A city in Michigan has become the first police department in the United States to include Arabic on its police patches. The Dearborn Heights Police Department revealed that its new patches feature the words “Dearborn Heights Police” in both English and Arabic.
The department confirmed to FOX 2 that officers can now wear an optional patch as part of their uniform, which includes the Michigan seal in the center with the bilingual text. The design was created by Officer Ermily Murdoc, who stated it reflects and honors the community’s diversity.
Dearborn Heights has a Middle Eastern or North African population of 39% as of 2023, with neighboring Dearborn reporting a roughly 55% share. The police department highlighted the patch as a celebration of cultural uniqueness, though comments on their Facebook post were disabled.
Dearborn is the only city in the U.S. with a majority Muslim population. In the 2024 election, President Trump won the area’s presidential vote, defeating Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris by over 6 percentage points. The results underscored shifting political dynamics in the region.
