A police department in Michigan has made headlines by incorporating Arabic into its official insignia, marking a first for law enforcement in the United States. The Dearborn Heights Police Department announced that its new officer-designed patches will feature the phrase “Dearborn Heights Police” in both English and Arabic.
The patch, created by Officer Ermily Murdoc, includes the Michigan state seal at its center, with bilingual text reflecting the community’s cultural diversity. Officials stated the design aims to honor the city’s demographic makeup, which saw 39% of residents identifying as Middle Eastern or North African in 2023. Neighboring Dearborn, a majority-Muslim city, has a similar cultural profile.
The department highlighted Murdoc’s effort to “better represent the people we serve,” emphasizing its commitment to celebrating local diversity. However, the Facebook post announcing the patch had comments disabled, citing policies against “violence, racism, profanity, or discourteous behavior.”
Notably, Dearborn is the only U.S. city with a majority-Muslim population. In the 2024 presidential election, Republican candidate Donald Trump secured a significant margin in the area, capturing 42.5% of votes compared to 36% for Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris. Local analysis suggested some voters attributed their support for Trump to dissatisfaction with Democratic leadership’s handling of community concerns beyond the Israel-Hamas conflict.