Dragnet - Jack Webb and Badge 714

Throughout the turns of the multiple Dragnet Series on radio and television, Jack Webb, as Sergeant and later Lieutenant Joe Friday of the L.A.P.D., wore badge #714, (seen at the beginning and end of each episode) shown above in both incarnations. While there have been many rumours about this number, even more than why basketball great Michael Jordan always wore 23 on his jersey, most are not true. The more prevalent of these have to do with a possible childhood address, and Webb's tribute to baseball star Babe Ruth, who ended his career with 714 home runs. In fact, Webb was actually more a fan of jazz, being an amateur cornetist, than of baseball. The real badge #714 belonged to Sgt. Dan Cooke, the technical advisor on the series. Sam, who knew Webb for close to 40 years, was very clear that in spite of his obvious quirks and sometimes ruts, Webb and the Dragnet organization were strong supporters of police departments. So it was appropriate that following Webb's death December 23, 1982, the L.A.P.D. ordered flags flown at half-mast, then permanently retired Joe Friday's badge number 714, where it is now displayed at the LAPD Academy's Museum.