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 seven point star for policemen and a six 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.

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
CITY MARSHAL 6 POINT
1885-1889
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
Assistant Chief of Police
1957 - 1993
Executive Assistant
Chief of Police
1999 - Present
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
1993 - Present
Deputy Chief of Police
1947 - 1993
Chief of Police
1891
Inspector
1947 - 1974
Commander
1974 - 1993
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
1887 - 1891 CHIEF OF POLICE

This unique star with gold wreath and diamonds was custom made for SDPD's first chief, Joseph Coyne.
Chief Coyne was the only person to ever wear it.

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
ORDER YOUR OWN, CUSTOMIZED VERSION OF THIS BADGE
ORDER YOUR OWN, CUSTOMIZED VERSION OF THIS BADGE
ORDER YOUR OWN, CUSTOMIZED VERSION OF THIS BADGE
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?
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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.
Special's have played a vital part in SDPD staffing. To lean how they were organized during World War II CLICK HERE.
Deputy Marshal
East San Diego Police
Circa 1912 - 1923
East San Diego Police
Circa 1912 - 1923
SERIES III
Silver Star
1905-1915
Hallmark: CAL STAMP SD
SERIES III
Silver Star
1905-1915
Hallmark: CAL STAMP SD
Acting Sergeant
Collar Pin
Chief of Police
1909 - 1933
Last worn by Harry Raymond
SAN DIEGO POLICE MUSEUM
2014 -