Police retirement plaques are one of the steadiest jobs that comes through our door, and the request that shows up most is a department, a squad, or a family trying to mark someone’s last day the right way. We’ve built pieces for Metro, Las Vegas Fire & Rescue, Henderson PD, and departments well outside Nevada, from simple engraved wood to full-color badge reproductions.
Here’s how we actually build these, what they cost, and what to expect from start to finish.
Wood, Metal, or Full Color: Picking The Right Format
Most retirement plaques we build are engraved hardwood, walnut or maple, in the 15 to 18 inch range. That’s the classic look: clean engraved text, a department seal or crest, sometimes a photo etched into the wood.
For badge and portrait work, we often switch to UV printing instead of straight engraving. UV printing lays down full color, so a badge number, a department patch, or an actual photo of the retiree comes out looking like the real thing rather than a single-tone etch. We’ve done this on wood, aluminum, and other metal blanks, including shield and badge-shaped plaques cut to match a department’s actual insignia.
For a permanent memorial-style piece, we’ve also worked in black granite set in an aluminum frame. Tell us what the piece is for and who it’s honoring, and we’ll recommend the format that fits, not just the one that’s easiest for us.
Reproducing Your Department’s Badge Or Emblem
A lot of what makes a retirement plaque land is getting the department’s own symbol right: a badge, a shield, a unit patch, or for fire departments, the Maltese cross that’s been the firefighter’s emblem since the 1800s. Send us a clear image of the insignia and we’ll reproduce it on the plaque, shaped to match if you want a true badge or shield outline rather than a rectangle.
We always send a digital mockup for approval before anything goes into production. You see exactly how the badge, the text, and the layout will look before we cut or print a thing.
What It Costs: Wood Plaques, Bulk Orders and Deposits
Engraved wood plaques (15 to 18 inches) run $125 to $150. A 50% deposit is required before we start, and payment is upfront on every order, same as everything else we build.
Departments ordering in volume see the price per unit drop significantly. On a recent 60 unit order we priced bulk plaques at $15 each, no setup fee, with a sample sent first so the department could sign off before we ran the full batch. Send us your quantity and we’ll quote it the same way.
Batch Orders For Retirement Ceremonies and Department Events
Departments and squads usually order for a specific date, a retirement dinner, a promotion ceremony, an academy graduation, and the plaque has to be ready by then, not close to then. Tell us the ceremony date when you reach out and we’ll build production around it rather than around our own schedule.
We’ve built pieces for individual retirements and for full academy classes at once. Either way, the process is the same: send us the names, ranks or titles, department insignia, and any wording you want, we send a mockup for approval, then we build it.
Police Retirement Plaques From $125, Made In Las Vegas
Whether it’s one police retirement plaque or a department wide order, we quote it straight and we don’t call the deposit or the minimum a hidden fee. Send us the details and your deadline, and we’ll tell you exactly what it costs and when it’ll be ready.
Common Questions
Do you reproduce our department’s actual badge or patch?
Yes. Send us a clear image of the insignia and we’ll match it, including cutting the plaque itself into a badge or shield shape if you want that instead of a standard rectangle.
Do you do full-color photos on plaques?
Yes, using UV printing rather than engraving. That’s how we reproduce badges, patches, and actual photos in full color instead of a single-tone etch.
How much is the deposit?
Wood plaques require a 50% deposit before production starts. All orders are paid upfront.
Do we get to see it before it’s made?
Always. We send a digital mockup for approval before anything goes into production, no exceptions.
What if we’re ordering for a whole department or academy class?
Send us the headcount and we’ll quote per-unit bulk pricing. A recent 60 unit order came in at $15 each with a sample approved first.
What materials do you work in?
Engraved hardwood (walnut, maple) for the classic look, UV-printed metal or wood for full-color badge and photo work, and black granite in an aluminum frame for memorial pieces.
Get Yours Started
Call or text 702-201-1822, or stop by the shop, and tell us who the plaque is for and when you need it by. We’ll walk you through format, wording, and pricing before anything goes into production.
LV Laser Engraving
6985 W Sahara Ave, Suite 104, Las Vegas, NV 89117
702-201-1822