Rule 311-1-14 | Rank insignia, badge, and other uniform items.
(A) The rank insignia approved for wear on the uniform are as follows:
(1) Corporal - two yellow gold stripes;
(2) Sergeant - three yellow gold stripes;
(3) Lieutenant - one yellow gold bar;
(4) Captain - two parallel yellow gold bars;
(5) Major - yellow gold leaf;
(6) Colonel - white gold oak leaf;
(7) Chief deputy - yellow gold eagle;
(8) Sheriff - yellow gold star with five points.
(B) Appropriate rank insignia shall be worn on the uniform shirt and on authorized outerwear. For purposes of this rule, the term "outerwear" means any long-sleeve outer garment, with the exception of the raincoat, and at the sheriff's option, the commando sweater. Rank insignia shall be worn as follows:
(1) Corporals and sergeants shall wear their rank insignia on the shoulder straps of any short-sleeve uniform shirt, and on the sleeves of any long-sleeve uniform shirt and authorized outerwear.
(a) On the short-sleeve uniform shirt, the rank insignia shall be gold cloth or metal, positioned one and five-eighths inches from the shoulder seam, centered on the "X" stitched on the shoulder straps, and oriented with the peak of the stripes pointing toward the shoulder seam.
(b) On long-sleeve uniform shirts and authorized outerwear, the rank insignia shall be a chevron patch, positioned halfway between the shoulder seam and the elbow, and oriented with the peak of the stripes pointing toward the shoulder seam.
(2) Lieutenants and higher-ranking officers shall wear their rank insignia on the shoulder straps of both long- and short-sleeve uniform shirts and authorized outerwear.
(a) The rank insignia shall be of gold cloth or metal and positioned one-and-five-eighths inches from the shoulder seam centered on the "X" stitched on the shoulder straps.
(b) The rank insignia shall be oriented as follows:
(i) Bars shall be parallel to the shoulder seam and neckline,
(ii) Leaves shall have the tip of the leaf toward the neckline and the stem of the leaf to the shoulder seam,
(iii) Eagles shall have the head of the eagle toward the neckline the talons toward the shoulder seam;
(iv) Stars shall have the top single point toward the individual's back and the bottom two points pointing toward the individual's front.
(C) A badge shall be worn on the left breast pocket flap of the uniform shirt, on the left upper chest of any authorized outerwear, and on the uniform hat.
(1) The breast badge shall be a five-point star with balled points, measuring two and one-half inches in diameter from point to point.
(a) The word "SHERIFF" or "DEPUTY SHERIFF" and the county name shall frame a full color seal of the state of Ohio in the center of the star, and blue enamel rays shall radiate from each ball point toward the center of the badge. The finish on the badge shall be Blackington Hi-Glo, Karetclad, or equivalent.
(b) The name of the local sheriff or an identifying unit number may be placed in the banner of the breast badge.
(2) The hat badge shall be identical to the breast badge, except that it shall measure one-and-three-quarters inches in diameter from point to point.
(D) Collar brass shall be worn on both collar points of the uniform shirt.
(1) The collar brass shall consist of the word, "SHERIFF" or "DEPUTY," in gold finish, cutout letters one-fourth inch high.
(2) On long-sleeve uniform shirts, the collar brass shall be worn parallel to the neckline of the collar, with the forward end of the brass one-half inch from the front edge of the collar and back end of the brass centered in the width of the collar.
(3) On short-sleeve uniform shirts, the collar brass shall be worn parallel to the ground and positioned in the collar point so that the bottom corners of the brass touch the topstitching on either side of the collar.
(4) Collar brass shall not be worn on outerwear.
(E) A name plate shall be worn immediately above the center of the left breast pocket of the uniform shirt or blouse; the nameplate shall be a gold-filled bar two-and-one-fourth inches in length and three-eighths of an inch wide, with the letters in black enamel.
(F) Service stars: For each five years of service as a sheriff or deputy sheriff, a gold service star may be worn centered one-quarter inch above the right pocket flap on the outermost uniform garment. The star shall measure approximately one-half of an inch from point to point, diagonally.
(G) The sheriff may authorize the wearing of ribbons, awards and medals in a uniform manner, positioned one-quarter inch above the right pocket flap of the outermost uniform garment or one-quarter inch above the service stars, if worn.
(H) The county sheriffs' standard car-marking and uniform commission recommends that sheriffs refrain from authorizing any insignia, emblems, pins, or similar items other than the items detailed in this chapter.
Supplemental Information