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vintage-job-id-before-the-badge
vintage-job-id-before-the-badge

Before they wore badges, they showed up in other ways. Some came from the armed forces with habits already drilled in. Others had regular jobs and a simple job ID clipped to a shirt. A few even used clean headshots as their calling card. The faces are ordinary, but the pull toward service is already there.

That’s the thread that ties this set together. Military experience became academy class. Warehouse shifts, campus posts, and TV work turned into patrols and callouts. However they started, the goal was the same: serve the community and find a way onto the Force.

1. Before becoming an “Untouchable”, Eliot Ness worked as and investiator for the Retail Credit Co.

A vintage black-and-white portrait of a man in a suit and tie, looking at the camera with a serious expression. The bottom of the photo has a handwritten signature that reads "Eliot Ness.
screenshot

2. Mr. Poisson joined the Force when he moved to America

An old, worn identification card with a black-and-white portrait photo of a serious-looking person wearing a scarf. The card displays handwritten names and official signatures in French.
thewaywewere / via reddit.com

3. Believe it or not, Shaq has served as a Sheriff’s Deputy in Clayton County

LSU student ID card from Baton Rouge, LA, featuring a photo of a young man and the name "ONEAL, SHAQUILLE R." with a barcode and signature at the top. A sticker at the bottom left says "09 1992.
via pinterest.com

4. Before the Army and the Force, Mr. Collins worked at the Wolverhampton Gas Cmpany

An old, worn identification card with handwritten text on the left and a black-and-white photo of a man wearing glasses and a suit on the right. The document is dated 1940 and has red edges.
fezzy976 / via reddit.com

5. Before becoming Deputy of Socorro County at the Sheriff’s Department, Lou Ferrigno used to present himself with his best bodybuilder shots

A muscular man with dark hair smiles at the camera, posing shirtless with his hands on his hips against a solid red background. He is wearing red shorts.
via pinterest.com

6. First a Marine, then a cop

A black and white U.S. Marine Corps identification card featuring a portrait photo, personal information, and official signatures. The card appears worn and slightly faded around the edges.
oldphotos / via reddit.com

7. Headshots were the job ID cards for Steven Seagal before becoming a Reserve Deputy of the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office in LA

A man with long dark hair slicked back, wearing a black suit, stares seriously at the camera against a plain light background.
conciertosmonterrey / via instagram.com

8. After the steel corp, Mr. Lorcy became a cop

An old identification card for Jones & Laughlin Steel Corp., Aliquippa Works, featuring a black-and-white photo of a man and handwritten employee name, Francis J. Lorey, along with a certifying official’s signature.
via pinterest.com

9. Ken Osmond went from “Leave It to Beaver” to the LAPD, where he retired after being wounded

Black-and-white portrait of a young man smiling, wearing a light-colored sweater. There is a blue autograph on the bottom right that reads "Ken Osmond (Eddie)".
leaveittobeaver / via facebook.com

10. This young man joined the Force after serving

Oval badge with a black-and-white photo of a man in military uniform. The badge reads "PENNSYLVANIA-TEMP. SH YARDS INC." in red letters around the photo, with numbers "26 1221" displayed below the image.
via pinterest.com

11. Elvis served in the Army and also as a Special Deputy at the Shelby County Sheriff’s Department

A vintage U.S. Army identification card labeled "Armed Forces of the United States" featuring a black and white portrait of a young man in uniform and various official seals and signatures.
screenshot

12. Ms. Queen went from Aircraft Corporation to patrolling the streets of California

Black-and-white identification card for Lockheed Aircraft Corporation featuring a woman with dark hair, a patterned blouse, her photo ID number, and handwritten signatures. Text details company and employee information.
screenshot

13. After years as a TV cop, Erick Estrada became a real-life Reserve Police Officer in St. Anthony

A man in a tan police uniform with a California Highway Patrol badge smiles at the camera. He has dark hair, wears aviator sunglasses, and has autographs on the photo. The background is light blue.
via pinterest.com

14. Serving the people was always his plan

A vintage U.S. Naval Training Center ID badge from Great Lakes, Illinois, featuring a black-and-white photo of a man, the number 26860, and a red border with white text and anchor symbols.
via pinterest.com

15. This young man ended up being a cop, too

Black-and-white hexagonal badge showing a young U.S. Navy sailor in uniform, with "2896" and "Supply Department" written below, surrounded by the words "U.S. Navy Fleet Supply Base.
via pinterest.com

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If you like this kind of “before it began” scroll, keep the mood going with these Musicians’ Student ID Photos From Before the Fame, or these High-School Photos of Future Rap Icons. You can also check these 15 Rebellious Celebrities Who Got Thrown Out of School.

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