Newport News, Virginia: Police Memorabilia, Officer Bear

I got a full demonstration of Officer Bear! Not only does his head move by remote control, but he can also pedal and steer his tricycle, which has a flashing light and a siren (Some of the locals are convinced that he is also equipped with radar). I also got a lengthy guided tour of the museum. One nice thing to discover: they have my Roadside America tip from 2007 printed and framed in their office. Bring them some coffee and donuts. In the area: the Blue Star Diner is closed, but Monty's Penguin is still doing good business (good burgers, soft-serve ice cream, and a giant neon penguin sign). Officer Bear is just a few blocks from the Virginia War Museum (and Atomic Cannon), a Muffler Man, historic Hilton Village, the Mariner's Museum (with the turret of the USS Monitor), and about a half-hour from the World's Oldest Cured Ham.

This is basically a collection of police memorabilia, mostly relating to Newport News and what used to be Warwick County, Virginia. They have some good old photographs, uniforms, nightsticks, a memorial to fallen NNPD officers, badges, patches, etc., plus free gun locks, some stickers and toy badges for the kids, and lots of pamphlets on safety, gangs, drugs, and the N.N. citizen's academy. They also have some interesting small displays on dangerous narcotics, a picture of Dan Quayle astride a police Harley, and some weapons confiscated from criminals. They plan to expand their museum and meeting facilities in the near future.

Unfortunately I missed the best part: Officer Bear, a remote-controlled teddy bear in a NNPD uniform who sits on a tricycle outside the center and watches traffic--his head swivels by remote control to watch passing cars. Sadly, when I was there his head had been removed for repairs.

The center is located in "Historic Hilton Village," the first government housing for war workers in the country. Hilton Village is in the style of English country houses and was, I believe, built for shipyard workers at the end of World War I. It now house a bunch of yuppified shops and restaurants.

For non-yuppified food near the police outreach center check out Monty's Penguin (diner style food and soft ice cream, with a huge neon penguin sign) and the Blue Star diner (classic Art-Deco diner), both about two blocks to the east.