Arago: Service Badges

U.S. Postal Inspection Service chest badge, number 6897, with vertical hinged pin and safety clasp on verso. Gold shield with spread eagle pediment surmounting raised crest with United States Post Office emblem. Upper portion of shield marked "INSPECTOR" on raised banner.

Although it is one of the oldest law enforcement agencies in the country, the Postal Inspection Service did not issue badges until the 1900s. The 'raid' badge, like the one shown, was created because it was hard to display the smaller, official badge when charging through a door on a raid. It was issued to inspectors after 1973.