City of San Mateo Law Library
City of San Mateo Municipal Code.

2.39.090 UNAUTHORIZED POSSESSION OF BADGE OR PRESS IDENTIFICATION CARD.

No person shall have in his or her possession any official police badge or special reserve police officer's badge or press identification card which has not been lawfully issued to him or her according to the provisions of this chapter. No person shall possess any such card or badge after his or her right to use such card or badge has been terminated.

Unless authorized by the Chief of Police, no person shall have in his or her possession any other badge, star, shield, miniature, ring, charm or insignia, regardless of the size, shape or design thereof, which has on it the words "San Mateo Police" or "San Mateo Detective," whether used separately, together or in combination with any other words indicating a connection with the San Mateo police department, or which is identical in design with or which so resembles an official police officer's badge or a reserve police officer's badge that it may be readily mistaken for either of such badges.

No person who is not a regular police officer, reserve police officer, honorably retired police officer, police service aid or police cadet shall wear or display any badge, star or insignia calculated to indicate that he or she is a member of, or connected with, the San Mateo police department.