PRIVATE PATROL OPERATOR LICENSE
BUREAU BADGE, PATCH AND CAP INSIGNIA REVIEW PROCESS
February 2018
IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT YOU NOT ORDER YOUR BADGES, PATCHES AND/OR CAP INSIGNIAS UNTIL YOU HAVE RECEIVED THE BUREAU'S WRITTEN APPROVAL OF YOUR DESIGN FOR EACH ITEM. Ordering these items before receiving the Bureau's approval could result in you incurring unnecessary costs.
Requesting Bureau Review of Badge/Patch/Cap Insignia
To request the review of your company's badge, patch and/or cap insignia design(s), mail/email the following items to:
Bureau of Security and Investigative Services
Attention: Badge and Patch Review
PO Box 989002
West Sacramento, CA 95798-9002
OR
- A written letter requesting the Bureau to review the item or items (specify each item in your
letter) for which approval is being requested. The letter must be dated and signed by the owner
if your company is licensed as a sole ownership, by a partner associated with the license if
licensed as a partnership, or by an officer associated with the license if licensed as a
corporation.
- A printed color copy or sample of the exact design and actual size of the badge, patch and/or
cap insignia for which you are requesting to be reviewed.
Business and Professions Code (BPC) Section 7582.26 specifically prohibits licensees from using a title, wearing an insignia or making any statements that could give the impression that the individual is connected in any way with a federal, state or local governmental agency. The Bureau uses the following to help reduce the likelihood that a badge/patch/cap insignia design could be perceived as being anything other than Private Security.
- Badge: The badge must bear on its face the name of the licensee
or a distinctive word indicating the name of the
licensee and a unique employee identification number (BPC Sections 7582.26 and
7582.28). Regarding the size of the badge, and the font type and size for the company name
and employee identification number, consideration is given to the readability of the
information from a reasonable distance. The Bureau has previously approved badges at least 2
inches by 3 inches in size. NOTE: the employee identification number should be sequential
and distinctive to the badge.
- Patch: The patch must bear on its face the full
name of the company, as printed on the license and the words Private Security
(BPC Sections 7582.26 and 7582.27). Regarding the size of the patch, and the font type and
size for the company name and Private Security, consideration is given to the readability
of the information from a reasonable distance. The Bureau has previously approved patches at
least 3 inches by 4 inches in size.
- Cap Insignia: The insignia must bear on its face the name of the licensee or a distinctive word indicating the name of the
licensee, and the employee identification number by which the person may be identified by the licensee (BPC Section 7582.26 and 7582.28). Regarding the size of the insignia,
and the font type and size for the company name, consideration is given to the readability
of the information from a reasonable distance. The Bureau has previously approved insignias
2 inches by 2 inches in size.
- No seal, emblem, acronym or configuration may be used on a badge, patch, or cap insignia
that is similar to one used by a federal, state or local governmental agency (BPC 7582.26).
- If a badge, patch or cap insignia includes the U.S. flag, no mark, letter, word, number, figure,
or drawing of any kind may be superimposed on it (U.S. Flag Code).
- No badge, patch, or cap insignia may include the Great Seal of the State of California
(California Government Code Section 401).
- The Bureau recommends contacting the city, county, or city and county which you intend to conduct business to determine if you must also receive approval from the city, county, or city and county to use your selected uniform and insignia designs (BPC 7583.38).