Badge Collection Military Government Police Fire

[Cobra 6 Actual]

Yep, and Officer ranks (Lieutenant, Captain … Chief) were usually gilt-colored. Going back to your comment, the full ‘evolution’ of that entry rank was usually “Guard” (or sometimes “Custodian”), “Special Police”, and finally “Police”. Most civilian federal agencies went the same route. Here’s an earlier “Special Police” one from the Bureau of Engraving and Printing:

 

 

[Cobra 6 Actual]

I should add that “Watchman” was also an early term used for that entry-level rank, besides “Guard” or “Custodian”.

[Rusty]

The US Dept of Diplomatic Security (DSS) just published a set of historic photos of some of their different badges on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/p/C66ws5hLslw/?img_index=1). This exhibit at the National Museum of American Diplomacy (NMAD) in Washington DC celebrates National Police Week, and is on display only from May 6 through May 22, 2024.

 

 

These moderate resolution images can be zoomed for some additional details. 

 

 

The rumor about Tiffany's having designed the badge persists at DSS. There is no indication this is so. Tiffany's has no record of designing this badge and there is no Tiffany's hallmark on the badge.

 

 

 

 

 

 

I am unsure why there is no display of the current, counterfeit-resistant version of the DSS Special Agent’s badge (shown below) 

 

 

High-resolution artwork illustration of the from a post on the DSS website of May 15, 2023, “Today’s DSS special Agents’ badge – a long and circuitous history” (https://www.state.gov/todays-dss-special-agent-badge-a-long-and-circuitous-history/). On the left is the most recent, counterfeit-resistant version of the DSS Special Agent’s badge. The artwork on the right shows well the design of the new commemorative badge based on the original 1916 U.S. Dept. of State Special Agents' Division badge.

 

 

 

A cropped moderate-resolution image of the original 1916/1917 design. This image of badge #1 is different from the others I have posted about this badge here, inspired by Cobra 6's illustration of one of the prettiest restrikes of this badge in his post 36 in this topic  (see also my posts: 267, 269, 373, 386, and 426). 

 

 

Above is a low-resolution image of the NMAD display from an email sent to DSS agents. The caption on this photo reads: "The evolution of the Diplomatic Security Service special agent badge display at the National Museum of American Diplomacy in Washington, D.C., May 6, 2024 (U.S. Department of State photo)".  Unfortunately, when the image is enlarged it is still difficult to read the exhibit text. 

 

[Cobra 6 Actual]

Very interesting, Rusty. Thanks for posting.

[Cobra 6 Actual]

Another obsolete 2002 Olympics federal badge:

 

[soncc]

Got recommended this forum! Here's my civilian police/Security badge collection. I have a bunch of military ones but they're scattered in my collection, will post those soon! Ignore the Fazbear security badge, that one is an inside joke in a friend group!

[Marshallj]

On 5/16/2024 at 1:01 PM, Rusty said:

The US Dept of Diplomatic Security (DSS) just published a set of historic photos of some of their different badges on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/p/C66ws5hLslw/?img_index=1). This exhibit at the National Museum of American Diplomacy (NMAD) in Washington DC celebrates National Police Week, and is on display only from May 6 through May 22, 2024.

 

 

These moderate resolution images can be zoomed for some additional details. 

 

 

The rumor about Tiffany's having designed the badge persists at DSS. There is no indication this is so. Tiffany's has no record of designing this badge and there is no Tiffany's hallmark on the badge.

 

 

 

 

 

 

I am unsure why there is no display of the current, counterfeit-resistant version of the DSS Special Agent’s badge (shown below) 

 

 

High-resolution artwork illustration of the from a post on the DSS website of May 15, 2023, “Today’s DSS special Agents’ badge – a long and circuitous history” (https://www.state.gov/todays-dss-special-agent-badge-a-long-and-circuitous-history/). On the left is the most recent, counterfeit-resistant version of the DSS Special Agent’s badge. The artwork on the right shows well the design of the new commemorative badge based on the original 1916 U.S. Dept. of State Special Agents' Division badge.

 

 

 

A cropped moderate-resolution image of the original 1916/1917 design. This image of badge #1 is different from the others I have posted about this badge here, inspired by Cobra 6's illustration of one of the prettiest restrikes of this badge in his post 36 in this topic  (see also my posts: 267, 269, 373, 386, and 426). 

