Woodbury Police Badges: ‘This is My Place in History’

Woodbury police officers know where they stand in the department’s history.

Every officer in the annals of the Woodbury Police Department has his or her own badge number—from 1 to 120.

It wasn’t always that way.

“There was literally a drawer full of badges,” said Cmdr. John Altman.

In 2009, Altman delved into the department’s archives to assign each officer in the city’s history a specific badge number based on when he or she was hired.

Instead of a random draw from a drawer, the department wanted to “create something special to us,” Altman said, and each new officer is now given the next badge number in line.

“The guys really embraced it—this is my place in history,” he said.

The department also worked with a company to provide new badges more emblematic of Woodbury, rather than picking them out of a catalogue, said Altman, who was recently promoted from sergeant to commander and still sports the “Sgt.” on his badge.

“I have to wait my four to six weeks to get (a new badge),” he said.

Altman was hired in 1999 and started as a community service officer in 1997. He’s No. 62.

The city is looking to hire two new officers—they will be Nos. 121 and 122.

As part of the new badge numbers, Public Safety Chief Lee Vague also penned “The Meaning of the Badge,” which he reads when new officers are sworn in.

Woodbury Police Department Gets New Officer

Woodbury Swears in New Police Officer

Woodbury Welcomes Newest Police Officers

Like Patch on Facebook | Follow us on Twitter | Sign up for our free newsletter