As many of you know, I currently maintain a no reproduction page on my website. At the bottom of that page, I stated that I wished that there would be a collaborative effort amongst reputable collectors to help prevent the reproduction of patches. I believe there has been some success in doing so, as many of the peddlers of these goods are dropping out of the reproduction business because their wares are not drawing high prices due to the education of the collecting public.
In an ongoing effort to undermine their efforts, I was contacted by David Kolberson in July 2010. David is a friend of mine and has manufactured patches for many years for the El Paso Field Office of the FBI as well as other federal agencies in that area. He asked me to put a list on my site of the patches he has created, the quantities made, and the identifying marks on the authentic versions. This list is below. Please support his efforts by not purchasing reproductions of his patches.
FBI FORENSIC EPIDEMIOLOGY PATCH
Variations: (1) Full Color. Only 30 made.
RHS: N/A
Manufactured: 2009
Notes: Made by David Kolberson. Originals have sticker on back. They were manufactured in 2009. There is a patch and coin set which was given out to FBI and other investigators who were instructors for the Forensic Epidemiology Training Course. The course was developed for law enforcement and public health officials who investigate and/or respond to bioterrorism events. These courses were conducted in Houston, Austin, and El Paso, Texas.
FBI-DEA STRIKE TEAM OCDETF
Variations: (3) Two oval variations - 25 made of each. One round variation - 20 made.
RHS: N/A
Manufactured: 2009
Notes: Made by David Kolberson. Originals have sticker on back.
FBI 100TH ANNIVERSARY BADGE
Variations: (4) Two color variations - 25 made of each. Two subdued variations - 10 made of each.
RHS: N/A
Manufactured: 2008
Notes: Made by David Kolberson. Originals have sticker on back.
TEXAS BIOTERRORISM TASK FORCE (MULTI-AGENCY)
Variations: (2) Two oval variations - 25 made of each.
RHS: N/A
Manufactured: 2006
Notes: Made by David Kolberson. Originals have sticker on back.
FBI WMD EL PASO
Variations: (2) Color - 30 made. Subdued - 10 made.
RHS: N/A
Manufactured: 2006
Notes: Made by David Kolberson. Originals have sticker on back.
TEXAS BIOTERRORISM RESPONSE TEAM (MULTI-AGENCY)
Variations: (4) One color variation; three subdued variations - 25 made of each.
RHS: N/A
Manufactured: 2003
Notes: Made by David Kolberson. Originals have sticker on back.
EL PASO JOINT TERRORISM TASK FORCE
Variations: (1) 40 made.
RHS: N/A
Manufactured: 2003
Notes: Made by David Kolberson. Originals have designer's initials on back. Fake version has USCS instead of USC in lower right.
TACTICAL MEDICAL RESPONSE TEAM
Variations: (1) 40 made.
RHS: N/A
Manufactured: 2004
Notes: Made by David Kolberson. Originals have sticker on back. Used by contract medics.
EL PASO TRIDENT
Variations: (1) 40 made.
RHS: N/A
Manufactured: 1995
Notes: Made by David Kolberson. Originals have designer's initials on back.
FBI EL PASO SWAT SNIPER MEMORIAL
Variations: (1) 30 made.
RHS: N/A
Manufactured: 2007
Notes: Made by David Kolberson. Originals have sticker on back.
FBI EL PASO MEDICAL STRIKE TEAM VERSION 2
Variations: (1) 40 made.
RHS: N/A
Manufactured: 2004
Notes: Made by David Kolberson. Originals have sticker on back. Starburst subdued version.
FBI EL PASO SWAT MEDICAL STRIKE TEAM
Variations: (2) Two subdued variations - 20 made of each.
RHS: N/A
Manufactured: 2007
Notes: Made by David Kolberson. Originals have sticker on back.
TEXAS DISASTER MEDICAL STRIKE TEAM
Variations: (1)
RHS: N/A
Manufactured: 2006
Notes: Made by David Kolberson. FBI Medics are members.
FBI EL PASO SWAT TEAM
Variations: (6) One color and five subdued versions.
RHS: 2130 and 2131
Manufactured: several different runs - see notes.
Notes: One authentic color version and Four authentic subdued versions. Reproduction color version has a blue star on top and one of the reproduction subdued versions is light gray. These are significant differences from the authentic versions that set them apart. First run was made in 1999 and all have the designer's initials on the back. The second run was made in 2004 and have a sticker on the back. All made by David Kolberson.
FBI SALT LAKE CITY VIOLENT CRIME TASK FORCE
Variations: (1) 40 made.
RHS: N/A
Manufactured: 2002
Notes: Jointly made by David Kolberson and David Flores. Authentic versions have a sticker and both manufacturers' initials on the back.
