Policy Text
Policy
1021San Luis Obispo Police Department
San Luis Obispo PD CA Policy Manual
Copyright Lexipol, LLC 2025/07/23, All Rights Reserved.
Published with permission by San Luis Obispo Police
DepartmentDepartment Badges - 1Department Badges
1021.1 PURPOSE AND SCOPE
The San Luis Obispo Police Department badge and uniform patch as well as the likeness of these
items and the name of the San Luis Obispo Police Department are property of the Department
and their use shall be restricted as set forth in this policy.
1021.2 POLICY
The uniform badge shall be issued to department members as a symbol of authority and the use
and display of department badges shall be in strict compliance with this policy. Only authorized
badges issued by this department shall be displayed, carried or worn by members while on duty
or otherwise acting in an official or authorized capacity.
Sworn members of the San Luis Obispo Police Department shall be provided with a uniform badge,
flat badge, hat badge and flat badge wallet. Civilian staff shall be provided a uniform badge as
needed based on their assignment. All badges will be uniquely numbered, reflecting their tenure
in the agency, and will remain with the employee for the remainder of their career.
The use of the flat badge is subject to all the same provisions of department policy as the uniform
badge.
(a)Should the badge, flat badge, or hat badge become lost, damaged, or otherwise
removed from the officer's control, they shall make the proper notifications as outlined
in the Department Owned and Personal Property Policy.
(b)An honorably retired officer with at least 10 years of service at the San Luis Obispo
Police Department may keep their badge and flat badge upon retirement at no cost
to the employee. Hat badges may be purchased if desired, for the replacement cost
to the Department.
(c)Honorably retired civilian personnel with at least 10 years of service at the San Luis
Obispo Police Department may keep their badge upon retirement at no cost to the
employee.
(d)The purchase, carrying or display of a flat badge is not authorized for non-sworn
personnel.
(e)Any employee who leaves the San Luis Obispo Police Department in good standing
prior to 10 years of service and wishes to purchase their badge, flat badge, and/or hat
badge may request to do so via a memorandum to the Chief of Police. The cost of
purchase shall be equal to the replacement cost of the badge/s, or a lesser amount
determined on a case by case basis by the Chief of Police.
1021.2.1 CIVILIAN PERSONNEL
Badges and department identification cards issued to non-sworn personnel shall be clearly marked
to reflect the position of the assigned employee (e.g. Parking Control, Dispatcher).
(a)Non-sworn personnel shall not display any department badge except as a part of their
uniform and while on duty, or otherwise acting in an official and authorized capacity.
San Luis Obispo Police Department
San Luis Obispo PD CA Policy Manual
Department Badges
Copyright Lexipol, LLC 2025/07/23, All Rights Reserved.
Published with permission by San Luis Obispo Police
DepartmentDepartment Badges - 2(b)Non-sworn personnel shall not display any department badge or represent
themselves, on or off duty, in such a manner which would cause a reasonable person
to believe that he/she is a sworn peace officer.
1021.2.2 RETIREE UNIFORM BADGE
Upon honorable retirement employees may receive or purchase their assigned duty badge for
display purposes as outlined in this policy. It is intended that the duty badge be used only as
private memorabilia as other uses of the badge may be unlawful or in violation of this policy.
1021.3 UNAUTHORIZED USE
Except as required for on-duty use by current employees, no badge designed for carry or display in
a wallet, badge case or similar holder shall be issued to anyone other than a current or honorably
retired peace officer.
Department badges are issued to all sworn employees and civilian uniformed employees for official
use only. The department badge, shoulder patch or the likeness thereof, or the department name
shall not be used for personal or private reasons including, but not limited to, letters, memoranda,
and electronic communications such as electronic mail or web sites and web pages.
The use of the badge, uniform patch and department name for all material (printed matter, products
or other items) developed for department use shall be subject to approval by the Chief of Police.
Employees shall not loan theirdepartment badge or identification card to others and shall not
permit the badge or identification card to be reproduced or duplicated.
1021.4 PERMITTED USE BY EMPLOYEE GROUPS
The likeness of the department badge shall not be used without the expressed authorization of
the Chief of Police and shall be subject to the following:
(a)The employee associations may use the likeness of the department badge for
merchandise and official association business provided they are used in a clear
representation of the association and not the San Luis Obispo Police Department. The
following modifications shall be included:
1.The text on the upper and lower ribbons is replaced with the name of the
employee association.
2.The badge number portion displays the acronym of the employee association.
(b)The likeness of the department badge for endorsement of political candidates shall
not be used without the expressed approval of the Chief of Police.