Editor's Note: When this was published the first time in 2014, the Beat was not posting the Tri-City police blotters. This reminds readers where those reports come from.

BreAnne Davalos, Interim Director Grant County Regional Dispatch Authority

Story and photo by Roger Lanse

What is a police blotter? And where does it come from? And why is it called a Gǣblotter?Gǥ

The term GǣblotterGǥ has been used since the 16th century to refer to some form of record-keeping notebook. Large ledgers used to note down entries of daily events in businesses and police stations were often termed Gǣdesk blotters,Gǥ perhaps because when open they resembled the large blotters used to routinely dry ink from the quill pens used in those days. Many of us remember using smaller blotters to prevent smudging of wet ink from fountain pens. But, no one seems to know the exact etymology of the word. The blot thickens.

The Silver City Police Department, Grant County SheriffG