In January 1930, Chief Arthur R. Hill announced the San Diego Police Department would convert to a new, eagle top badge. The new badge closely resembled the LAPD Series 5 badge adopted by that department in 1923. The original contract was awarded to LA Stamp Company and a prototype, Policeman number 75 was created. Two months later, the department changed vendors and awarded the badge contract to the Cal-Stamp badge company in San Diego. The department also changed the line officer title from "Policeman" to "Patrolman."

Today, the LA Stamp prototype badge depicted below is the first SDPD Eagle Top ever made and the only known badge to authentically have the "Policeman" rank.