Because of old westerns and the general fascination of popular culture, authority officials are often very recognizable because of their credentials. One of the most recognizable of all authority symbols in the United States is a Sheriff badge.
There are many different style options when it comes to Sheriff badges, but they all keep to the most basic principle: the badge itself must be in the shape of a star. For some departments the Sheriff badge is a five pointed, free sitting star. For others, it is a six pointed star that has a shape reminiscent of the Star of David.
The coloring of a Sheriff’s badge is usually either a gold or a silver shiny hue; on the star, there is a title of Sheriff and the location of jurisdiction of which the Sheriff serves. In some instances the star is encased in a circle that surrounds all of the points; this is another popular style of Sheriff badge. Overall, a Sheriff badge is a symbol of honor and authority in an elected official.
When it comes to their trusted companions, the Deputy Sheriffs, they too have badges of importance. However, the badge of a deputy sheriff is often simply a shield with the title of deputy sheriff on it. It does not hold the same, ubiquitous, recognizable quality that the various types of Sheriff badges are able to evince. Throughout the years, sheriff badges are changed to mark the progression of time and the history of a Sheriff’s department.
NEXT: Brevard County Sheriff’s Office