Copper’s collection

The Public Trust Building on Dannevirke’s main street has been transformed by former Hamilton Senior Sergeant Bruce Lyon and wife Maureen from a brothel into The International Police Museum. The Museum also serves as a bed-and-breakfast. The collection includes teddy bears, badges, a range of model police vehicles and caps from Poland, Germany, South Africa, Argentina, England and Russia. And there are real police vehicles out the back. One of them is a 1984 Italian Municipal Police motorcycle Mr Lyon bought on auction website Trade Me. It came into New Zealand as parts. Lyon’s favourite piece of memorabilia is a full New York Police Department uniform from the 199s. He said there would also be a Rainbow Warrior display at some stage to commemorate the ship’s 1985 sinking and the capture of French agents by the New Zealand police. “You realise that no matter where in the world you are, the job is the same,” Lyon said.