Law enforcement officers and emergency service personnel all over the world wear special insignia on their uniform shirts, jackets, jump-suits and coats that indicate their Department, unit or command.  These insignia are commonly known as "patches" and usually sewn on the sleeve or breast of the officers' clothing.

    Many agencies have a great number of patches ranging from a regular department emblem to special unit insignia. In Austria, for example, there are two main law enforcement agencies: the "Bundespolizei" (Federal Police) and the "Bundesgendarmerie" (Federal Gendarmerie). Both of them have a regular patch that appears on the standard police gear. Besides, specialized squads such as Special Weapons And Tactics (SWAT) teams or Canine (K-9) Units issue their own emblems that are worn along with the regular patch.

    Collecting these emblems is a fascinating hobby that teaches the collector a lot about the history, heraldry, and police structure of the respective jurisdictions.

Please return to my Home Page to view some pictures, links, and additional info on patch collecting!