Local News

<< Previous   of   Next >> (click to enlarge) The new badge worn by Marysville police officers.   ADVERTISEMENT   CONTACT THE HERALD Robert Frank, City Editor frank@heraldnet.com   Published: Wednesday, May 7, 2008 Marysville students design police badge By Kristi O'Harran, Herald Columnist Sgt. Larry Buell puffed his chest when he was pinned by his family. For men and women, that prestigious moment of becoming a police officer is something to remember their entire life. Twelve years ago, the former Marysville-Pilchuck High School teacher became a Marysville police officer and proudly accepted his uniform badge. Now his badge is tucked away, because officers for the city of Marysville are wearing new badges this year. As Sgt. Buell said, when inmates notice you are wearing a new badge, it must be making an impact. When Chief Rick Smith came on board in March 2007, he spoke with the Marysville Police Officers Association and they agreed the 15-year-old badge needed a makeover. "As the most widely recognized symbol of police authority and public trust, the badge is a source of pride for the dedicated Marysville officers," said Doug Buell, public information officer for the city, and no relation to Larry Buell. "The redesign project carried much importance." Sgt. Buell took over the project, gathering information from other officers, and it was no easy task. Research was extensive, looking at different professional designs and badge shapes. Did they want an oval badge, a round badge, a silver badge? The basic idea was taken to computer graphics students at Marysville Arts and Technology High School. "The students did an outstanding job using their skills and our concepts to create a badge," Sgt. Buell said. "They really came through for us." Several students in computer graphics combined ideas for the shield, said teacher Michele Liburdy. "Often work in design studios is a collaborative effort, as they found out," Liburdy said. "The officer we worked with was very helpful and the kids enjoyed the opportunity to do a real job." Sgt. Buell completed the task. "I worked on the finishing details," he said. "To get it down to what we were looking for." The new shield features an eagle soaring against a backdrop of mountains and trees, with the sky filled by a streak of rays from a dawning sun emerging from behind mountaintops. There are different badges for different ranks, with the upper echelon wearing all-gold models. "I see the symbols associated with service and commitment to community," Sgt. Buell said. "The eagle is a strong and lasting symbol drawn to hover over us all, in a protective, watchful way." Officers were able to buy their old badges for $30 each. Buell, Marysville's 2004 Officer of the Year, said he will probably put his old badge in a shadow box to display. "A badge to me shows a pride in professionalism," Sgt. Buell said. "Accountability comes with it." Columnist Kristi O'Harran: 425-339-3451 or oharran@heraldnet.com.

1. Lawsuit blames county and weed inspector in man’s death 2. Cost of dispute falls on Monroe 3. Salish Sea: Huge body of water now has common name 4. Mind if I smoke? 5. Boeing says 787 fixes are done 6. Worker dies after falling 4 stories from Lynnwood building 7. FOOTBALL FORECAST: Battle of unbeatens highlights first week of state-playoff action 8. Granite Falls-area fire chief placed on paid leave 9. Everett dentist travels world to help 10. Benefit to help injured soldier, his family 2 - Top 10 Stories Most Talked about 3 - Top 10 Stories Most Emailed

• Memorial for Peggy Pritchard Olson set • Bazaar Fever • Hawks proud of historic season • Olson always put Edmonds first • Honoring student veterans • ‘Wheedle' author comes to Lynnwood bookshop • Mavs build early lead en route to easy win • Prep football games of the week (state playoffs) • Tears of laughter, tears of grief • Boeing will build, flight test and deliver 787s in South Carolina to spe ... • Snohomish County EDC promoting job growth in key industry clusters • $4 million grant to advance brain tumor research has Everett links • Providence medical center construction tops off its 12-story steel frame ... • Tulalip affordable housing project to be financed by KeyBank, Raymond Ja ... • Arlington's Lak of Ink has a growing following for Luke Kooyman's creati ... • Bank of the Northwest formed • Cascade Bank earns $1.6 million