Local Michigan police delete post celebrating nation’s first Arabic police patch

On Friday, the Dearborn Heights Police Department in Michigan deleted its Facebook post featuring a police patch that read “Dearborn Heights Police” in English and Arabic.

The post, which was published on September 3rd, promoted the patch as a way to “celebrate” diversity. It would be the first police patch in the nation to feature Arabic, the native language of nearly 40% of Dearborn residents.

"The Dearborn Heights Police Department is proud to share a new optional patch that our officers may wear as part of their uniform," the department wrote in the now-deleted Facebook post. "This patch was created by Officer Emily Murdoch, who designed it to reflect and honor the diversity of our community - especially the many residents of Arabic descent who call Dearborn Heights home. By incorporating Arabic script alongside English, this patch represents unity, respect, and our shared commitment to service. We are proud of Officer Murdoch's creativity and dedication in helping our department better represent the people we serve."

Two days later, the police department deleted the post due to public backlash. Dearborn Heights Mayor Bill Bazzi said "the patch effort was an internal discussion among some within the police department, which was not put forth for consensus or further review.” Bazzi said the patch was a digital mockup and "should NOT have been presented as an official prototype."

‘Concerns were dismissed and refuted’

According to the Dearborn Heights Police Officers Association (DHPOA), Murdoch originally presented the patch mockup to Police Chief Ahmed Haidar as a way for police officers to commemorate the Islamic month of Ramadan.

“Instead of using the patch for its intended purpose, Chief Haidar unilaterally distributed it to the news media and implemented it as an optional patch for officers to wear year-round,” said the DHPOA in a statement. “This decision made many officers feel segregated within the department. The DHPOA Executive Board raised concerns with Chief Haidar about the potential negative repercussions, but those concerns were dismissed and refuted.”

The news drew backlash from the Right, most notably from Rep. Randy Fine (R-FL).

"They said their goal was to bring Sharia law to America. You should’ve believed them. Pray for Michigan," Fine wrote on X.

Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk said, “Thanks to chain migration, Muslims are now a majority in Michigan's Dearborn Heights (named after a Revolutionary War general). Now, local police have rolled out the country’s first-ever police badge with Arabic script. 

“When you get conquered, you get a new language.”

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