A challenge coin is a great honor to receive and provides the deserved recognition. According to the United States Department of Defense, the tradition of issuing a challenge coin by the military started in WWI. There are several reasons why investing in a challenge coin is a good idea.

A Brief History of Challenge Coins

We know how challenge coins started in the United States military, but that’s not where they started. It’s thought that these tokens date back to ancient Roman times. In Roman times, when soldiers fought a good fight, they would get their regular purse of coins and an additional bonus coin.

The paid bonus coin was minted separately to indicate that it was a “bonus pay” for exceptional service. The bonus or challenge coin was revered.

What Is the Significance of Challenge Coins?

A challenge coin can serve several purposes. They can be given as a token of appreciation. They can promote loyalty to an agency, signify special achievements, and improve morale. Challenge coins are a great way to recognize contributions to an organization.

Challenge coins are highly appreciated by the recipient as an honor. Challenge coins are reserved for the highest honors.

What Organizations Can Benefit From Investing in Challenge Coins?

While military organizations are most often associated with challenge coins, that doesn’t mean these coins do not have a place with other organizations. Police departments, fire departments, hospitals, and other groups can all enjoy the benefits of investing in challenge coins.

Whether private or public, any organization that wants to recognize people with a meaningful token should invest in challenge coins. There are no specific criteria to invest in these coins other than the desire for a custom coin to recognize stakeholders.

Why Invest?

Challenge coins are a good investment because of the joy they bring the recipient, but that’s not the only reason. Challenge coins can grow in value. A historically significant challenge coin can be a valuable item.

The rarity of the challenge coins can make them more valuable with time. More importantly, these coins become family heirlooms.

These coins are a great investment for any group. Custom challenge coins are a great investment that has the potential to grow in value. Give us a call to learn more about challenge coin investments today.

Have you ever wondered where police badges got their start? Or who decided that the police needed police badges? Police badges are symbolic and necessary to recognize members of the police force. Here is a quick history of police badges and why they’re a significant part of every police uniform.

Where Badges Got Their Start

The first current police badge, according to the Washington, D.C. Police Memorial and Museum, was used in London in 1845. However, badges identifying people as a means of security started in medieval times. A knight or other member of an aristocratic household, designated as a defender, wore a badge with the aristocrats’ coat of arms. The early badges and the badges of modern times had the same purpose as they identified the wearer as part of a group tasked with ensuring safety and following the rules.

Early American Law Enforcement Badges

As far back as early settlers arriving in the United States, badges were used to identify law enforcement officials. The iconic star shape forever became associated with law enforcement in the wild west. Gold and silver stars had different significance in days gone by since the badge color for law enforcement indicated rank and power. The badge became a talisman of sorts and identified law enforcement officers and protected them somewhat from the day’s violence. Harming a law enforcement officer wearing a badge comes with very stiff penalties.

Today’s Police Badges

Today, police badges still hold the same significance they always have. They are a symbol of group membership intending on defending a community. They identify police officers as peace officers that are there to help citizens. Police badges are symbols that inform, protect, and designate officials. To wear a police badge today, you must earn the right through proper training. It’s illegal for an average citizen that doesn’t have special permission to wear a copy of a police badge. Each police badge is numbered with a unique number assigned to the officer that wears the badge.

A badge is worn with pride because must be earned. It honors those that choose to protect and serve their communities. Police badges are richly symbolic and meaningful. A high-quality badge is more than a uniform accessory. It’s an important affirmation for every police officer that they belong to a team. If you’re looking for high-quality badges to represent your police force, give us a call today!

There are almost 18,000 U.S. police agencies in the United States which include City Police Departments, County Sheriff’s Offices, State Police and Highway Patrol, and Federal Law Enforcement Agencies. Each of these police departments is unique in terms of size and composition, but they all have one thing in common – they all need to develop their own brand. Below are some of the many ways police departments create their own brand.

Police Decals

First and foremost, police decals are vital for any police department to have. These decals give the agency’s vehicles and officers a sense of identity, which helps to distinguish them from other agencies in the area. Not only that, but they also help to instill a sense of pride in the agency’s personnel and can even be used as a tool for recruitment.

Mission Statements

Many police departments have mission statements that define their core values and goals, as well as what they stand for. These statements serve to inform the public of the department’s purpose, how it operates, and what citizens can expect from their officers. They also give the agency a sense of purpose and help to create an image of professionalism for the department.

