Expert: Jim Pastore - 7/12/2005

Question
Having watched many police dramas. I am interested in finding out what the coloured bars displayed on the leather backing behind police officers badges represent. I guess they are medals and long/meritorious service awards? Also, what do the diagonal stripes displayed on the forearms of the uniform represent? Are these long service indicators?

Many thanks in advance.

Answer
Sorry Ed, I answered your orginal question but it must of got lost in cyber space. The colored bars are for meritorious service, and awards for various other things much like the military uses. The stripes on the sleves are called hash marks the same as the military uses. I believe each one is for 5 years of service. Hope this helped. And sorry again about the delay.

Jim