Also due thanks was Unocal Co., which donated the approximate $8,000 cost of the new badges; the birthplace of the then-Union Oil is now the California Oil Museum. Kent Smith of Unocal was in attendance at the badge issuance.Officers will have the option to buy back their old badges and that income will be used to purchase hat badges.One officer that believed he was on duty during the group photo session was K9 Axel: as the flashbulbs popped Axel barked, ready for action.
New SPPD badges, group and individual photos bring out law enforcement
June 16, 2000
Santa Paula Police Department
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The full Santa Paula Police Department force of officers, staff and volunteers celebrated the issuance of a new custom badge reflecting city heritage. The issuance and photo session was held Saturday at City Hall and Veterans Memorial Park.
Officers first lined up to receive the new badge - and a handshake - from SPPD Chief Bob Gonzales before reporting for their next assignment. . .a new head shot.After the badges were handed out the department officers, staff and volunteers including members of Citizens Patrol, Community Service Officers, reserves and Las Piedras Park Community Policing Building personnel - even K9 officers Sultan and Axel - were posed on bleachers for the official group photo taken against the backdrop of Veterans Memorial Park.The new badge pictures the California Oil Museum and the Santa Paula City Seal, making it the first that is intricately linked to the city.Officer Robert Cooper, who designed the new badge and has been working on the project for about three years, said he thought the last time the city had a new badge was “about 75 years ago. . .it goes back at least that far.” Chief Gonzales said Officer Cooper deserves credit for staying the course on making a new badge possible.Among those that attended the badge issuance were City Clerk Victor Salas and Business Owners & Concerned Citizens Action Committee (BOCCAC) members Ed Beach and John Macik.Chief Gonzales told the gathering that he “thanks your families for the support they've given you,” as well as BOCCAC, which has acted on behalf of the police department including distributing community contributions - about $56,000 - for officer bonuses.
