CALIFORNIA
POLICE AND SHERIFF SHOULDER AGENCIES
2nd Edition

I wish to acknowledge my debt to all the collectors I have traded with over the years and who have helped me put together my collection. My thanks to Gene Gianuzzi, Nick Cardaras, Dennis Smith, Tom Hollywood and Rich Stein for their support and camaraderie during the many miles we traveled together. Also, a special note of appreciation to Gene Gianuzzi for his sense of humor, integrity, generosity, and for helping me get the tough ones.

Additionally, I wish to gratefully acknowledge Nick Cardaras' invaluable assistance with the preparation of the improved 2nd Edition, as well as the yearly Updates.

The purpose of the printed version of this booklet is to portray in color all of the current California municipal police and county sheriff patches as well as the last design worn by defunct departments. The original 23 page booklet shows the patches that were current as of January 1984. Every following year an Update is issued that includes all the changes that occurred the previous year. With all included Updates the booklet shows all current patches up to January 2005.

The original booklet was produced by photographing the patches then color copying the pages.  The quality was good for its time, but cannot compete with current computer imaging.  By utilizing Nick Cardaras' extensive knowledge and abilities with computers, we were able to redo the booklet with modern technology.  The results are not only more precise and color accurate, but less expensive.  This allows us to provide the 2nd Edition Patch Booklet at about a third off the original price.

I have tried to be as accurate as possible with the 2nd Edition including many patches that were unknown or unavailable at the time of the original photo session.  I would appreciate being advised of any errors you may come across, or any suggestions you may have about improving the booklet.  Also, be sure to check this website occasionally to stay apprised of current patch changes.

Several cities in California are known as "Contract Cities". They are policed by the local county sheriff or adjacent police department but wear distinctive uniforms and patches. At this time these agencies are as follows: CANYON LAKE, CITRUS HEIGHTS, COACHELLA,  DANVILLE, DUBLIN, INDIAN WELLS, LA QUINTA, LAFAYETTE, LAKE ELSINORE, MORENO VALLEY, NORCO, OAKLEY, ORINDA, PALM DESERT, PERRIS, RANCHO MIRAGE, SAN RAMON, SANTA FE SPRINGS, TEMECULA, WINDSOR and YOUNTVILLE.

Some agencies changed their names, which can be confusing: BELL had joined with CUDAHY to form BELL-CUDAHY PD but separated in 1989, with CUDAHY being policed by the Los Angeles Sheriff's Department. CORTE MADERA joined with LARKSPUR in 1980 to form TWIN CITIES PD. MONTE VISTA was renamed MONTCLAIR in 1959. GROVER CITY was renamed GROVER BEACH in 1993.

I have also included patches that are not technically municipal police patches for informational purposes, since collectors will often come across them. CUYAMACA PD and GROSSMONT PD were college security departments in San Diego, as were STANFORD PD in Palo Alto and EL CAMINO PD in Los Angeles.  DEL MONTE FOREST PD was a private community security force in Monterey, as was HIDDEN HILLS DEPUTY in the Los Angeles area. AVALON PSD, HAWAIIAN GARDENS PSD and LAKEWOOD PD were non-sworn civilian forces that assisted the Los Angeles Sheriff's Department, as did SOLVANG PD with the Santa Barbara Sheriff's Department. SEAPORT VILLAGE PSD in San Diego, SHORELINE CENTER in Long Beach, STONESTOWN PD in San Francisco, and STONEWOOD PSD in Downey were security agencies for shopping malls.  As for current non-police agencies: CARSON PSD, DUARTE PSD, LA MIRADA PSD, NORWALK PSD, PARAMOUNT PSD and SANTA FE SPRINGS PSD are non-sworn that assist the Sheriff's Department in Los Angeles County, as does SAN CLEMENTE POLICE SERVICES in Orange County and PINE MOUNTAIN CLUB  in Kern County. SAN JOSE PSD is a security agency that assists San Jose PD in policing municipal buildings.  CHINA LAKE in Kern County and FORT HUNTER LIGGETT in Monterey County are Federal Military bases that utilize civilian police personnel.


Collectors interested in purchasing Will Berry's California Police and Sheriff Booklet can write to Will at PO Box 132 Burbank, CA 91503-0132. Or email Will, at willbybpd@sbcglobal.net.   The complete, full color Booklet, from 1984 through 2005 is $35.00 plus $5.00 shipping and handling.  Updates to the Booklet are published annually and are available for $3.00 plus $2.00 shipping and handling. Foreign postage is higher on all orders!

Purchase of a booklet or Update enables you to obtain patch Update Alerts, which advise of new style changes and give contact and cost information. This is an invaluable tool for keeping up to date, as well as being one of the first to obtain a new design! All that is necessary to continue receiving the Update Alerts is an email address and purchase of a current Update.

You can view a couple of pages from the book HERE!

1996 Update
1997 Update
1998 Update
1999 Update
2000 Update
2001 Update 
2002 Update
2003 Update
2004 Update
2005 Update
2006 Update

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Last Updated
10/30/2006