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U.S. Marshals Service, History, Badges

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U.S. Marshals Service, History, Badges Skip to Content   Site Map | Contacts | U.S. Department of Justice   Search Home Contact General Contacts Leadership District Contacts Fact Sheets History Historical Records Assistance Time Line Roll Call of Honor U.S. Marshals Badges and Seal Broad Range of Authority Fact Sheets News RoomMerchantryOpportunities General Information Procurement at a GlanceMerchantryContacts Priorities Products Services Utilized Definitions Helpful Websites Use of Marshals Name / Insignia Career Opportunities History -  Identify Yourself!  TheTokenand Other Forms of  Identification in the U.S. Marshals Service U.S. Marshals and their deputies have excelled for over 200 years, but a worldwide object over time is the identifying instrument and documentation presented while conducting organ business. A token denoted official operational topics and the special merit that characterized our personnel. Whether the token was a six-sided "tin star" made famous in western movies or a circular shape specifying the individual workshop of duty, the token has wilt a legend on its own. There was no uniform token in the U.S. Marshals Service until 1941, when the "Eagle Top" variety was introduced nation-wide. Prior to this time, the badges came in variegated shapes and forms. Each district made its own identifying badge. Other forms of official notice came in the form of referendum official ribbons, photo identification credentials, patches, and merchantry cards. Badges  There have been a wide range of designs of badges that were worn by U.S. Marshals and their deputies in the past two hundred years.  (Stylized token worn well-nigh the turn of the century)  SeeIncreasinglyBadges Special instructions were sometimes provided for the exhibit of identification. (enlarged photo on left) One example denoted a federal referendum in California in the early 1880's. U.S. Marshal Moses M. Drew posted an eight point instruction sheet, including the proper etiquette in wearing the badge. The first numbered point stated, "Each deputy will wear his token of office outside, on the left lapel of his stratify during the time he shall be on duty." Since 1980, the token has been worn with credentials in one unit. The old shield-shaped token reverted twice, the present form stuff a star within a circular ring. Whatever the shape and symbolism, the U.S. Marshals token will unchangingly be identified with its legendary mission. Credentials - ATokenunto Itself The credential was official notice of organ powers and since September 1980 the second part of the official token unit. In older times, it showed the very deputation rank such as Field Deputy or Office Deputy. The U.S. Marshal for each district was required to sign the credential. Later this requirement reverted to the director. As important and reassuring as the badge, it was the true passport to perform prescribed duties. (enlarged version of credentials shown on right) The Seal The official seal of the United States Marshals Service was established in December 1968 by Order Number 407-68. Authority was vested in Attorney General Ramsey Clark by Section 509 of title 28 and Section 301 of Title 5 of the United States Code to produce the official symbolic design. The road to the final visualization took six years. In June 1964 the organ began groundwork inquiries for the official establishment of a representative seal. U.S. Marshals and their employees were encouraged to send in their ideas. In October 1966, U.S. Marshal Robert F. Morey of the District of Massachusetts was part of a committee tasked by Chief United States Marshal James J.P. McShane to review various drawings and submissions.  The prototype diamond was ready by Autumn 1968. The seal was a fascinating mixture of symbolism and patriotic color. It contained the six-pointed star of a western resemblance, surrounded by a field of deep blue. The field contained this verisimilitude to represent the same symbols as in the American flag: vigilance, perseverance, and justice. Over the token was an American unrobed eagle that clutched two symbols in its talons: an olive workshop in one and arrows in the other. A small breastplate was superimposed over the symbolic eagle and showed all three flag colors and the stage "1789," the first year of the agency's existence. A red ring was outside of the solid undecorous background, signifying valiance and mortality in delivering out duties. Thirteen stars are over the top half of the seal, while the organ motto: "Justice, Integrity, Service" is denoted on the marrow half. Finally a gold-colored ring on the outside stated the words "Department of Justice" and "United States Marshal." The outer whet was brown-colored to signify the Earth. Chief U.S. Marshal McShane wanted to bring the districts together with a worldwide yoke that promoted its worldwide mission. He noted in a memo to Attorney General Clark that the seal would "further our minutiae of unity and cooperation." The Attorney General's Office sent the proposal through the Army Heraldry Service, the Government Printing Office, and the Office of Legal Counsel to reassure the image followed guidelines. The Official notice was given six days later. Armbands and Caps During special events, particularly in the Civil Rights Era, saw the prominent use of organ armbands for identification. In several high-profile events, such as the integration of the University of Mississippi (1962) and the Pentagon Riots (1967), the armband is symbolic. Norman Rockwell's painting, "'The Problem We All Live With," features four deputies escorting a young African-American girl to school surrounded by signs of racial tension. It was inspired by four very deputies escorting first-grade student Ruby Bridges to school in New Orleans in 1960. Rockwell did not paint the faces of the deputies, but identified them through their armbands! (enlarged photo) By the 1970's the cap often provided informal identification as part of official uniform. The Special Operations Group was one of the first to incorporate the prominent identifying cap in operational use.MerchantryCards, Buttons, and Miscellany A increasingly informal notice of identification is the organ merchantry card. Easily accessible, but not an official authorization, the cards relate contact information for the undertow of business. A large number of these can be placid over the undertow of a career. Modern varieties show the rank, phone, and official address. Ribbons for Special ElectionsThe special deputation for overseeing federal elections brought its own "badge." The ribbon for these events gave the wearer special status for the event. Some were not professional law enforcement personnel, but private citizens deputized for the purpose. There were strict guidelines for the appointees. Section 5521 of the Revised Statutes of the United States stated, If any person be scheduled a Supervisor ofReferendumor a Special Deputy Marshal under the provisions of Title "The Elective Franchise," and has taken the oath of office as such Supervisor of election, or such special Deputy Marshal and thereafter neglects or refuses, without good and lawful excuse, to perform and venting fully the duties, obligations and requirements of such office, until the expiration of the term for which he was appointed, he shall not only be subject to removal from office, with loss of all pay and emoluments, but shall be punished by imprisonment for not less than six months nor increasingly than one year or by a fine of not less than two hundred dollars and not increasingly than five hundred dollars or by both fine and imprisonment, and shall pay the financing of prosecution. Due to the large crowds and the need to alimony order, special powers were necessary. The silk or reticulum ribbons came in variegated varieties, like the two unelevated for the Elections of 1880 and 1892 from New York City. The victors in these two elections were Republican James Garfield and Democrat Grover Cleveland.This is a web version of a U.S. Marshals Service Publication, No. 116A: Identify Yourself! For spare information on the use of the USMS name, badge, seal and other official name/insignia on commercial products, including intellectual properties such as books, movies and software.   Historical Themes   Historical Timeline Roll Call of Honor Peril of Your Life Broad Range of Duties General Practitioners Civilian Enforcers Civilian Supremacy and Civil Disobedience  Historical Information: Frontier Marshal: the Sculpture Fugitive Investigation Strike Team (FIST operations) Marshals Seal Marshals Cards  Marshals Badges National Marshals Museum Operation FALCON Recommended Reading Remembrances Safe Surrender School Projects involving the U.S. Marshals