Badges tell story of Foresthill lawman

A gift of two tiny deputy's badges to the Placer County Sheriff's Department's growing historical collection has rekindled memories of a larger-than-life constable who patrolled the Foresthill area from the 1940s to the early 1970s."He was a legend," said Sheriff Ed Bonner, who joined the Placer County department a year after Angelo Scalise retired in 1973. "There are Angelo stories that just wouldn't quit."Short in stature, with a thick Italian accent, Scalise was the law along the Forest Hill Divide when the road from Auburn was a narrow, winding ribbon of uncertainty and Foresthill was the center of a healthy but isolated forest economy.Separated by geography and a lengthy road journey from the rest of the county, Scalise was a first responder on Foresthill emergencies, radioing in requests for backup when warranted.Foresthill's George Shaw recently dropped in to the sheriff's North Auburn headquarters with Scalise's two deputy badges and a wooden baton the constable would have available as a tactical weapon. The small bat had been hollowed out and stuffed with lead.Scalise had emigrated from Italy and owned a bar in the Barbary Coast section of San Francisco before moving to Foresthill and opening another watering hole there. Appointed a deputy sheriff in 1946, he found additional duties as a court-appointed constable after his predecessor resigned. Sporting cowboy boots, puffed-out riding pants and a straw Stetson, Scalise soon drew attention as a colorful but respected lawman on the divide. He would serve four, six-year terms as constable.Shaw's wife, DeDe had known Scalise's widow in the 1980s and was given the badges. Scalise had died in the 1970s, soon after retirement and is buried in the Foresthill Catholic Cemetery. Shaw said passing the badges on to the Sheriff's Department seemed the right thing to do, particularly with its growing historical collection displaying a rich and colorful history dating back to the Gold Rush era."It's part of the history of Placer County," Shaw said. "Why should I have this at home, with me only looking at this now and then."Shaw said he's heard many an "Angelo" story, including the one where Scalise - all 5-foot-4-inches of raw nerve - slammed a misbehaving lumberjack to the floor and the enraged logger reacted by demanding "Who the *%&@ are you!""I'ma da law," was Scalise's steely retort.And he was. Detective Bill Summers, who joined the Placer County department in 1970, recalled the times he would be on night patrol in Foresthill. The new deputy would stop in on Scalise to learn of any potential trouble spots."He knew what was going on," Summers said. "He was kind of the old sage of the Forest Hill Divide."With Italian march music playing on an old Victrola and a cup of coffee in hand, Summers also learned about Scalise. The constable had once belonged to Italy's Black Shirts but grew disenchanted with the direction Europe was taking and left for America.The story that most people remember revolves around Scalise's claim to have captured one of the FBI's Top 10 Most Wanted fugitives with a clever ruse.As Scalise recounted to Summers, the fugitive was holed up in an old mine and needed to be flushed out. Scalise used the voice of an old man to request shelter and when the fugitive opened the door, he jumped and overpowered him. Using a set of snow chains, he secured the felon and was able to drive up the road to get radio contact.Summers, who has collected law enforcement memorabilia, said the two donated badges would be worth at least $500 each if sold to a private collector.Bonner said there may be a way to make copies of the small badges to be given away as keepsake awards."We have several collectors in the office and when the badges were brought in, you could hear their hearts break," Bonner said.With Undersheriff Steve D'Arcy, Summers and other members of the department interested in preserving the department's past, walls of the North Auburn headquarters are now adorned with a growing collection of memorabilia and pictures. A .38 caliber pen gun from the 1930s, is displayed near the headquarters entrance. There's a photo from 1946 of what is described as the first "aero posse," in the western U.S. A Mason's sword once worn by early 20th Century Placer County Sheriff George McCauley is on display. Summers has allowed the department to display an old jail door from the 19th Century that he owns.The department will soon depart the DeWitt Center headquarters it has occupied since the 1970s for a new justice building nearby.Bonner said the collection - and the new display on Scalise - will make the move and definitely find a new place of honor.The Journal's Gus Thomson can be reached at gust@goldcountrymedia.com.