 

 

Above is a low-resolution image of the NMAD display from an email sent to DSS agents. The caption on this photo reads: "The evolution of the Diplomatic Security Service special agent badge display at the National Museum of American Diplomacy in Washington, D.C., May 6, 2024 (U.S. Department of State photo)".  Unfortunately, when the image is enlarged it is still difficult to read the exhibit text. 

 

Here is the fake you can by on the internet. Made in China. 

[Cobra 6 Actual]

Welcome, soncc! Let’s see more of those badges! And, Marshallj, thank you for posting that picture. Unfortunately, most current federal badges have been reproduced. Many times the fakers get around any restrictions by claiming, unlike yours, that the badge is not really a badge but a big money clip or some other fabrication. 
 

Usually the metal portion of these fakes looks authentic, but most often the panels which are supposed to be have fired enamel are soft enamel paint. Your pictured one, for example, has the soft enamel paint.

[soncc]

Out of curiosity, because I want to expand my badge collection, where do you guys look for law enforcement badges? I get most of mine off ebay or Cop Collector. I know Police badges are a really controlled thing to get so i'm curious if you guys have certain websites. 

[Cobra 6 Actual]

Well, soncc, I “work” the full spectrum to include police collecting shows, gun shows, military shows, flea markets, yard sales, using a couple of “pickers”, letting friends and relatives know what I collect, and so on. When I was still actively working in law enforcement I did a lot of trading, but now that I’ve been retired for so many years most of the people I traded with have also retired.
 

As for the internet, like you I’ve found eBay and Cop Collector to be good sources. In addition, there is “Collector Badges” at: https://auction.collectors-badges.com Once you register (for free) it has a nice selection too.

 

Your single most apt in-person method is police collecting shows. For example the National Police Collectors Show this year is in Davenport, Iowa on July 12-14: https://www.npcsusa.com There are plenty of regional shows, too. For example, in my area of Virginia there are annual shows in Fairfax, Virginia; Riverdale, Maryland; Stevensville, Maryland; and Gettysburg, PA. To find out the police collecting shows in your area … or near your area in Montana … you probably should try a subscription (~$15 a year) to Police Collectors News at: https://www.pcnewsonline.com It includes a calendar of all the shows around the US.

 

And, feel free to IM me if you have further questions. I’ve been collecting for ~50 years or so and am very willing to help out people new to police collecting.

[Cobra 6 Actual]

This is a badge from one of several fire departments that had roles in the 2002 Olympics:

 

[Cobra 6 Actual]

Superbowl badge for the February 2002 game in New Orleans, LA:

 

[Cobra 6 Actual]

Annual auto relay race:

 

[Cobra 6 Actual]

This badge commemorates the opening of the Washington, DC Nationals Park on March 30, 2008:

 

 

I’ll post a few more sports related badges in the coming weeks and then move on to something else.

[Cobra 6 Actual]

Here are a couple for the 2010 Super Bowl, which was held in Miami:

 

 

This one came as a boxed set with a badge, and a pin:

 

 

Anyone else care to post badges? 

[Cobra 6 Actual]

[Cobra 6 Actual]

[Cobra 6 Actual]

This is a generic and unauthorized badge:

 

[Cobra 6 Actual]

Let’s shift gears now to examples of the badges worn by agencies in the aftermath of September 11th. In the days immediately following that sad event many agencies, Police and Fire, wore a simple black mourning ribbon on their badges. However, soon more permanent remembrances were made, such as this one:

 

[jmd62]

1 hour ago, Cobra 6 Actual said:

Let’s shift gears now to examples of the badges worn by agencies in the aftermath of September 11th. In the days immediately following that sad event many agencies, Police and Fire, wore a simple black mourning ribbon on their badges. However, soon more permanent remembrances were made, such as this one:

 

Very nice Cobra 6! I'm a little partial to Arlington  : )

[Cobra 6 Actual]

I knew that, jmd62!

[Cobra 6 Actual]

Here’s another Arlington, Virginia 9/11 badge, this time for its Sheriff’s Office:

 

 

In this case the Sheriff’s Office of Arlington County serves civil processes, provides court security, and manages the County’s detention facility. Other such Sheriff’s Offices provide the full spectrum of law enforcement duties including the previously named functions as well as crime prevention and investigation, patrol, specialized units (Traffic, Vice, Narcotics, Cyber Crime, etc.) and so on.

[jmd62]

Beautiful badge Cobra 6!!

[Cobra 6 Actual]

Thanks, as always, jmd62!

[Marshallj]

NASA Security Officer badge. Thoughts? No hallmark.