Badge-Gallery

SERIES II

Small 6 point Ball Tip

1900-1905

Hallmark: CAL-STAMP SD

*Re-issued to Special Policemen during WWII era 1942 - 1945.

SERIES III

Large Silver 6 point Ball Tip

1905-1915

SERIES IV

Copper Clover

1915-1917

Hallmark: CAL STAMP SD

SDPD's first badge was the six point star for policemen and a seven point star for deputy city marshals. Originally introduced in 1886, the 7 point remained the official shield of SDPD until 1900. The six point was abandoned in 1889.

In 1900 the department adopted a six point star with ball tips, large enough to incorporate new ranks SDPD was ushering in.

In 1915, SDPD adopted another badge, this time the shortest official (non commemorative) badge in its history – the copper clover.

In 1917, a silver shield with a five point star cutout was introduced.

It was replaced in 1925 with a silver shield.

SDPD's current badge was adopted in 1930. The badge memo came after a prototype was made by the LA Stamp Company.

In 1989, a gold six point star was allowed to be worn to commemorate the SDPD's 100th anniversary.

In 2000, a gold oval, with the Mission de San Diego de Alcala was authorized to be worn to commemorate the new millennium.

In 2007, a new, optional, badge was introduced - this one to commemorate SDPD's May 1889 founding. Per city ordinance, the badge is optional and can only be worn in the month of May.

In 2011, SDPD adopted a second optional badge - the America's First Responders UNITED. The badge can be worn every September as a commemoration of the 09/11/2011 attack on America.

SDPD adopted its current shield in 1930 to emulate the 1923 Los Angeles Police Department Series V badge.

The parallel only lasted ten years due in part to Chief James Edgar Davis spending the better part of the 1930’s giving out more than 7500 “juice badges” to his supporters.

As the LAPD was a large department that did not hand out ID cards to its officers, many traffic scofflaws were let off by wary traffic officers who didn’t want to offend what could have been a ranking officer. Finally, in 1940, Chief Arthur Hohmman had enough and switched to a new badge and placed a copyright on it.

Today, juice badges, the majority of which read “Lieutenant, Los Angeles Detective”, are highly sought after collector items.

"May Badge."

Adopted 2007. Optional. Worn only in May to commemorate SDPD's founding.

Copyright SRW8743

HALLMARKS: SDPHA, V&V, Absolute Victory Insignia

SERIES VII

Gold Eagle Top

1930 -1974

HALLMARK: Entenmann, Sun, Blackington, April, TCI, Absolute Victory Insignia

POLICEMAN 6 POINT

FIRST ISSUE

1886-1889

Only four were ever made

Worn by Officer George F. Dow

Hallmark: Will and Finck SF

POLICE 7 POINT

1886 -1889

"13" covers the original issue number 5

Worn by Frank W. Northern

Hallmark: Will and Finck SF

1920' s RETIREMENT STAR

Issued to Det. Sgt. Helim O. Fish

SERIES III

Silver Star

1905-1915

Hallmark: CAL STAMP SD

FIRST ISSUE RESERVE OFFICER

Silver/Blue Lettering

1950's -1960's

SECOND ISSUE RESERVE OFFICER

Two Tone Gold and Silver

1960's -2000's

CURRENT ISSUE POLICE OFFICER

Gold

1974 -

HALLMARK: Entenmann, Sun, Blackington, April, TCI, Absolute Victory Insignia

Detective Sergeant

1907 - 1930

SERIES V

Cutout Star

1917-1925

SERIES VI

Silver Shield

1925 - 1930

1989 Centenial Star

Optional Badge

Worn only in 1989

HALLMARK: Blackington, V&V

Remade in 2008 as a 2nd run. Hallmarked SDPHA

Detective Lieutenant

1907 - 1930

Detective Captain

1907 - 1930

East San Diego Police

Circa 1912 - 1923

CHIEF

East San Diego Police

Circa 1922 - 1923

Worn by Chief Nat McHorney

CITY MARSHAL

1870's

Police Special

1917 -1920s

1911 Retirement Star

Issued to Sgt. Frank Northern

HALLMARK: CAL-STAMP

Assistant Bailiff

Pre 1900

Secetary

Early 1900's

2000 Millennium Badge

Optional Badge

Worn only in 2000

HALLMARK: SUN only

Sergeant

1891 - 1930

RETIREMENT STAR

Issued to Capt. Bartholomew Moriarity

in 1908 for 20 years service

HALLMARK: CAL-STAMP

"9-11 Badge"

Adopted 2012. Optional. Worn only in the month of September to memoralize Sept 11, 2001. The badge is worn by hundreds of other agencies across the US during September.

