LONG BEACH, C.A. (WBAP/KLIF News) – You’ve probably seen the black bands with the word, “Dallas,” being worn by officers across the Metroplex. The personalized bands were made by Laura Tartaglion and Julia Walling, two retired officers from California.
“In August 2015, we wanted to honor fallen officers in a more personal way, so we began putting the badge number of the officer on the bands,” said Tartaglion. “When Dallas happened, there was no way we could do five badge numbers on one band, so we decided on the word, ‘Dallas.’”
It doesn’t take much time to make one band, but Tartaglion said it’s a tedious process. “We print out about 200 numbers or words on a sheet of synthetic paper. We have to peel each number or letter off and put them on the bands with tweezers.” The numbers or words are then put under a heated press and transferred to the band.
The group has sent about 6,000 bands to the Dallas Police Department since the deadly attack on July 7. Five police officers were killed when a gunman opened fire during a “Black Lives Matter” rally in downtown Dallas. Nine officers were wounded in the ambush and two civilians were hurt. “We just wanted to say to Dallas that ‘we are with you,’” said Walling. “We feel your loss and we hope our bands will bring a sense of honor to your officers, the department and the community.”
Tartaglione and Walling recently registered their organization as a non-profit called, “Honor Bands.” They’re hoping donations will begin coming in soon so their work can continue. Donations can be made online or mailed to 2865 Temple Ave., Long Beach, CA 90755.
Click to hear WBAP/KLIF’s Chelsea Wade talk with Tartaglion and Walling:
Mourning Band Protocol from the Officer Down Memorial Page:
The preferred mourning band is a solid black band that will fit tightly around your agency’s badge. For most badges, the mourning band should be worn straight across the center of the badge. For star badges, the mourning band should be worn from 11 to 5, as if looking at the face of a clock.
The width of the black band should not exceed ½ inch. Mourning bands with the thin blue line are not preferred, although some agencies use them.
Black mourning bands shall be worn on a law enforcement badge only in the following circumstances:
- Upon the line of duty death of an active law enforcement officer (LEO) in your department. The mourning band should be worn for a period of thirty days from the date of death.
- By all LEO in uniform or in civilian clothing while displaying a badge when attending the funeral of an active LEO. Upon the completion of the funeral, the mourning band shall be removed.
- Upon the line of duty death of a LEO from a neighboring jurisdiction. The mourning band will be worn from the date of death and removed at the conclusion of the day of burial.
- National Peace Officers Memorial Day (May 15th).
- The day of any memorial service your agency has honoring your department’s LEO’s who have died in the line of duty.
- At the direction of your sheriff, agency director or chief of police, when special circumstances dictate that a department display of official mourning is appropriate.
It is also appropriate to stripe the badge(s) on your agency’s vehicles, if one is displayed, for a line of duty death. Black ½ inch electrical tape or black ½ magnets could be used. Preferred striping is from left to right on the badge and go from 1100 to 1700 hours using a clock as a reference. A straight black line through the middle of the badge is also appropriate.
This mourning band protocol was developed by Lt. Ken Baine, Commander of the Fairfax County Police Department Honor Guard and member of the ODMP Board of Directors.
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