Marilyn Monroe among Hollywood royalty who autographed photos for traffic policeman

By Anthony Bond

PUBLISHED: 06:15 EST, 3 July 2012 | UPDATED: 09:25 EST, 3 July 2012

They are a revealing insight into an innocent abuse of power together with the allure of celebrity.

When traffic policeman Roy Garrett patrolled Hollywood's Sunset Boulevard during the 50s and 60s on his Harley Davidson motorbike he would regularly pull over the great and good of the movie world.

However, despite his ability to track down stars flouting the rules of the road, he was less keen to penalise them.

Fan: Traffic policeman Roy Garrett would take signed photographs of Hollywood stars in exchange for letting them off speeding tickets. 'Thanks for keeping me out of the clink' wrote a grateful Marilyn Monroe, pictured

Fan: Traffic policeman Roy Garrett would take signed photographs of Hollywood stars in exchange for letting them off speeding tickets. 'Thanks for keeping me out of the clink' wrote a grateful Marilyn Monroe, pictured

Friend of the stars: Beverly Hills police officer Roy D Garrett is pictured on his trusty Harley Davidson. During his career, the late Mr Garrett built up a large 'rogue's gallery' of movie stars from the halcyon days of the silver screen

Friend of the stars: Beverly Hills police officer Roy D Garrett is pictured on his trusty Harley Davidson. During his career, the late Mr Garrett built up a large 'rogue's gallery' of movie stars from the halcyon days of the silver screen

Instead, the stars of Hollywood would give the cop signed photographs in exchange f! or him l etting them off speeding tickets.

Stars like Marilyn Monroe, Dean Martin and Jimmy Stewart thought they were headed for trouble when the career policeman sauntered up to their side window.

But as soon as officer Garrett realised who the driver was he routinely ignored their misdemeanors in return for the pictures.

Monroe signed her print: 'To Roy, love and kisses. Thanks for keeping me of the clink.'

Dean Martin wrote: 'To Roy, my new friend and pal.'

During his career, the late Mr Garrett built up a large 'rogue's gallery' of movie stars from the halcyon days of the silver screen.

A grateful Alan Ladd after being stopped by eagle eyed Roy D Garrett

'To Roy, My new fried and pal' wrote a grateful Dean Martin

Let off: Actor Alan Lad, left, and singer/actor Dean Martin, right, were both extremely grateful to be left off by Mr Garrett. Martin wrote 'To Roy, My new friend and pal' on his card

Ray Milland

Jimmy Stewart

Pulled over: The misdemeanors of Ray Milland, left, and Jimmy Stewart, right, were ignored by the police officer in return for these signed photographs

His daughters, Shirley Brown and Donna Myers, have now decided to sell the images at auction following the recent death of their mother Lorene.

The signed photo of Monroe is expected to fetch up to 20,000 alone as she rarely gave them to str! angers.< /p>

Margaret Barrett, director of entertainment and music at Heritage Auctions in Beverley Hills, said: 'Officer Garrett was a traffic officer in Beverly Hills during the 50s and 60s.

'He had a good gig going and had the same Modus Operandi for years.

Ginger Rogers

'Don't let this scare you' wrote a grateful Lex Barker, who played Tarzan, after being stopped by the eagle eyed police officer

Grateful: 'Don't let this scare you' wrote Lex Barker, who played Tarzan, when he sent this card to Mr Garrett after being pulled over by the officer. Actress Ginger Rogers also sent this card, left, to the Beverley Hills cop

'He would have some reason to stop these stars of Hollywood's golden era on places like Sunset Boulevard, like for speeding or running a red light.

'But he made no secret of offering to let them off a ticket in return for a signed photo of them.

'It was all quite innocent and in any case he died about 15 years ago so he isn't going to get busted for it now.

'He kept the photos for the rest of his life and the Marilyn Monroe one is a real gem.

'She only signed photos for people she knew and not to random strangers. Because of this they aren't that common at all.

Great buy: Mr Garrett's family are now selling off his large collection which reads like a who's who of movie legends

Great buy: Mr Garrett's family are now selling off his large collection which reads like a who's who of movie legends

'She was the most famous movie star at the time and although she! had her own driver she still used to drive herself.

'She gave Roy the photo in 1956 and at the time she owned a Cadillac.'

Other Hollywood names Mr Garrett pulled over included Susan Hayward, Rex Harrison, Errol Flynn, Ginger Rogers, Greta Garbo, Dorothy Lamour and Tarzan star Lex Barker.

The estimate for the whole photo collection is about 25,000.

Mrs Brown, 69, said she plans to spend her share of the sale on a big family trip to Disney World in Florida.

Pricey: The collection will be auctioned on July 27. The estimate for the whole photo collection is about 25,000

Pricey: The collection will be auctioned on July 27. The estimate for the whole photo collection is about 25,000

She said: 'I don't know if my father showed these photos around the police station but he used to tell us how he got them.

'He kept them in a drawer in the bedroom but he showed them to people who visited the house.

'Most of the stars were from the 1950s and I'm sure a lot of people now wouldn't know who these wonderful actors and actresses are.

'The Marilyn Monroe one is a bit special. I think she used to get her secretary to arrange her signed photos but this one she did herself.

'It was a difficult decision to sell them but my parent's estate needed to be split between my sister and I.

'I am planning a family trip to Disney World with my children and grandchildren. I am sure if dad were alive he would come with us.'

The auction takes place on July 27.