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At the turn of the Century, San
Francisco had "Volunteer Police", who wore this simple shield
with the moniker "VP of SF". The badge contains an Irvine
& Jachens hallmark, as well as a department control number on the
back
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A simple, yet beautiful, sterling
silver star with hard black enamel, dated on the back 1907, was worn by
patrol officers. This style was known as the "pie plate", so
called for its size, but is much different from Chicago's pie plate. In
the 1910's the department changed to its current issue. Hallmarked
I&J and containing the date made, a pleasure for collectors trying
to determine the age of a badge. |
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This ornately scrolled sterling silver
badge for the rank of Patrol driver was made by Irvine & Jachens, a
maker still in business today. This is from the days of the early patrol
wagons. |
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Another beautifully engraved sterling
badge was this Storekeeper's star. Storekeeper's would have been in
charge of the department's property. |
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This small 6 point star, in sterling
with hard blue enamel, was probably given to a "friend" of the
Chief's back in the 20's. |
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Even the Special Officers wore
sterling, as this badge, dated 1928, attests. Another beauty with hard
black enamel. |
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Another Special, only with a badge
number "ZP". Frisco oftentimes used letters for badge
numbers, the reasons often hotly debated. This badge is dated 1927. |
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Thanks to the server
company, this pic is lost.
Police ambulance driver's wore this
star in the 1920's. It featured a green enameled cross in the center,
with a brass colored badge number plate.
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This is the current style worn by SFPD.
This badge, dated 1921, was made by Moise K. & Co., an early SF
manufacturer. This style is known as the "Q2", so called
because of the civil service rank of "Q2" (patrolman). |
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It's not too often that you can find a
disappointing SF badge, but this one from the Muni Transit police would
qualify. Cheaply done, it's in nickel and soft blue lettering. Musta
been a budget crunch. Hallmarked I&J. |
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Just to show that SFPD badges can
widely vary in designs, how 'bout this Reserve badge with soft red
enamel in the badge number? |
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Another variation of the Auxiliary
badge, this one has the word "Auxiliary" in soft red enamel
and is nickel plated. |
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Okay, it's SF's hat badge... but, even
though it's gold, it's worn by the patrol officer's. That's an unusual
combo when their breast badges are silver. The moniker "Oro En Paz,
Fierro En Guerra" means "Gold in Peace, Iron in War", the
City motto. |
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Retirement badges apparently have an
"A" added before the badge number |
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This badge has never been identified as
having come from the department. They've never worn ball-tipped
stars to anyone's knowledge. It may have been a movie prop or a
sample badge. |
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San Francisco Harbor Police wore this
sterling pie plate. |
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This Special police badge is in nickel
finish, probably made during WWII. |
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But this Special Police hat badge is
made of sterling. It was worn by Patrol Specials |
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Patrol Special Police served as uniform
officers for city merchants. |
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This is the older pie plate style but
in nickel instead of sterling. Said to be made during the metal
shortages of WWII. |
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Like in Denver, the purpose of the San
Francisco Sheriff's Department is to run the city jail. |
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Another San Francisco County Deputy
Sheriff star, this one with a walking bear. |
