The Auburn Police Department issued new badges to its police officers and professional staff on Monday. Their current badges will be retired after 16 years of service. After a year of design, the new badge has a miner working a gold pan in the center field, as well as the statea s name. This reflects Auburna s origins in the California Gold Rush era as well as being similar to the popular gold miner statue in Old Town Auburn.
Police officials said this choice was because the Auburn PD wanted to differentiate themselves from other towns with the name of Auburn. There are 31 towns and cities within the United States with the same name, including Auburn, Maine; Auburn, Alabama; Auburn, New York; and Auburn, Washington.