My Account Blog
Subscribe

Where did the idea for a star-shaped lawman’s badge originate?

May 2012 Marshall Trimble

atm-logoWhere did the idea for a star-shaped lawman’s badge originate?

Lavonn Jensen
Pine City, Minnesota

Primitive societies believed the star possessed magical powers, guarding against danger and controlling evil forces. Down through the ages, the star maintained that symbol of guardianship and was adopted by peace officers as a badge for that reason.


Marshall Trimble is Arizona’s official historian. His latest book is Wyatt Earp: Showdown at Tombstone. If you have a question, write: Ask the Marshall, P.O. Box 8008, Cave Creek, AZ 85327 or e-mail him at marshall.trimble@sccmail.maricopa.edu

Related Posts

  •   Why are sheriff’s badges almost always star-shaped? Jane McKenna Spokane, Washington Primitive societies believed…

  • lonestarpasts

    Attempting to define the difference between memory and reality, this book essentially is a collection…

  • Texas Chili

    With the National Football League’s Denver Broncos and the Carolina Panthers ready to square off…

Marshall Trimble is Arizona’s official historian and the Wild West History Association’s vice president. His latest book is 2018’s Arizona Oddities: A Land of Anomalies and Tamales. Send your question, with your city/state of residence, to marshall.trimble@scottsdalecc.edu or Ask the Marshall, P.O. Box 8008, Cave Creek, AZ 85327.