Police Chief Joseph T. Tout was presented gold lapel emblems of his rank last night during a brief ceremony of the Nesquehoning Borough Council.

The emblems were pinned on the chief by his mother, Mrs. Philomena Tout, while looking on was council President Joseph Staivecki.

Tout, who succeeds retired police chief Harold Billig, began his permanent appointment under Civil Service yesterday. He was appointed to a one-year probationary term on March 1, 1982, after being certified by the local police commission.