New York City Police Badges

New York Police Detective Sergeant badge #40 first worn by Detective Sergeant Weinberg and then by Detective Sergeant James McGuire. SKU6522

NYPD Municipal Detective badge made of stering silver. This style was used from 1870-1872. SKU15906

Fancy presentation police baton, carved ivory and decorations and 14k gold inlaid presentation shield: Presented to Serg’t. Archie McCallum By his Friends Dec.r 7th 1905. McCallum was assinged to Brooklyn and rose to the rank of Lieutenant.

7/24/18

New York Times October 28, 1882

New York Times December 27, 1884

As of 1875 there were four New York Municipal Police Inspector’s, Dilks, Thorne, McDermott and Spieght. 8569

Presented to Capt. Patrick Hayes by the officers of his command on his 20th anniversary as a police officer.

Presented to Sergt. Wm F. Fennelly By the members of the 2nd Platoon, 15th Prect. Dec.r 25th , 1902.

Presented to Sergeant William J. McCarthy by the members of the 1st ? of the 35th Precinct New York Police Jan’y 8th 1901

Presented to Sergeant Geo.Hearte by the members of the 5th Precinct 1901.

Richmond Co. (Staten Island) Police Sergeant badge. Metropolitan era.
Circa 1857. SKU5662

New York Police Inspector shield 1880-1898. One of four issued by the department. SKU0097

Portrait of Inspector Adam Cross wearing one of the four issued Inspector badges during the 1880-1898 time period.

Early and rare Special Deputy Sheriff for City & County of N. Y. Chief Clerk of Washington Market. Sheet silver with T-pin and C-catch.
In 1860-1870 W. H. Johnson was the Clerk of Washington Market. SKU3658

N.Y.P.D. Metropolitan Captain circa 1879, hallmarked The C.G. Braxmar Co.

New York Police shield No. 323 for the Prohibition Special Squad. A short lived shield due to the fact that Mobsters could easily identify the Prohibition officers (known as at the Hat Squad) due to their unique shields.

The NYPD Prohibition Special Unit (also referred to as the Prohibition Special Squad was a short lived enforcement group) It was a specialized detail formed during the Prohibition era (1920€-1933) to help enforce the Volstead Act, which banned the manufacture, sale, and transportation of alcohol in the United States.

This unit consisted of NYPD officers assigned specifically to target bootlegging, speakeasies, and related illegal alcohol activities in New York City, a hotbed for organized crime and rum-running at the time. Federal Prohibition agents (from the Treasury Departments Prohibition Unit) handled much of the national enforcement, but local police like the NYPD often assisted or ran parallel operations, especially since corruption and mob influence made dedicated local squads necessary for raids and arrests.

Easy identification by mobsters, the bold, unique design of the “S” shield allowed gangsters and bootleggers to quickly spot these officers, even in plainclothes or undercover attempts. This compromised their safety and effectiveness, as criminals could avoid them, ambush them, or bribe/corrupt others while steering clear.

As a result, the unit operated only briefly (likely in the early-to-mid 1920s), and the special shields were phased out quickly to avoid these risks. The Prohibition era was dangerous for NYPD officers overall, 94 were killed in the line of duty during those years due to the violence tied to alcohol