LAW ENFORCEMENT UNIFORM PATCHES

They Are As Varied And Unique As The Officers That Wear Them

Treasure Island, FL.- Old Style Patch.

Somewhere around 2000 or 2001, I was sitting in the Communications Office answering the phones so the Dispatcher could have a break. A man who looked like everybody’s grandpa walked up to the window and introduced himself. He was a retired police officer from Oklahoma (I didn’t hold that against him, being a lifelong Texan and all).

He asked if he could get one of our uniform patches for his collection and offered me one of the patches from his old agency, the Oklahoma City Police Department.

And just like that, I was hooked. Now, Like the alcoholic who is hooked on booze, or the addict that is hooked on drugs, I may have a problem.

As I sit here writing this in my small office, I am surrounded by more than 6,000 patches from law enforcement agencies from all around the world.

Medicine Bow, WY.- Old Style Patch

I’ve got patches from Africa, Afghanistan, and Australia to Uruguay, Vanuatu, and the Wallis and Futuna Islands in the far Pacific Ocean. I have patches from the Caribbean, Europe, Russia, Croatia, Switzerland, China, Royal Papau New Guinea, Scotland, Singapore, Tokelau, Tuvalu, and Trinidad & Tobago. Along with many, many more.

Like I said, I may have a problem.

I’ve been given some and purchased some, but the overall majority of my collection I’ve obtained by trading with other officers.

Law enforcement uniform shoulder patches, referred to as “Insignia” in Europe and a lot of other countries, come in all shapes, sizes, themes, colors, and styles.

In today’s offering, I thought I would change things up a bit and show you a few of my favorites from my collection. I hope you enjoy!