Family Member Badges: Honoring Law Enforcement Legacies Across Generations
The tradition of passing badge numbers and creating family tribute badges in law enforcement
Family member badges serve two distinct purposes in law enforcement: continuing a legacy by passing badge numbers to the next generation of officers, and honoring officers through tribute badges given to family members. Many departments have formal processes for both traditions. Badge numbers can span three or four generations in some families, while tribute badges help families memorialize fallen officers or celebrate retirements.
Two Traditions: Legacy Badges vs. Tribute Badges
When people talk about “family member badges,” they might mean two different things. It’s worth clarifying the distinction because the processes, purposes, and legal considerations differ significantly.
Legacy Badges
A legacy badge is an active-duty badge assigned to a new officer who requested their parent’s, grandparent’s, or other family member’s badge number. The badge itself is new, but the number continues a family tradition. These are real, functional credentials used by sworn officers.
Tribute Badges
A tribute badge is a commemorative piece given to family members of officers—typically at retirement, death, or other significant occasions. These badges are not functional credentials and are clearly marked to prevent any confusion with active-duty badges. They’re memorial items, not identification.
- Approximately 25% of new officers have at least one family member who served in law enforcement
- Some badge numbers have been held by 3-4 generations of the same family
- Major departments like NYPD and LAPD have formal legacy badge programs
- Tribute badge traditions vary widely—some departments provide them, others don’t
Legacy Badges: Passing the Number
The tradition of passing badge numbers through generations of law enforcement families is one of the most meaningful customs in American policing.
How It Works
When an officer retires or leaves the department, their badge number typically goes into a pool for reassignment. However, many departments allow family members entering the force to request that specific number before it’s reassigned to someone else.
The process usually involves:
- The new recruit requests their family member’s badge number during the hiring process
- The department verifies the family relationship
- If the number is available (the original holder has retired/departed), it’s reserved
- Upon graduation from the academy, the recruit receives a new badge bearing the family number
What Makes This Meaningful
To outsiders, a badge number might seem like just an administrative identifier. To law enforcement families, it carries enormous weight:
- Connection to history: Wearing your father’s or grandfather’s number creates a tangible link to their service
- Living up to a legacy: That number represents years of service and the standard the family has set
- Recognition from colleagues: Other officers who knew the previous holder often comment on the number
- Family pride: The tradition often spans ceremonies where multiple generations are present
Notable Multi-Generation Badge Numbers
In departments like the NYPD, some badge numbers have been held by four generations of the same family—great-grandfather to grandfather to father to child, all serving the city under the same number. These stories are celebrated within departments and covered by local media when they occur.
If you’re joining a department where a family member served, inquire about legacy badge programs early—preferably during the background investigation or academy phase. Some departments have deadlines for these requests, and once a number is reassigned, it may be years before it becomes available again.
Tribute Badges for Family Members
Tribute badges are commemorative pieces created to honor an officer’s service. Unlike active-duty police badges, these are keepsakes, not credentials.
Common Types of Tribute Badges
Retirement Tribute Badges
When an officer retires, some departments create miniature or modified versions of their badge for family members. A spouse might receive a charm-sized replica suitable for a necklace, or children might receive framed shadow box displays with a replica badge.
Spouse/Family Badges
Some departments issue small badges or pins to officers’ spouses and children as a gesture of appreciation for the family’s support and sacrifice. These typically feature the officer’s badge number and department insignia but are clearly distinguished from duty badges by size, shape, or marking.
Anniversary Badges
For significant service milestones (20 years, 25 years), departments may create commemorative badges for the officer and their family.
Legal Considerations
Tribute badges must be designed to comply with state badge regulations. They typically include:
- Clearly different size (usually smaller) than active-duty badges
- Marking such as “Family,” “Honorary,” or “Tribute”
- No implication that the bearer has law enforcement authority
- Design elements that distinguish them from functional credentials
Fallen Officer Memorial Badges
When an officer dies in the line of duty, departments typically have specific traditions for honoring their memory, including badge-related ceremonies and memorials.
Badge Number Retirement
Many departments permanently retire the badge numbers of officers killed in the line of duty. This means the number is never reassigned—a permanent tribute to the officer’s sacrifice. In some cases, the physical badge is presented to the family, encased in a memorial display.
