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New badges introduced The new Ashland Police Department badge design features Pioneer Mike (sometimes referred to as "Iron Mike," though he was actually made of zinc and has since been recast in bronze). [Image courtesy of the Ashland Police Department] Tuesday May 9, 2017 at 12:57 PM May 9, 2017 at 12:57 PM Local report There's a new badge in town. The Ashland Police Department on Monday unveiled a new design for its badges, adding Plaza icon Pioneer Mike to the center and two stars memorializing fallen policeman to the bottom and reducing the size of the seal of the State of Oregon. "The department has been working on updating its badges to better reflect the community and the police team that serves the community," according to a statement released by the department. "The statue (of Pioneer Mike) represents the pioneering spirit of our great state, as well as the pioneering spirit of the police department." The statement goes on to cite several innovative programs introduced by APD, including the You Have Options program for survivors of sexual assault and the Gateway Drug Treatment and Amnesty Program that allows addicts the ability to dispose of contraband and be directed to addiction help without fear of arrest. While the old badge had the officer's title at top, the new badge has "Police" at top, with the title just underneath, "because we are all part of the team, not above the team," the statement says. Like the old badge, the new badge is bounded by a laurel wreath, an ancient symbol of victory and authority. The two stars are in memory of Samuel Prescott and Victor Knott, two Ashland officers who were killed in the line of duty in separate incidents in 1931.