Two brothers and law enforcement officers in Cape Girardeau, Missouri, are on a mission to enshrine law enforcement history in a memorabilia collection with help from Cape Girardeau County police agencies.
For Caleb Jones, law enforcement runs deep in his veins. Inspired by his father’s career as a dedicated probation and parole officer, Caleb was drawn to the allure of his father’s badge from a young age.
“I used to see his badge, I thought that was so neat, I wanted to play with it. For one, he didn’t want me losing it,” Caleb reminisced.
Following in his father’s footsteps, Caleb, along with his brother, Noah, both pursued careers as law enforcement officers. Caleb now serves as a deputy for the Cape Girardeau County Sheriff’s Department, while Noah patrols the streets as a member of the Cape Girardeau Police Department.
However, their father expressed concerns about their career choices, aware of the challenges and dangers that came with the job.
“He wasn’t too excited because he knew what would come with the job, and he wanted to protect his kids from seeing what’s out there,” Caleb shared.
Despite the risks, the brothers shared a common passion beyond their mission to serve and protect — preserving the rich history of law enforcement.
Their journey began when they stumbled upon a collection of memorabilia from a local World War II veteran, who happened to be a former chief deputy sheriff for Cape Girardeau’s Sheriff Department. Among the items were his badges, sparking nostalgia in Caleb.
“I saw the badges and went back to being a kid, like ‘Oh, wow, shiny badge,’” he recalled.
From that moment, Caleb and Noah embarked on a mission to collect, purchase and preserve law enforcement memorabilia through their organization, aptly named the Cape Girardeau County Law Enforcement History Project.
Their collection boasts nearly 400 badges from various Cape Girardeau County agencies, and an additional 200 items from southeast Missouri, including license plates, door decals, patches and more.
“If it’s related to law enforcement, we want to have it,” stated Caleb with enthusiasm.
Their efforts extend beyond merely amassing collectibles: They strive to honor and remember the law enforcement officers of the past who have shaped the profession into what it is today.
“Most of these gentlemen are deceased, and we don’t want anything to happen to their items so that future law enforcement officers can look at it and see it and remember what it means to be a law enforcement officer and the pride that comes with it,” emphasized Caleb.
For Caleb, his father’s badge holds a special significance, teaching him a valuable lesson he carries with him every day.
“He saw it was a sacred piece you can carry, and there’s a lot of weight to it,” he fondly recollected.
The Jones brothers will continue to share their collection at events across the Heartland.
