Street Roots is making the city aware of a new Challenge coin. Collection of these coins by law enforcement is a longstanding tradition. Recently, these coins have been on a critical radar. Many feel that the coins glorify police brutality and a militaristic outlook. The particular coin at issue is emblazoned with an illustration of the Justice Center engulfed in flames on one side, encircled by the phrases “this we’ll defend,” and “remember the Alamo.”
The 2020 protests seems to be the target of this coin. The reverse side of the coin includes an insignia of an eagle over an American flag with a lightning bolt reading “CERT,” a reference to the Corrections Emergency Response Team. Some police members of CERT became upset at the community and leadership support of some of the ideas of the protest and resigned in protest. The team engaged in crowd control during the 2020 racial justice protests at the Justice Center.
A Latin phrase that translate to “always ready” is on the coin close to the eagle insignia. The date May 29, 2020 is on the coin which is the day protesters broke into the Justice Center and set fire to the office. There are also secretive abbreviations on the coin. This has caused there to be complaints and a review by the Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office Professional Standards Unit.
Some agencies issue Challenge coins in an official capacity. However, private retailers also make coins at the request of individuals independent of an agency.The sheriff’s office said it did not commission the coin. However, a member of the Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO) is being reported by Street Roots to have made the coin.
The coin also includes the inscribed abbreviation “NPNBW.” which is said to be a pseudonym that stands for a phrase containing profanity. Former Multnomah County corrections sergeant turned writer and martial arts instructor, Rory Miller says he was a CERT leader for six years. He said the abbreviation does not stand for anything profane. Miller declined to say what it stood for, however saying that only people who complete a mission with CERT are allowed to know.
MCSO regulations state: “The Sheriff may authorize awarding a commemorative coin as part of any current award or may award a coin for a specific reason not related to a current award. Commemorative coins are gold in color with a green enamel border on both sides of the coin. Commemorative coins shall be engraved with the Sheriff’s star and motto on one side and shall have a blank reverse side that shall be engraved with the members name, date and award for which it is presented.”
