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Factory Inscribed Detroit Police Colt Model M .32 ACP
serial number 134233 - The contract for the Detroit
Police Department guns numbered 50 guns that were shipped in
1912. This example has "Detroit Police 1307" inscribed on
the grip safety. Colt Factory Letter confirms these
features and indicates that the gun was one of 50 shipped to
Fletcher Hardware, Detroit, Michigan on July 17,
1912.
Factory Inscription on Grip Safety - Detroit Police No.
1307
Detroit Police No. 1307 - Right side
Factory Inscribed Detroit Police Colt Model M .32 ACP
serial number 134094 issued to SGT Thomas G. Ruedisueli of
the Detroit Police Force - The contract for the Detroit
Police Department guns numbered 50 guns that were shipped in
1912. This example has "Detroit Police 1333"
inscribed on the grip safety. Pistol was originally
shipped blue (like Detroit Police No 1307 - pictured above),
but was later plated. This Colt is pictured with its
accompanying Heiser Holster.
Colt Factory Letter confirms these features and indicates
that the gun was one of 50 shipped to
Fletcher Hardware, Detroit, Michigan on July 17,
1912.
Factory Inscription on Grip Safety - Detroit Police No.
1333
Detroit Police No. 1307 - Right side
Patrolman Thomas G. Ruedisueli (ca. 1929) - photo
taken when he joined the Detroit Police Force (August 1,
1929), Patrolman rose to the rank of Sergeant and retired on
December 8, 1962. He was born 11/8/1902 and passed
away on July 20, 1968 at the age of 65.
Employment Card from Detroit record Bureau for SGT
Ruedisueli (ca. 1930)
Meritorious Mention - noted on the back of the Record Bureau
card.
Accompanying the card is a typewritten note to SGT
Ruedisueli's son Donald, also a Detroit Policeman requesting
him to pass the employment card along to his father.
SGT Ruedisueli had a wife and two sons, one of whom also
joined the Detroit Police Department - His son
Donald Ruedisueli was
a 1949 graduate of Michigan State University's first degreed
Law Enforcement program. Prior to college, he served
in WWII as a United States Marine. After his
graduation, he accepted an officer's commission in the U.S.
Army and served as an officer in the military police in
Beirut, Germany. After he left the Army, he joined the
Detroit Police Department and retired as an Executive
Lieutenant in 1976. Donald Ruedisueli was the first
Detroit police officer to join the force with a college
degree in Law Enforcement.
SGT Ruedisueli is showing his son, Donald his Detroit Police
Department issued Colt Service Revolver with nickel
plated finish and checkered walnut stocks - the number
on the butt of the Colt is not visible in the photo, but
it's obvious that a number is present.
Certificate of Promotion - On July 15, 1948,
Patrolman Thomas G. Ruedisueli was promoted to the Rank of
Sergeant in the Detroit Police Department.
SGT Ruedisueli's Detroit Police Lieutenants' and
Sergeants' Association Life Membership Card
SGT Ruedisueli (pictured upper right and in cropped photo
below) also worked with the
Harbor Master group and was once stationed at the police
station on Belle Isle.
SGT Ruedisueli (right) meeting with other officers.
Photos courtesy of Emilio
Aftermarket inscribed Detroit Police Colt Model M .32 ACP serial number 832
with period shoulder holster - The contract for the Detroit Police
Department guns numbered 50 guns that were shipped in 1912. This example has
"Detroit Police 1388" inscribed on the grip safety. This number is higher than
the highest number of the contract, but the serial number of the gun is way
earlier than the contract. The Detroit PD may have picked these guns up on the
second hand market and had it inscribed like the guns from the contract, to
issue to an officer. It could also have been done independently by a Detroit PD
employee.
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