoner climb up on the solitary cell and remove the light bulbs, slam the bunk up and down until he broke off an eye bolt which he then kep to use as a weapon against me. At one time I was "acting" Chief of Police while our chief marshal had surgery.
I was brought up in a "gun family" and have always liked guns. I was first taught to shoot a pistol when perhaps 4 or 5 years old, using a little plastic pistol that shot suction darts. I was taught to shoot flys off the ceiling with it. A little later I graduated to a Red Ryder BB rifle and, at around age 12, my Grand Dad took me out in the woods and taught me to shoot a "real" .22 rifle. Got my first .22 rifle at age 12 and first "real" revolver at age 13. An old 5 shot .32 rimfire with a round butt and spur trigger guard. It left a lot to be desired for accuracy but it made a loud bang and I had a lot of fun with it out in the woods and along the streams.
In the picture to your left I had graduated to a Great Western Colt .45 which made a much louder bang and was much more accurate.
Now I have graduated to the 1911 Govt. style Colt Combat Commander .45 auto which which I have been able to shoot a one and one half inch 5 shot group at 21 feet. I have also been able to draw on command and place 3 bullets in the target in less than two seconds. Not a world record by any means but something that tends to give the user some confidence. While I like revolvers very much I believe the semi auto is a much more efficent tool to protect my family and clients in todays world.
Right- This is me, around 1998, after becoming a "full-fleged" Private Investigator. My badge says "Private Detective" and those of you in the know will realize they mean the same.
In order to be licensed in Nebraska I had to submit a number of papers, go through a background check and interview by the Nebraska Highway Patrol, then go to Lincoln, Nebraska and take a test, which I passed, then be bonded and presto, I had authority in Nebraska.
The state of Kansas was similar but a little more stringent in that I had to take a couple of days of firearms instructions under the KBI approved instructor. They work you!
We shot from laying, setting, standing, off steps and around baricades. Last the lights were turned off and I had to shoot from memory! But I hit their man-sized target in the neck and passed that one also. So then I gained the right to practice in Kansas.
In Missouri the KC Police Dept was considerably easier. Just submit a bunch of forms and recommendations, go to their headquarters, after my background check, take a test and then qualify on their outdoor pistol range. Of course I passed and was granted my license here also.
However, to be quite honest, I believe it helped a lot, in all three cases, that I had former police experience and a clean record.
Check the KC FBI website?
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