This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 1/10/2026
Offered is Elvis Presley's Shelby County Sheriff's "CAPTAIN" Badge. Elvis' fascination with law enforcement is legendary, and his collection of badges given to him from various law enforcement agencies is well-known. Elvis would often get jurisdictions to give him his own badges, either in Memphis or anywhere in the country, but the Shelby County badges were dearest to his heart. Elvis eventually gave the badge to his bodyguard Sam Thompson. The accompanying letter from Thompson tells the story:
When I resigned my commission as a sheriff's deputy in July of 1976, all identification and badges had to be turned into the Shelby County Sheriff's Dept. In early August, 1976, while relaxing at Graceland one evening, following my first tour as Elvis' bodyguard, the talk turned to law enforcement and badges. Elvis bragged that Billy Ray Schilling, then the Sheriff of Shelby County, had given him a badge that said SHERIFF on it, instead of his old one which read CHIEF DEPUTY. Elvis said he's been promoted and I complained, good naturedly, that I'd been demoted since I now had no badge at all! Elvis laughed, reached into his ever present black badge case and produced a Captain's badge, gave it to me on the spot and announced that I had just been promoted from Patrolman to Captain! The badge, with the number 306 on it, has been in my sole possession since August, 1976 until August, 1992, when acquired by Thomas J. Salva of North Brunswick, NJ.
The badge is housed in a modern wallet with a small reproduction of the Thompson letter on the left. Also accomanied by small photo of Elvis and Sam Thompson that is signed by Sam. Gorgeous Near Mint condition.