The term “Quiet Professional” is the term that we used in the Army SOF community and indeed now, the entire military SOF community.
[Post edited by myself]
If you are just planning on wearing that patch, it will cause you problems.
If you are doing a patch jacket (totally covered in different patches), I don’t see a problem.
The two different jackets serve different purposes.
The first one looks like a poser.
The second one is just showing off a collection.
Neither is cool in my book, but I am just grey man.
I’m piling on here with another suggested no, but I have a specific example to support it.
Unlike Striker5’s bud, one of my friends at church looks the part–tall, athletic, muscular, ripped, low body fat, and is not the boastful type. The first time I remember meeting him, he was wearing a ball cap labeled “SWAT” and, being a brand new reserve deputy at the time, I was like “wow, you’re on the SWAT team, how do you like it?” He said he wasn’t even a cop, just liked to wear the hat. And this is in the Fayetteville NC area, the world headquarters of spec ops, where poseurs pose at their peril.
Since then, I’ve gotten to know my friend much better, and he is a true stand-up guy who I’d trust with my sister, if I had one. He really ought to be a police officer, except he keeps hurting himself playing sports. But the initial impression of posing took a long, long time to overcome.
So, show your support in other ways, and in a few years when you make the SWAT team yourself, you’ll understand that even though “it ain’t bragging if you can do it” the respect of your peers who have also done something special means more than wearing the patch.
I would check with your local jurisdiction. Laws vary by State on this.
Laws aside, if you wore it on your shoulder or chest (depending on the patch in question) then it might seem like you are trying to be a wannabe or a Police impersonator. If you were to sew it onto, let’s say the back of the jacket,whether next to other patches or not, then nobody might give it a second look… except some POS scumbag who may have developed some sort of hatred to the particular unit or agency that patch belongs to. FWIW, I never openly wear anything that might indicate any affiliation to my agency except when I am in uniform. Even though I am extremely proud of my 7+ years as a Volunteer Deputy, it’s not something I like to openly advertise.
I recommend just putting that patch in a shadow box or something similar (IE: a wall flag?) along with any other patches or badges that you would like to display. JM2CW.
According to Ohio Law
2921.51 Impersonation of peace officer or private police officer.
(A) As used in this section:
(1) “Peace officer” means a sheriff, deputy sheriff, marshal, deputy marshal, member of the organized police department of a municipal corporation, or township constable, who is employed by a political subdivision of this state, a member of a police force employed by a metropolitan housing authority under division (D) of section 3735.31 of the Revised Code, a member of a police force employed by a regional transit authority under division (Y) of section 306.35 of the Revised Code, a state university law enforcement officer appointed under section 3345.04 of the Revised Code, a veterans’ home police officer appointed under section 5907.02 of the Revised Code, a special police officer employed by a port authority under section 4582.04 or 4582.28 of the Revised Code, or a state highway patrol trooper and whose primary duties are to preserve the peace, to protect life and property, and to enforce the laws, ordinances, or rules of the state or any of its political subdivisions.
(2) “Private police officer” means any security guard, special police officer, private detective, or other person who is privately employed in a police capacity.
(3) “Federal law enforcement officer” means an employee of the United States who serves in a position the duties of which are primarily the investigation, apprehension, or detention of individuals suspected or convicted of offenses under the criminal laws of the United States.
b “Impersonate” means to act the part of, assume the identity of, wear the uniform or any part of the uniform of, or display the identification of a particular person or of a member of a class of persons with purpose to make another person believe that the actor is that particular person or is a member of that class of persons.[/b]
(5) “Investigator of the bureau of criminal identification and investigation” has the same meaning as in section 2903.11 of the Revised Code.
(B) No person shall impersonate a peace officer, a private police officer, a federal law enforcement officer, or investigator of the bureau of criminal identification and investigation.
(C) No person, by impersonating a peace officer, a private police officer, a federal law enforcement officer, or investigator of the bureau of criminal identification and investigation shall arrest or detain any person, search any person, or search the property of any person.
(D) No person, with purpose to commit or facilitate the commission of an offense, shall impersonate a peace officer, a private police officer, a federal law enforcement officer, an officer, agent, or employee of the state, or investigator of the bureau of criminal identification and investigation.
(E) No person shall commit a felony while impersonating a peace officer, a private police officer, a federal law enforcement officer, an officer, agent, or employee of the state, or investigator of the bureau of criminal identification and investigation.
(F) It is an affirmative defense to a charge under division (B) of this section that the impersonation of the peace officer, private police officer, or investigator of the bureau of criminal identification and investigation was for a lawful purpose.
(G) Whoever violates division (B) of this section is guilty of a misdemeanor of the fourth degree. Whoever violates division (C) or (D) of this section is guilty of a misdemeanor of the first degree. If the purpose of a violation of division (D) of this section is to commit or facilitate the commission of a felony, a violation of division (D) is a felony of the fourth degree. Whoever violates division (E) of this section is guilty of a felony of the third degree.
Effective Date: 03-14-2003; 01-04-2007; 04-04-2007
About seven years ago, I was spending a fair bit of time with a particular military unit at their schoolhouse. Even went to Rogers Shooting School with their firearms instruction cadre. At one point, one of the NCOICs gave me hat from the school. It was really cool, with a skull and the phrase “nous defions” …
Fast forward a couple of weeks. I’m back home and decided to wear that really cool hat to the range. This very squared-away looking guy comes over to me out of the blue and asks, “Hey, when did you go through SFARTAETC?”
“Uhhh,” I answered eloquently. “I’m a vendor, they use my company’s pistols.”
