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SALT LAKE CITY — The Salt Lake City Police Department is asking for the public's help in finding several unique badges that police believe were stolen nearly a decade ago.
On May 15, 2013, the department hosted its 33rd annual awards gala at the Grand America Hotel, 555 S. Main. As part of the event, several items from the department's police museum were put on display for attendees to look at as they entered the ballroom where the gala was being held.
It was later discovered, however, that two of the display items never made it back to the police museum.
John J. Roberts, Sr. and his son, John J. Roberts, Jr., served the department for more than 40 years. The elder Roberts retired in 1932 and his son in 1955. Both of them also served as president of the Police Mutual Aid Association, a nonprofit organization that, among other duties, supports the families of officers killed in the line of duty and provides funds for events like Shop With a Cop.
After the Roberts retired, each was presented with a gold association "Past President" badge with their names engraved on the back. Police say each badge is one of a kind.
Those badges were on display at the 2013 banquet along with hat pins, antique association letterhead, association booklets and possibly a copy of the Police Mutual Aid Association letter of incorporation, according to police. But those two displays have not been seen since that night.
"Somebody walked off with them on purpose," said Salt Lake police Det. Michael Ruff.
Police have not been able to find the items or the person who took them. Ruff said it's unlikely the badges would be sold at a pawn shop or an online site such as eBay because their uniqueness would make them easily identifiable as stolen.
The department is now making a public request for anyone who has information about the missing items to contact them at PolicePRUnit@slcgov.com.
