2021 marks the 150th year of the founding of the City of Colorado Springs. To celebrate, Chief Niski has commissioned a special Sesquicentennial Badge for Colorado Springs Police Department officers. The simple yet iconic badge dates back to the late 1800s and pays tribute to those who came before us.
Throughout 2021, you may see some police officers wearing the commemorative badge in place of their normal Colorado Springs Police Department badge on their official uniform. Though this new badge is different in design, it is still an official Colorado Springs Police Department badge that will only be worn by sworn officers while on-duty. We have provided photos of what the new badges will look like for our community’s reference.
Badge Design
The chosen Sesquicentennial Badge is based on one of the first designs ever worn by Colorado Springs police officers. The badges come in two colors— gold and pewter (colors differ depending on rank).
Back in the 1800s, officers had to purchase their own badges by various means, which is why so many historic badges (some of which are on display at the Pioneer’s Museum) all look a little different. We hope this badge brings honor to every officer who has come before us as well as our city’s founders.