Contest ended 2/17/12; Winner is Georgetown, Texas!
Tuesday, February 7, 2012
Update 2/20/12: Contest is now over. Winner: Georgetown, Texas!
Law Officer has narrowed down all the contest submissions to the following four patches. It was a difficult choice, as the submissions were all very good.
Now, we'd like you to select the final winner! Please review each patch image and description before you cast your vote on the Law Officer Facebook poll or leave a comment in the section below. Patch with the most votes by Friday, February 17th, wins and will be displayed in print and online! Note: You can only vote once!
Criteria:
Visually appealing
Compelling story behind the design elements
Law Officer would like to thank everyone who participated and submitted a patch. If your patch isn't seen here, you weren't selected for the final round. But don't be discouraged, we'll continue to have monthly contests!
The eagle represents power, strength and swiftness. Its demeanor is in a constant state of vigilance. The shield represents the protective nature of law enforcement. The shield has five stripes indicative of the PD’s five core values of integrity, leadership, teamwork, professionalism and accountability. The eagle is embracing the shield in a guarded manner placing added emphasis on its importance. The three stars on the shield have dual meaning. First, they represent the three critical dimensions necessary for organizational success: leadership, teamwork and communication. Second, they refer to the PD’s strategy for organizational development. The Georgetown PD promotes officer development in three vital areas: knowledge (scholar), interpersonal skills (statesman) and tactics (warrior). The five-pointed star represents the great state of Texas. The circular ring represents teamwork, unity and synergy. "Duty, honor, community" is one of the organizational mottos. Submitted by Amanda Chron
Wild Rose, Wis.
While watching a 1964 episode of Dragnet, I noticed that the small town sheriff was wearing the same patch we had. It was time to redesign and step out of the past! I was never particularly thrilled with the old cookie-cutter patch, and it was one of the first changes I wanted to make as the new chief. I wanted to have a radically new patch that drew attention and instilled pride in the officers and the community. I had to be careful to make it reflective of the area as well. I came up with the deer because that's what we are known for--the best hunting! The building is the old mill in town and one of the most recognizable landmarks. The flag speaks for itself. The city was incorporated in 1904, so that date is also on the patch. Although we're a small rural town, we're proud of our heritage and history, and big on sharing it with the world! We're very proud of our patch. It represents the agency coming of age and working toward the future while keeping our culture and history close at heart. Submitted by Russ Saunders
Springerville, Az.
The background features an outline of the state of Arizona and the star marks the location of the town of Springerville. The blue background, along with the gold and red stripes that symbolize a sunset, are all colors of the Arizona State flag. The snow-capped mountain, blue lake and pine tree represent the many recreational and resource opportunities of the area. The pottery pot, quail and hieroglyphic symbols represent the Native American culture. Completing the design are the town motto and the year the town of Springerville was incorporated. This patch is worn by all sworn officers and civilian employees of the Springerville PD. Submitted by Mike Nuttall
Fort Myers, Fla.
Police officers in Fort Myers today proudly wear the patch of the Fort Myers PD. It symbolizes more than law and order. It represents a commitment to improve the quality of life for its citizens through a variety of police/community initiatives and programs. Devotion to duty, ethical conduct and pride, manifested by each member of the Fort Myers PD has remained constant throughout the years. The patch was constructed to represent the city and agency in the following ways: Background color: It matches the color of the strip on our patrol officer’s uniforms. Flag: It's in color and purposely draped down so the patch can be worn on both sleeves to remain in compliance with proper flag facing etiquette. Palm Tree: It's in color and represents the “Royal Palm”. In the late 1800s, Tootie McGregor, and Thomas and Mina Edison began the beautification of Fort Myers. As part of the beautification, royal palm trees were imported from Cuba and planted along Riverside Drive, later renamed McGregor Boulevard. These magnificent Royal Palms, some towering at 75 feet, give the City of Palms its nickname. Building: The building on the patch is an exact representation of the guard house where the soldiers stayed while protecting Fort Myers back in the 1800’s. The house was two-story with outdoor steps to an observation tower on top of the roof. If you look closely on the patch, you will see a shadow of a soldier sitting down on a bench connected to the house. This is in complete contrast to our current badges where our current headquarters is proudly incorporated into the design therefore displaying the new and old on our uniforms. 1885: This is to represent when the City of Fort Myers was established. Submitted by Roger Valdivia
