Usually painted wearing armor, carrying a spear, and holding the scales of justice, Saint Michael is the modern patron saint of police officers. He got his reputation for handing out justice and protecting people from his many roles delineated in the Bible and throughout the ages. His name is a variation of the Hebrew Micah which means "Who is like God?" He was the "leader of the heavenly army of angels who defeated Satan and his followers and hurled them from heaven. He metes out punishment but tempers it with divine justice" (Rejnis 256). St. Michael the Archangel is considered one of the three principal angels along with Gabriel and Raphael and has been the subject of many paintings and even literary works like Milton's Paradise Lost. "In the Eastern church, as well as among many theologians in the West, St. Michael is placed over all the angels, as prince of the Seraphim. He is the special patron of sick people" (Crawley 472). A number of feast days have celebrated Saint Michael throughout the ages, but he is most likely to be found today on a police badge or on a medal worn by a police officer walking the streets in a city anywhere in the world.

             Saint Michael is specifically mentioned twice in the Old Testament and twice in the New Testament. He appears in Daniel X where he is described as "one of the chief princes" helping Gabriel to assist the Jews in returning to Jerusalem. He appears in scripture again in Daniel XII. The Angel speaking of the end of the world says: "At that time shall Michael rise up, the great prince, who standeth for the children of thy people" (Holweck).

             In the New Testament, Saint Michael appears in St. Jude in a reference to how Michael had disputed with Satan over the body of Moses (Holweck). According to lore, because Moses had killed the Egyptian he was a murderer. Therefore, Satan claimed the body. Saint Michael was angry and told Satan "The Lord rebuke thee" (Butler III 678).