The University of Nebraska–Lincoln’s 150th anniversary celebration is going out on patrol.
Between now and the end of the sesquicentennial year in February, officers with the University Police Department will wear a newly-designed badge honoring the 150-year legacy of Nebraska’s land-grant institution. The design — which temporarily replaces badges with Nebraska’s state seal — highlights the Love Library cupola and N150 logo.
“The badge is the department’s way of showing our officers’ pride in being a part of the university community and its 150-year history,” said Capt. Aaron Pembleton. “They will be a part of our official uniform through the anniversary year and, in February, we will transition back to our traditional badge.”
The N150 badges also include a smaller Nebraska state seal, each officer’s badge number and the name of the department. All of the university’s commissioned police officers have received an N150 badge. Color signifies a general division in rank, with silver reserved for patrol officers and gold for department leadership.
Funding for the badges was provided by the Nebraska Fraternal Order of Police.
The change marks the first time in 19 years that the department went away from its traditional badge design. For 2000, campus police wore badges that celebrated the millennium and featured the University of Nebraska seal surrounded by American flags.
“This kind of transition in badge design helps build camaraderie within the department and across the university community,” Pembleton said. “They also are an entry point to conversation, giving people an opportunity to stop and talk to us about the badge rather than something that has happened to them on what is often the worst day of their lives.”
Learn more about University Police at Nebraska.
