February 9, 2023
The New York City Police Department patch contains elements from the agency’s official seal. In the center of the patch is a shield with the sails of a windmill, representative of the Dutch who colonized New York. Dexter, a sailor symbolizing the shipping trade, holds a plummet — a navigational device of the period. Sinister, an Indian, depicts the original inhabitants of the island of Manhattan. An American eagle with wings spread sits atop the shield. Above the eagle are five stars, which represent New York City’s five boroughs. The Scales of Justice symbolize the police department.