Where is the World Police Museum?
Located at Viale della Resistenza, 14, 31048 in San Biagio di Callalta in the province of Treviso (TV), the World Police Museum was born from the collaboration between the Italian branch of the NPDF (National Police Defense Foundation), an association of US law enforcement, and Reti Ferroviarie Italiane.
The World Police Museum is the only museum of police forces in the world to be housed in a railway station.
History of the World Police Museum
The second most important station on the Treviso – Motta di Livenza line, San Biagio di Callalta station is a splendid example of railway architecture dating back to 1885.
A stronghold along the Piave front in 1918, the passenger building was damaged by the bombings of the Great War but fortunately escaped the devastation of the Second World War.
However, the building was not spared by the disastrous flood that in November 1966 severely damaged the structure, making its reconstruction necessary in the 2000s.
Abandoned until 2015, the building was included by RFI in the tender to assign unused railway stations to non-profit associations. Michele Mastrosimone, President of the Museum, then seized the opportunity to realize the dream of creating an exhibition itinerary that would enhance the collecting efforts of 25 years.
Starting from December 2015, the desire to promote the disused spaces of the nineteenth-century building ideally reconciled with the zeal, passion and dedication of the members of the Italian section of the National Police Defense Foundation, a law enforcement association that counts about 250,000 members in the United States.
From abandoned station to inimitable Museum
Once assigned to the NPDF, the building underwent careful adaptation work that began in January 2016.
The interiors were completely painted, a new floor was laid, an efficient electrical system was installed, as well as eight security cameras placed both inside and outside.
A vocation for collecting, solidarity and associative duty, combined with determination and meticulous diligence, made it possible to convert the spacious but deserted rooms of the fascinating abandoned building into one of the most significant and interesting museum hubs in the region.
The hard work of rearrangement was followed by the meticulous setup of the Museum. The arrangement of the complex and refined collection of law enforcement memorabilia required the highest level of delicacy and care in the process of rearrangement and adaptation of the Museum, whose opening was celebrated on May 27, 2017 in the presence of civil, religious and military authorities and a large influx of public.
The richness of the exhibits in the World Police Museum is surprising: from ancient police documents from the pre-war period, kept and displayed in impeccable condition, to a splendid selection of gala uniforms of the Italian police from 1960 to the present day, as well as uniforms of special units that include outfits of the mobile unit, the traffic police, the nautical squad and a diving suit (just to name a few), each in perfect condition.
Unique historical memorabilia
Among the numerous memorabilia that make up the fascinating museum tour, one of the most fascinating and sought-after unique pieces is one of the S.O.S. pillars that in the 1960s were available on the streets of major Italian cities to make citizens safer in a time when telephones were not easily accessible. The emergency call was received by the police headquarters through a special console, also on display in the Museum and in excellent condition.
A device worthy of the most intriguing spy movies, a portable lie detector dating back to the 1970s represents an artifact of incredible value due to the excellent state of conservation of its fragile components. The polygraph on display is the first transistor lie detector and has three writing needles.
Since its opening, the World Police Museum has been at the center of a series of events (such as special evening openings), celebrations, twinnings, visits by foreign colleagues, visits by actors and celebrities, awards (such as the award for the colleagues of the State Police involved in the serious road accident on the highway near Bologna where a gasoline tanker exploded), or simple family celebrations (chestnut roasting, museum aperitif, etc.) that have always seen our exhibition as the protagonist.
Ready for a visit?
Although the pandemic forced the closure of the World Police Museum for all of 2020 and most of 2021, those responsible are confident that in the coming years the World Police Museum will be able to carve out an important role in the tourism offerings of the Veneto Region.
The exhibition is aimed not only at historians and military memorabilia enthusiasts, but also at families and young people, with the aim of combining educational activities with engaging interactive paths. The availability and care of the owner Michele Mastrosimone and all the managers and volunteers will make your visit an exciting and thrilling experience in the evocative historical setting of an ancient railway station. Are you ready to take a leap?
