Fun #141 Police Chief Robert Livingston, Grandview Heights, OH, Rescues a Turtle

[Otto Puzzell]

For 1 point, tell us two things about this picture:

Only a complete answer will earn a point!

Identify the gentleman in the hat, and what he is doing at the back of that car.

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[Otto Puzzell]

Up

[Otto Puzzell]

55 views, zero guesses.

Last stop before the hole

[Carnut]

Well it looks to me like he is trying to shove a dead deer into the back of his car!
Who it is though I have no idea..

[Otto Puzzell]

Well it looks to me like he is trying to shove a dead deer into the back of his car!
Who is is though I have no idea..

It's not a mammal, and it's not dead

[Wendax]

Removing a snake?

[Tom_I]

There looks to be some heavy-duty radio equipment, or something like that, at the right hand side of the picture. Is it a police car?

[Otto Puzzell]

Removing a snake?

Not a snake, but you're in the right part of the animal kingdom tree.

[Otto Puzzell]

There looks to be some heavy-duty radio equipment, or something like that, at the right hand side of the picture. Is it a police car?

Yes, it is a police car

[Wendax]

Removing a snake?

Not a snake, but you're in the right part of the animal kingdom tree.

Another kind of reptile?

Regarding the kids standing around, it won't be an alligator 

[Otto Puzzell]

Reptile yes. Gator no.

[Tom_I]

So it's a reptile, but not an alligator, and I'm guessing we can also rule out caymans and crocodiles, because of the children gathered round. It's not a snake, and is unlikely to be a tuatara from New Zealand.

That really just leaves lizards and the shelled reptiles.

So how about a tortoise?

[Otto Puzzell]

So how about a tortoise?

If you were any closer, you'd be correct in identifying that part of this puzzle. .

[Tom_I]

Ah, it's a turtle!

I should have tried it earlier, but if you Google turtle police radio car, then up comes this picture from the Grandview Heights and Marble Cliff Historical Society.

So the gentleman is Robert Livingston, Chief of Police from Grandview Heights, Ohio, and he is using a shovel to "rescue" a turtle and place it in the car in a photo from 1948.

Or is he? The photo has obviously been "got at", and the turtle looks as if it has been rather crudely drawn in on the print or negative. Perhaps it wasn't very clear in the original picture (but the rest of the shot is), or maybe there was something else on the shovel, which I wouldn't care to speculate about...

Anyway, it appears to be the 1948 equivalent of a bit of obvious (and not very convincing) Photoshopping.

Here's the caption.

Grandview Police Chief Robert "Rancho" Livingston is rescuing a turtle at the corner of First and Virginia Avenues in this 1948 photograph, using a shovel to place the turtle in the city's radio cruiser. Befitting the times he is wearing a suit and his trademark hat. The identity of the children is unknown as are the circumstances surrounding the photograph. It is not known whether this was a candid shot or staged as part of a municipal promotion. Nonetheless, it is a testimony to the high level of community services historically enjoyed by the citizens of Grandview Heights and Marble Cliff.

[Otto Puzzell]

either that, or the flash caused exaggerated shadows (look at the shovel handle).

Either way, you found the photo, and the answer.