There’s a slightly new look for officers with the Timmins Police Service, as the force moves further into its second century.
Officers have been outfitted with newly designed badges, moving on from generic ones with few features that distinguish them from those of any other police force. That’s accomplished by incorporating the new TPS coat of arms that has been adopted within the past couple of years.
Sgt. Marty Delich says the changes are featured on the officers’ hat badges, as well as the ones they carry in their wallets.
“If you look at the detailing,” he says, “it’s very specific to the Timmins Police Service and very hard to duplicate or counterfeit.”
Communications coordinator Marc Depatie says the old design has been in use for more than 40 years. He adds that a badge is not only official ID, but to many officers, very much a badge of honour.
“Every officer, to a certain degree, is very proud of the fact that they carry with them a piece of the police brotherhood in their hip pocket.”
The new badge design is part of an ongoing corporate-style rebranding for the Timmins Police Service.
Other than an initial set-up fee, Delich says the new badges are no more expensive than the old generic ones.