A bunch of sickness and death is the main reason there ain't no more Baird Company nor International Police Equipment. ALL the people at Bairdco either died or got sick all at once, and it is next to impossible to run a business when you are sick or dead.

Bairdco probably started in about 1950 when I started collecting police insignia. It turned into a part time business in about 1964 when I obtained my first badge dealership, and expanded when I went into the security business part time and sold goods to other security officers out of the back of a green 1959 Ford.

The security business was good for making contacts, but not always the right kind.

1979 started a unique and interesting venture as a part time Coroner Investigator where customer complaints were at a minimum.

The 1980s through the 1990s brought new ventures into publishing and show promotion. Along with Badges a Guide co-author Bill Hedges we started Baird-Hedges Publishing and sponsored police collector shows in California, Arizona and Nevada.

In 1981 Baird Police Equipment expanded to a full service police equipment company including firearms, police accessories and uniforms. By 1987 there were two Baird Police Equipment stores, one in Bellflower and one in Chino.

1985 We expanded into the aviation business with Cessna Twin Engine N5354A. By 1987 we learned an expensive lesson about aviation, cut our losses and decided to never go into the airplane business again. Like so many things, airplanes are cheaper to rent. The old Cessna was quick though. An hour to Phoenix or Vegas, 90 minutes to Tucson.

By 1988 the Bellflower store was closed and the company expanded the Chino facility.

1989 Baird Company bought out International Police Equipment, one of the nations oldest and most successful mail order police equipment firms.

Continuing the part time work, I served the County of Orange Harbors Beaches and Parks getting lots of education and interesting duty including security for The President of the United States.

1991 BPEC and IPEC moved to Perris, converted to mail order only and expanded more than ever before. January 2003 both Baird Co. and IPEC were under new management. I sold the company and stayed on as a consultant throughout 2003. I left the business in 2004 and less than six months later bankruptcy was filed.

A trip to Vegas for the Video Software Dealers Show.

The Alamo with an Alamo ranger after a day at the Austin police collectors show.

Dr. Rudy Sun, our webmaster and catalog designer

Dave worked in shipping and sales in the late 80s and early 90s

John worked for a short while at the Bellflower Boulevard uniform store and helped out at gun shows.

Larry Thompson was never an employee of The Baird Company, but a good friend who shared his talents and engineering skills. He's shown here helping to survey some Baird Co. real estate in Tubac, Arizona.

Les worked with us when Bairdco operated out of the back of my barber shop in the late 1960s and in sales at the Great Western Gun Show

Joyce with friends Peachie and Maggie. Joyce was our office manager for nearly 25 years.

Bill Baird worked with us in the 1980s in shipping and sales. He's now the manager of Guitar Center in Des Moines, Iowa

Richard Stewart Moreno Valley Mayor and Bairdco Attorney riding on the Bairdco fire engine 4th of July 2005 parade

Tony Yang, one of our Taiwan suppliers visiting our Bellflower facility

Arizona: Ak-Chin Inidan Community, Arizona Mine Inspector, Arizona State Capital, Arizona National Guard MP, Bisbee, Bullhead City, Colorado City, El Mirage, Fort Huachuca, Fort Mohave, Gila River Indians, Huachuca City, Kaibab Paiutes, Lakeside, La Paz County. Mohave County, Navajo County, Oro Valley, Parker, Peoria, Pinetop, Prescott College, Quartzsite, Santa Cruz County, Surprise, South Tucson, Tolleson, Tombstone, Tubac, Tumacacori, Williams, Winslow

California: Bell, Bellflower, Long Beach Community College, Los Alamitos, Los Angeles County, Lynwood, Moreno Valley, Quartermaster Uniform, Ventura,

Colorado: Aguilar, Georgetown

Idaho: Benewah County,

Missouri: Phelps County, University of Missouri

Nevada: Boulder Constable, Caliente, Mesquite, North Las Vegas, Las Vegas School District, North Las Vegas Constable

Oregon: Bandon

Kentucky: Bob Murray, The U.S. Cavalry Store

Pennsylvania: Joe Brancatto

Utah: Beaver County, Beaver City, Colorado City, Heber City, Kane County Sheriff, Moab PD

Virginia: Roanoke

Washington: Klallam Tribe, Port Angeles, Puyallup, Shomer-tec

Most businesses give back to the community and many use it as a part of their advertising and public relations programs. The Baird Company never did that, but we supported many organizations through donations and volunteer efforts. The El Bekal Shrine Clowns was one of many we supported. Here are more.