Brass Buttons, Blue Coats “Remembering All Who Served 1871 to 1971”

By: George E. Rutledge

As a young police sergeant in 1976, George E. Rutledge met a veteran who told him, “I served 35 years in our police department and the day I retired was the very last time I ever heard from anyone in the police department. And the same thing will happen to you.” Rutledge has dedicated his life to making sure all who served in the Yonkers Police Department are remembered and honored. Brass Buttons – Blue Coats is a thorough documentation of all individuals who have served from the beginning of the Yonkers Police Department to 1971. Personal profiles and photographs create a lasting memorial of service.

In 1866, still suffering from the turmoil of the Civil War, the town of Yonkers voted to hire fourteen Metropolitan Policemen from New York, creating the first Yonkers police force. From this humble beginning, the Yonkers police force has grown to over 600 dedicated men and women. From foot patrols to squad cars, notebooks to computers, the Yonkers police force has grown and adapted with the times. But the purpose has never wavered: to Serve and Protect.

Civil War veterans, Vietnam veterans, rescue workers after 9/11, and Special Olympic volunteers – the Yonkers force is filled with people who have dedicated their lives to their country and their community. Rich with details of service and crimes over 100 years, Brass Buttons – Blue Coats is both a fitting tribute to brave men and women as well as a fascinating look at the history of Yonkers and the history of crime.