Deputies Seek to Recover Stolen Police Badge

Police say it could have been used in a kidnap/robbery incident over the weekend.

The badge looked like this, with the number 544 MCSO

(SALEM) - A Marion County Sheriff’s badge that was forcefully ripped off of a deputy’s shirt while they were engaged in a physical altercation is missing, and officials with the sheriff’s office say they are concerned and anxious about recovering it.

The matter may be especially alarming, as a badge was used Friday night in rural Marion County by road bandits who posed as police during a kidnap and robbery incident that left a local man shaken but unharmed.

The badge went missing in the north part of the county, not far from the place where the man was pulled over and abducted from his car Friday night.

Sheriff’s Office Spokesman Lt. Troy Clausen says it is not clear whether the badge was used in the kidnap/robbery, “We’re not sure because we don’t have a specific description of the badge used. We are absolutely not going to say for certain that it was not the badge. That would be very naive of us.”

“We are just concerned that people understand this badge is out there.”

The fight that led to the deputy’s badge being stolen happened at the St. Paul rodeo a Marion County Sheriff’s June 30th. The badge number is 544. It is silver in color with a blue Oregon State seal and consists of a seven-point star.

If anyone has information about this badge or locates it please contact the Marion County Sheriff’s Office at 503-588-5032.