Police memorabilia collecting

Police memorabilia collecting is a hobby involving the collection and trading of law enforcement-related items such as patches, badges, uniforms, equipment, hats, helmets, training manuals, medals, and decommissioned or restored police cars.^[a] Memorabilia generally focuses on collecting historical artifacts such as turn-of-the-century screw-based handcuffs, though it can also include collecting modern items, typically those that have been decommissioned.^[1]

A collection of old Coventry City Police equipment, including helmets and an old telephone

Museums

Main article: List of police museums

Police museums display memorabilia related to a local police department or the history of law enforcement or emergency services in an area.

Further reading

• Police Collectors News. Baldwin, Wisconsin. monthly journal first printed in 1986
• Police Insignia Collectors Association Magazine. monthly journal first printed in 1974
• Sherrard, Raymond (2000). The Encyclopedia of Federal Law Enforcement Patches. R H S Enterprises. ISBN 9780914503071.
• Claflin, James V. (1997). Sheriff's insignia of the United States. J.V. Claflin. ISBN 978-1882824168.
• Grago, Randall (1996). The California Patch Book.

See also

• Patch collecting
• Police rank
• Souvenir
• United States law enforcement decorations

Notes

1. In the United States, the distinction is that patches are embroidered insignia, whereas badges are metallic or plastic items affixed to a uniform