City Government
Everything Old Is New Again
July 1, 2013 
Proving that “everything old is new again,” Boise coppers will wear new badges (which look 106 years old) for the month of July to celebrate the city’s sesquicentennial…then coppers can purchase the shields as souvenirs.
Look for any extra or unsold shields to be sold or auctioned for police-related community causes like Crime Stoppers or crime victim funds.
Boise Police Deputy Chief William Bones said “This historic badge reminds all of us that the city was forged and protected by a long line of officers, officers like Mark Stall, who helped shape the department into what it is today.”
Badge History: The commemorative Boise Police badges are replicas of the badge seen in historic photos taken of members of the department in the early 1900’s. Prior to 1903, officers would have a local jeweler make a badge for them, typically a five or six-sided star often called a “Marshal’s” badge. Officer’s badges within a law enforcement agency would typically be similar but not uniform.
The Boise Police Department was officially organized in 1903. Sometime between 1903 and 1906, the department commissioned a Colorado company to manufacture a badge. That would become the first standard issue for members of the Boise Police Department. The historic badge officers will wear during the month of July is a recreation of that first standard issue badge.
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Comments & Discussion
Comments are closed for this post.
Jul 1, 2013, 9:28 pm
Excellent bit of historical trivia. Thanks. Of such detail is the trove filled.
Jul 2, 2013, 6:59 am
I wonder when they got the motto “Protect, Serve, and Lead.” I am thinking that it is a recent development–at least the “Lead.” And what does that mean anyway? Is it for funeral processions? (sarc)
EDITOR NBOTE–Part of the different SLANT on the GUARDIAN is our point of view which includes a philosophy that government–and police–should FOLLOW. We the people are the leaders and pay our public servants to follow our direction. Just a thought.
Jul 2, 2013, 8:29 am
Lead is an important task as worthy as protect and serve. We have a responsiblity to be leaders in the community we serve and with the people we serve. Lead can be seen in the many ways we give back to the community e.g shop with a cop, christmas with a cop, having a recovered stolen bike repaired for n individual in need. We take the “lead” in solving problems in the community, such as downtown safety, river float, even basic neighborhood livability issues like drug houses as well as advocating for change like we have for dealing with vets in crisis and those with mental health issues that are in crisis. Hope that provides alittle more perspective.
EDITOR NOTE– Thanks Chief, we certainly appreciate the feedback from all sides.
Jul 2, 2013, 10:21 am
No matter the dollar amount, high, or low, it smacks of just one more tax funded boondoggle. After all, it is probably only a relative “pittance” compared to free 24/7 use of city vehicles and fuel. Little David and the gang have to blow that extorted tax money somewhere. . . throw it around or lose it!
Please, if y’all aren’t going to ever return Bieter to chasing ambulances (or whatever he did before) just keep him and his tax and spend ways confined in Boise.
Jul 2, 2013, 9:59 pm
Dave and Chief
I am glad to see that the Chief will weigh in on comments every once in awhile. On this point I find myself in the unfamiliar position of being in total agreement with Dave. Govt., LE, Fire, ect: are all public servants. I am not sure when LE forgot that but I am sure that they have.
Chief I agree leading is every bit as important, it could even be argued by some that it is more important. I am confused as to how “shop with a cop” or “Christmas with a cop” are examples of leadership. Public relations yes, leadership I am not sure. I feel that a much better example of leadership would be for LE in general and BPD/ACSD to lead by example. When individuals like officer #3 are allowed to commit a battery as atrocious as his incident was and are allowed to remain in their position it shows a lack, in my opinion, of both leadership and discipline. Members of LE must be held to a higher standard than the general public the military expects and demands its members why does LE not follow suit? After all virtually all LE depts. are quasi military units.
Again I applaud you for staying in touch with these type sites. I really wish the other “top cop” working in Boise would do the same.