Memorial Badge Presentations
Families of fallen officers often receive:
- The officer’s actual badge: Encased in a presentation display
- A memorial replica: If the original cannot be released (sometimes retained for official memorials)
- Family tribute badges: Smaller replicas for spouse and children
- Shadow box displays: Including badge, patches, photos, and other memorabilia
Fraternal Organizations
Organizations like the Fraternal Order of Police (FOP), Police Benevolent Association (PBA), and Concerns of Police Survivors (COPS) often provide additional memorial items to families, including commemorative badges and pins specific to their organizations.
If your department doesn’t have a formal family badge program and you’d like to honor a retiring officer or memorialize a fallen colleague, custom badge manufacturers can create appropriate tribute pieces. Just ensure any design is clearly marked as commemorative and wouldn’t be confused with active-duty credentials. Explore options with our badge design tool.
How to Request Family Badges
For Legacy Badge Numbers
- Research your department’s policy: Not all departments have legacy programs, and procedures vary
- Gather documentation: Be prepared to prove the family relationship (birth certificates, marriage certificates)
- Verify availability: Check whether the badge number has been retired or is still in use
- Submit request early: Many departments require legacy requests during the hiring process, not after
- Follow up: Stay in contact with HR or the personnel unit handling your request
For Tribute Badges
- Check department programs: Some departments provide tribute badges as a matter of policy
- Contact the union or association: FOP, PBA, and similar organizations often have programs
- Work with a badge manufacturer: For custom tribute pieces, work with a reputable badge supplier
- Coordinate with the department: Even for unofficial tribute badges, getting department blessing is advisable
For Fallen Officer Families
Families of fallen officers should:
- Work directly with the department’s liaison officer or family support unit
- Contact Concerns of Police Survivors (COPS) for additional support and resources
- Inquire about badge retirement and memorial presentation ceremonies
- Ask about ongoing family recognition programs the department may offer
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Can I request my father’s badge number if he’s still serving?
Generally, no. A badge number can only be passed when the original holder has retired or otherwise left the department. Some departments allow you to “reserve” the number so it isn’t reassigned before your family member retires, but policies vary. Check with your department’s personnel unit early in the process.
❓ What if my family member served in a different department?
Legacy badge programs typically only apply within the same department. If your parent served at the Chicago PD and you’re joining the LAPD, you wouldn’t be able to request their Chicago badge number in Los Angeles. However, you could certainly honor their legacy in other ways, such as a tribute badge or display piece.
❓ Are family tribute badges legal to possess?
Yes, as long as they’re clearly marked as commemorative and don’t closely resemble active-duty law enforcement badges. Most tribute badges are smaller (charm or pin size), marked with terms like “Family” or “Honorary,” and designed to avoid any confusion with functional credentials. Consult your state’s badge regulations if you’re uncertain.
❓ Do sheriff’s offices have the same traditions?
Yes, sheriff’s offices often have similar legacy and tribute badge traditions, though specific policies depend on the individual sheriff. Since sheriffs are elected officials, badge policies may change with administrations. The underlying traditions of honoring family legacies are equally strong in sheriff’s offices.
❓ How can I honor a family member who served in a now-defunct department?
When departments merge or dissolve, badge traditions can get complicated. Options include: obtaining historical records from successor agencies, working with a badge manufacturer to create a tribute piece based on historical designs, or contacting local law enforcement museums or historical societies. Some manufacturers specialize in recreating historical badges for memorial purposes.
- Legacy badges pass active-duty badge numbers to family members entering law enforcement
- Tribute badges are commemorative pieces honoring officers, not functional credentials
- Many departments have formal programs for both—inquire early in the process
- Fallen officer badge numbers are often permanently retired
- Tribute badges must be clearly marked to comply with regulations
- Fraternal organizations like FOP and PBA offer additional family programs
The Bottom Line
Family badge traditions represent the deep sense of legacy and connection that runs through law enforcement families. Whether it’s a new officer proudly wearing their grandfather’s badge number or a spouse treasuring a small tribute badge, these customs acknowledge that policing is often a family affair.
For departments, maintaining these traditions requires clear policies and coordination with badge manufacturers. For families, understanding the available options helps honor loved ones appropriately.
To learn more about badge traditions and procurement, see our guide to badge shapes and their meanings or explore the history of NYPD badges.