Welcome!

View
"WOW" Patches

Alabama
Alaska
Arizona
Arkansas
California
Colorado
Connecticut
Delaware
Florida
Georgia
Hawaii
Idaho
Illinois
Indiana
Iowa
Kansas
Kentucky
Louisiana
Maine
Maryland
Massachusetts
Michigan
Minnesota
Mississippi
Missouri
Montana
Nebraska
Nevada
New Hampshire
New Jersey
New Mexico
New York
North Carolina
North Dakota
Ohio
Oklahoma
Oregon
Pennsylvania
Rhode Island
South Carolina
South Dakota
Tennessee
Texas
Utah
Vermont
Virginia
Washington
West Virginia
Wisconsin
Wyoming

Unknown Mystery Patches

How this site was created

My name is Walt Ruch and I live in Saint Louis, Missouri. For thirty plus years, I’ve collected United States, local, county and state law enforcement patches. While an occasional special unit, federal, or tribal patch will wander into my collection, that is not my collecting focus.

Beginning in 1971, I served as a Reserve Officer, in Michigan, with the Kalamazoo County Sheriff Department, the Kalamazoo Township Police Department, the Farmington, MI Department of Public Safety and for ten years, in Kansas, with the Lenexa Police Department. For several years, I served as a staff correspondent for Police Collectors News.

Within each state, I attempt to identify, obtain and display only those patches I consider to have unique, colorful designs, proudly representing their state or region, “wow” patches.

I have no interest in collecting “every” patch, or even every rare patch, only the best of the best. Shakespeare once wrote, “Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.” So it is with my patch collection.

Quality is ageless. The first patch I obtained, back in 1974, was from Orange, CA, a simple, beautiful, design that remains, basically, unchanged and my favorite California patch design. Coincidentally, the second California patch I obtained, Seal Beach, is also uncharged and remains my second favorite.

What is my favorite “wow” patch design? With thousands from which to choose, you’d think this to be a difficult decision. In my opinion and everyone is welcome to have their own, the Walt’s Wow Patch, finest design award is currently held by Shandaken, NY PD.

As you open each state site, you’ll see my selections as to the most attractive designs in that state. These may be a current or prior issue and may be from an active or defunct department.

As you settle back and view my patches, I welcome, in fact, request your comments, suggestions and corrections. Should you wish to champion a “wow” patch I don’t display, please e-mail a full-size scan and if I agree with your assessment, I’ll try to obtain the patch for future update to that state.

These patches are in my private collection and are not for sale or trade. My intent is to provide a collector friendly site of beautiful patches and to have it serve as a reference tool for beginning and advanced collectors alike.