Colorado State Patrol
Alamosa Regional Communications Center

Shields of Honor
Mark Leichliter; Ft. Collins, Colorado
Budget $14,500
Installed July 2010

The design of this artwork is a singular and powerful form to convey the solidarity and discipline of Colorado's State Patrol Troopers and is called Shields of Honor. The sculpture is a vertical stainless steel pillar emerging from the ground and is 8’ high, 12’’to16” wide and 9” deep. Cut into both faces of the upright column are multiple outlines of the Colorado State Patrol badge. These repeating badge shapes get more distorted toward the edges of the monolith, thus giving the impression that they are enveloping a sphere.

Internal up-lighting will be incorporated into the concrete footing at ground level however several issues must be addressed before lighting can be definitively integrated, including the artwork’s final location and access to a power supply, as well as making certain that local electrical work is feasible within budget .The monolithic shape of this sculpture is reminiscent of ancient standing stones that still exist today, tying the very contemporary design to profoundly traditional ideas of permanence and place. Each badge can be seen to symbolize an individual Trooper, working together with colleagues to create a shield of protection for the citizenry. The rounded, enveloping effect of the badges represents the blanket of service and safety that the Colorado State Patrol provides.