It depends on state law. In the state where I live, it is legal to have a police badge as long as it is for collecting purposes only. Using a police badge for any other purpose such as impersonating an officer is illegal in federal and state law.
A police officer should show his badge when he approaches you. If the badge is not visible, ask to see it. If you ask for the badge number, the officer should give it to you. If the officer refuses, you should report it to the police department.
You ask the police officer, or they would've turned in their badge,you would see them without a badge.
A retired police officer may keep and display their badge in most jurisdictions. The badge will not protect you, its the training that does.
It is most commonly referred to as their 'badge' but it is also known as an officer's 'shield.'
Policeman sheriff Fireman Security Guard Correction Officer
If you are referring to a police officers badge, each officer is assigned a personal identification number. If you had a reason to find out or indicate who a particular officer is or was, you could give his/her badge number, and this number would identify the officer. In other words, the number connects to a name.
If the officer placed fear in the person he showed his badge to, perhaps the person was fearful because of the questionable legality of the act that they committed that motivated the officer to display his badge. More specifics would have to be known of the incident to receive a more specific answer.
I assume you want a badge number to make a complaint. Call the Police Department where the officer works. Then ask for Internal Affairs. They can find out which officer was working in the area where the problem occurred.
Not all Police Officers are issued badge numbers. However, most municipalities require Police Officers to provide specific identifying information to you about who they are in the event you need to file a formal complaint.
To honor someone who died in the line of duty and worked as a police officer or fireman.
If you have the badge number of a police officer, you can find out his or her name. Simply call the police station in that jurisdiction and ask for it.
HandcuffsAdded: Their badge and identification folder.