Community Outreach Programs

Community outreach programs are a great way for a police department to build relationships with its citizens and to develop trust in the community. These programs can be designed to address specific needs, such as crime prevention, education, or homelessness. By taking part in community programs, the police department is better able to understand the needs of its constituents, which in turn helps it to improve its public image.

Professionalism and Integrity

The level of professionalism and integrity that the police department demonstrates reflects its public image. Professionalism can be demonstrated through proper dress, protocol, and behavior, while integrity is demonstrated by upholding values such as honesty and fairness when dealing with citizens. By setting a high standard of excellence in these areas, the police department can demonstrate its commitment to serving its community.

From police decals to doing community outreach, these are just some of the ways that police departments can establish and build their own brand. By focusing on these areas, agencies can develop a positive image in the community and become more effective at serving their constituents. If you are looking for decals for your police department, whether it be patches, badges, or pins, call our team today to order!

Did you know that as of 2018, there were 29,705 fire departments located in the United States? According to the National Fire Protection Association, 18% were career or mostly career departments that labored tirelessly to protect 68% of the entire United States population.

With this considered, the community must show its gratitude to these men and women who are heroes to the community and wear meaningful fire department patches. Three ways to support your local fire department include assisting with firehouse maintenance, advocating for fire safety, and preparing meals for on-duty firefighters.

Assist With Firehouse Maintenance

The firehouse is where firefighters spend their time in between calls. This space is where the firefighters should feel comfortable and welcomed. To support your local fire department, you can do your part to ensure that this particular living space is clean, updated, and spacious.

Examples of firehouse maintenance include assisting with painting, updating flooring, and other carpentry work. The key to showing support is guaranteeing that the space is looked after and well-kept while firefighters are between jobs. Meaningfully get to know and study the firefighters’ patches to understand their living space needs.

Advocate For Fire Safety

Supporting the local fire department can also look like advocating for fire safety in your community. This support will make the occurrence of potential emergencies more organized and safe when the local fire department arrives at the scene.

This advocation may include encouraging an increase in fire extinguishers and smoke alarms, creating escape plans with those surrounding you, and ensuring that your peers understand the other necessary protocols for fires in the future.

Prepare Meals For Firefighters

Like volunteering for firehouse maintenance, preparing meals for firefighters will likely make them feel comfortable and at home while on duty. The personable act of preparing and delivering meals to these firefighters is something that they will appreciate beyond words.

Traditionally, preparing meals is done during the holiday seasons or on days of recognition. Delivering the meals personally to firefighters wearing meaningful patches can ensure they understand your thankfulness for their service.

The meaningful time and effort firefighters put into serving their community should be acknowledged with respect and gratitude. Take the time today and take personal steps to support your local fire department!

Police decals are a way for police officers to show their pride in their work. They come in many different shapes and sizes and can be made from a variety of materials. Most police decals are designed to be attached to the windows of police cars, but they can also be attached to other surfaces.

What Purpose Do Decals Serve?

Police decals can serve a number of purposes. They can be used to identify police cars, or they can be used as a form of identification for individual police officers. Some police decals may also include slogans or messages that promote law enforcement values or goals.

The San Jose Police Department reports that the seven points on their badge have special symbolism. They represent the seven core values of the Department: Integrity, Service, Courage, Innovation, Respect, Excellence, and Diversity. There will be a lot of overlap in these decals with other law enforcement agencies, but each one is unique. Some other departments that use police decals are big city police departments such as the Los Angeles Police Department, the New York Police Department, and the Chicago Police Department.

What Goes Into a Decal?

Police department coats of arms typically bear the department’s name and logo as well as symbols that represent the department’s values and goals. The Los Angeles Police Department, for example, uses a coat of arms that includes a police badge, a California grizzly bear, and the words “To Protect and to Serve” written in both English and Spanish. The New York Police Department uses a coat of arms that features a police shield and the NYPD logo as well as images of the Statue of Liberty and the Brooklyn Bridge.

Coats of arms typically date back to the Middle Ages when they were used by knights to identify their families or organizations. Over time, coats of arms have come to be associated with bravery, strength, and honor. They are often used to represent law enforcement agencies because they embody the values that police departments hold dear.

If you are looking to create a custom police decal for your department, call The Emblem Authority. We are a custom patch creator for police, sheriff, fire departments, emergency services, and thousands of local, state, and federal agencies. We create custom embroidered patches that accurately reflect the individual character of each agency. Give us a call today!