Yuma police wear commemorative badges marking state centennial

For the past year, many Yuma police officers have been wearing special badges to mark Arizona's 100-year anniversary of statehood.

“It's a nice-looking badge. A majority of the officers are wearing them,” said Sgt. Clint Norred, a spokesman for the Yuma Police Department. “It's neat, because it means you were a police officer during the centennial.”

Norred explained that the badges were a way for YPD to participate in the state's centennial celebrations. He said they were optional to wear and weren't issued by the police department. Officers had to purchase the badges, which cost about $82, on their own.

These special centennial badges were made available through the Association of Arizona Chiefs of Police, and designed by Creative Culture Insignia. They were part of a three-piece set that also included a commemorative coin and a lapel pin.

Norred said officers will continue wearing the centennial badges until Feb. 14, at which time they will be retired, and officers will return to wearing their regular badges.

The centennial badge design is similar to the regular badge, but has several major differences. The biggest difference, Norred said, is that it's a bit bigger and more oval than the regular badge, which is more of a shield design with a tapered end.

“It's almost a Los Angeles-style police badge,” Norred said.

Another difference is that while the regular YPD badge is gold with blue lettering, the centennial badge has a silver backing with gold inlay with silver lettering on a blue background. It also has the number 100 in the center of the badge in gold lettering.

James Gilbert can be reached at jgilbert@yumasun.com or 539-6854. Find him on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/YSJamesGilbert or on Twitter @YSJamesGilbert.