The former SF guy just nodded, politely shook my hand, said, “Well, nice to meet you,” and walked away. It was the nicest, most professional “frak you” I’d ever experienced.
I’ve never worn the hat again.
Plus, it just detracts from my “SEAL Team Ranger Delta 6 Recon” arm patch.
My wife sometimes come to bed wearing a “SECURITY” T-shirt.
I have no problems with that…
Army field jacket with a swat patch? That belongs on someone at the local gunshows. No offense to you for liking your field jacket or your swat patch. They just don’t go together. I happen to like midgets and porn, but not together.
If you’re not breaking the law,wear whatever you want.Who gives a flyin’ f*ck what others think.
The problem is he actually might be breaking the law. He needs to find that put for himself. Harv showed that in LA he would be breaking the law.
More likely you’d just be impersonating someone without taste. 
My Google-fu is strong.
Ohio Revised Code, Title XXIX Chapter 2921 section 51, Impersonation of peace officer or private police officer
(A) As used in this section:
(1) “Peace officer” means a sheriff, deputy sheriff, marshal, deputy marshal, member of the organized police department of a municipal corporation, or township constable, who is employed by a political subdivision of this state, a member of a police force employed by a metropolitan housing authority under division (D) of section 3735.31 of the Revised Code, a member of a police force employed by a regional transit authority under division (Y) of section 306.35 of the Revised Code, a state university law enforcement officer appointed under section 3345.04 of the Revised Code, a veterans’ home police officer appointed under section 5907.02 of the Revised Code, a special police officer employed by a port authority under section 4582.04 or 4582.28 of the Revised Code, or a state highway patrol trooper and whose primary duties are to preserve the peace, to protect life and property, and to enforce the laws, ordinances, or rules of the state or any of its political subdivisions.
(2) “Private police officer” means any security guard, special police officer, private detective, or other person who is privately employed in a police capacity.
(3) “Federal law enforcement officer” means an employee of the United States who serves in a position the duties of which are primarily the investigation, apprehension, or detention of individuals suspected or convicted of offenses under the criminal laws of the United States.
(4) “Impersonate” means to act the part of, assume the identity of, wear the uniform or any part of the uniform of, or display the identification of a particular person or of a member of a class of persons with purpose to make another person believe that the actor is that particular person or is a member of that class of persons.
(5) “Investigator of the bureau of criminal identification and investigation” has the same meaning as in section 2903.11 of the Revised Code.
(B) No person shall impersonate a peace officer, a private police officer, a federal law enforcement officer, or investigator of the bureau of criminal identification and investigation.
(C) No person, by impersonating a peace officer, a private police officer, a federal law enforcement officer, or investigator of the bureau of criminal identification and investigation shall arrest or detain any person, search any person, or search the property of any person.
(D) No person, with purpose to commit or facilitate the commission of an offense, shall impersonate a peace officer, a private police officer, a federal law enforcement officer, an officer, agent, or employee of the state, or investigator of the bureau of criminal identification and investigation.
(E) No person shall commit a felony while impersonating a peace officer, a private police officer, a federal law enforcement officer, an officer, agent, or employee of the state, or investigator of the bureau of criminal identification and investigation.
(F) It is an affirmative defense to a charge under division (B) of this section that the impersonation of the peace officer, private police officer, or investigator of the bureau of criminal identification and investigation was for a lawful purpose.
(G) Whoever violates division (B) of this section is guilty of a misdemeanor of the fourth degree. Whoever violates division (C) or (D) of this section is guilty of a misdemeanor of the first degree. If the purpose of a violation of division (D) of this section is to commit or facilitate the commission of a felony, a violation of division (D) is a felony of the fourth degree. Whoever violates division (E) of this section is guilty of a felony of the third degree.
Without digging into case law, I couldn’t tell you whether 2921.51(F)'s “lawful purpose” has been interpreted to include “wearing it because I admire SWAT teams.” But the definition of impersonation in 2921.51(A)(4) clearly includes wearing of insignia.
As an Auxiliary Police Officer here in NJ, I can offer a little advice about this subject. I try not to wear anything that will portray me as an off duty Law Enforcement Officer simply because you’re literally placing a bullseye on your body.
It may be highly unlikely, but if you come across the wrong type of person who hates cops in the worst way, you’ll never see it coming. Wear anything that says Police on you and walk into a bank. If God forbid an Armed robbery is in progress you’ll be the first one shot. Unless you’re “on the job” , I highly recommend not doing it.
I can go on with the examples, but I think I made my point.
HLD…
Having made 5 arrests for this violation over the last 19 years, I can tell you the key element required by the Prosecutor/s-Grand Jury is " the intent of the actor to make another person believe that the actor is that particular person or is a member of that class of persons".
Your google fu did’nt need to be that strong…if you would have looked 7 posts up …
DOH!
Does that hat have a dagger peircing down into the skull or the skull sitting on top of the dagger? I can’t remember… I know a lot of C3/7 SF guys had that tat.
As a full time Police Officer and ex-military member. I would agree with what Army Chief said: That being said, if you didn’t earn the right to wear it, you shouldn’t. Having served in the military and now as a police officer I am very proud of my accomplishments that I rightfully earned through sweat and tears. And can remember back when I was able to pin on the badge for the first time, and know that i did so respectfully entering “the brotherhood” with other officers alike.
While I don’t personally have a problem with it, providing you DO NOT portray or tell someone that you are a police officer. I would say, earn the right then no one can say anything about it.
Also, take into account, that wearing a police patch, paints a big Bulls Eye on you, their are not always people in the world who like police, and you may find yourself somewhere where they dont like the patch as much as you.
Just my .02 cents worth.