For additional info click the badge.

Patches were introduced on SDPD uniforms around 1913 and were specific to the assignment.

Uniformed patrol officers did not wear an agency specific patch until 1988.

MOUNTED OFFICER

1913 - 1940's

AGENCY PATCH

Phased in July 1987 - January 1988

Retired in May 1996

AGENCY PATCH

Introduced May 1996 with the return/ conversion to blue uniforms

MOTORCYCLE OFFICER

1920's - Present

Chief of Police

1930 - 1935 & 1940 - 1957

Deputy Chief of Police

1957 - 1975

Assistant Chief of Police

1975 - 1999

Chief of Police

1909 - 1930

Chief of Police

1935 - 1940 & 1957 - Present

Chief of Police

1891 - 1909

Assistant Chief of Police

1909 - 1930

Assistant Chief of Police

1930 - 1947

1992 - Present

Deputy Chief of Police

1947 - 1992

Chief of Police

1891

Inspector

1957 - 1977

Commander

1977 - 1992

Captain

1930 - Present

Lieutenant

1930 - Present

Sergeant

1935 - 1996

Agent

1978 - 1996

Sergeant

1907 - 1915

Roundsman

1907 - 1915

Captain

1907 - 1930

Lieutenant

1907 - 1930

Sergeant

1996 - Present

Agent

1996 -

phased out

TRAFFIC DIVISION

1940 - 1947

Worn only by officers with advanced accident investigation training

POLICE CADET

1959 - 1967

Sergeant

1915 - 1935

Corporal

1915 - 1919

1888 - 1891 CHIEF OF POLICE

The unique star with gold wreath and diamonds was custom made for SDPD's first chief, Joseph Coyne in 1888. It replaced a more modest badge that was clover shaped with a six point star in the center. Chief Coyne was the only person to ever wear the diamond and gold badge.

IT'S SDPD'S RAREST BADGE

NON SWORN AGENCY PATCH

Introduced 1990s to Volunteers,

Code Compliance Officers and

Police Service Officers

AIR SUPPORT

1970'S Worn on flight suits of Air Support pilots and tacticle flight officers

NON SWORN AGENCY ROCKER

worn above the non sworn patch with the individuals specific rank.

UNIT PATCH

Worn only on green SWAT uniforms

COMMUNITY SERVICE OFFICER

Obsolete rank. Replaced by

Police Service Officer

1977 - 1990

ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION

1930's to present. Worn by sworn & Police Service Officers assigned to Traffic Division and who have completed collision investigation training.

COMMUNITY SERVICE OFFICER

1990 - 1998

Replaced with blue Non - Sworn Agency patch

SAN DIEGO POLICE HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION

2007 - 2014

Sergeant

1891 - 1907

1997 SDPHA Official Badge

HALLMARK: April, Entenmann Rovin, SDPHA

ORDER YOUR OWN, CUSTOMIZED VERSION OF THIS BADGE

Custom badges are only sold to authorized members of the agency depicted and only at ranks at or below the rank(s) the member has held or currently holds. All orders must be accompanied with valid department issued ID and employment will be verified.

QUESTIONS?

Special Police

East San Diego Police

Circa 1912 - 1923

Police Officer III

2011 - Present

Detective

2006 - Present

POLICE 7 POINT

1886 -1900

#14 Standard Issue

worn by John Schneider

Appointed Oct. 27, 1887

Elected officials, Councilmembers, Mayor, City Manager, in San Diego, are provided an SDPD badge to serve as identification at major incidents which require their response and where the elected official isn't always immediately recognizable.