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Shultz said the badges are part of the county-wide program put together by county staff to help celebrate the anniversary.
“Being the most historically-oriented person in the sheriff’s office, I brought this issue up to the sheriff with several designs I had presented to some of the deputies,” he said. “The design that was the most popular was the one made into the bicentennial badge that you’ll see being worn by deputies for the remainder of the year.”
Shultz said there are two versions of the badge, a general one and a customized badge, which is being worn by about 50 deputies. The badges were paid for at the expense of the deputies who wear them and no taxpayer money went into their manufacture. The same company which produces the special badges the deputies wear for Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October were the ones who made the bicentennial badges, he said.
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The badges were primarily meant to show support for the county as it celebrates the bicentennial, Shultz said, but they’re also meant to celebrate the long history the office of the sheriff has had in Clark County and America. The first sheriff of the county was a veteran of the War of 1812, a major battle in American history. The commemorative badge will feature both an American flag as well as the flag for the state of Ohio.
Shultz said the bicentennial is a good time to recognize the county’s government system and how well it functions today.
“It’s a pretty remarkable celebration,” Shultz said. “That’s why we stepped up and took this opportunity to show our support and our participation in those celebrations.”
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