Kinder, Gentler Police Uniforms
Tim Dees
Editor-in-Chief
Officer.com
An ongoing PFI discussion (this is how academic types refer to what everyone else calls “arguments”) deals with the gradual militarization of U.S. police, where SWAT teams are prolific and arguably overused, officers are carrying weapons that have been traditionally associated with combat infantry troops, and the standard uniform is moving from a “Class A” dress model to one similar to military Battle Dress Utilities (BDUs). It’s this last issue I’ll take up now.
In the 1970s, when violent civil unrest was a common occurrence, there was a large faction of folks that really hated the police. This was the era of a war that was so unpopular that its returning veterans were spat upon in airports, when it was fashionable to speak disparagingly of anything associated with “The Establishment,” and when the term “pig” was used more often to describe law enforcement officers than to reference animated hams.
A few law enforcement agencies tried to soften their image and make themselves more approachable by switching to “career apparel” uniforms. These typically consisted of double-knit blazers and slacks with a police emblem on the chest pocket. At the time, this kind of outfit was very common in corporate America, and was definitely not associated with police, or authority figures in general.
Of the police outfits that tried this idea out, the Lakewood (CO) and Menlo Park (CA) Police Departments stood out. Both agencies had progressive, innovative leaders that each possessed two rare and valuable qualities:
- They were willing to try new things, even when nearly everyone else said “This is a bad idea.”
- If the New Thing wasn’t working, they weren’t afraid to say, “Everyone else was right. This was a bad idea,” and stop doing it.
That second one might be even more important than the first. Too many police executives are fearful of admitting that they made a mistake, thinking that changing their mind will be taken as a sign of weakness and lack of resolve. It’s not real often that someone gets a new thing right on the first try. The successful leader is constantly evaluating their success and the direction their organization is going, and acts to retreat from the blind alleys, ambushes, and dry wells before they destroy the unit. Everyone makes mistakes, and people that pretend that they are the exception are not viewed as superior. Instead, people think they’re just deluded and incompetent.
I was in college during that era, and was working as an EMT in San Mateo County, which included Menlo Park. I regularly encountered MPPD officers wearing the blazer outfits, and they were universally unhappy. In the summer, the double-knit synthetic materials didn’t “breathe,” and they were uncomfortable. In the winter, the cops had to wear sweaters under the blazers to keep warm, and the effect was not unlike a homeless person who acquired his wardrobe from a Salvation Army donation bin. All year round, the Sam Browne belts and gear made the jackets bulge out, and the jackets hampered access to the gear. Castoff from road flares melted the synthetic material. The list of “reasons this is a bad idea” go on and on, and support the outcome where no general-service law enforcement agency that I know about is wearing coats and ties for patrol work. The chiefs at Menlo Park and Lakewood eventually came to their senses, and both outfits wear uniforms making them readily recognizable as police officers now.
Detectives wear coats and ties, and this includes other investigators and special agent types. These folks don’t often make arrests and are not frequently involved in foot pursuits, climbing over obstacles, or working extended periods in harsh weather conditions. Certainly there are exceptions, but they are just that, and not the usual tour of duty.
I’m not a big fan of militarizing the police, but I do think that the BDU uniforms are an appropriate step in outfitting street grunts with work-appropriate clothing. When I was working patrol, I was often wearing uniform shirts and trousers made of wool or a wool-synthetic blend. In 1980s money, shirts were about $60 and trousers were $140, and they all needed to be dry cleaned at about $6 a pop. I didn’t usually spend that much on suits (of course, I have been told that I need a subscription to GQ more than any man in history. I actually take my fashion tips from GQ. I use the August 1973 issue). Everytime I had to crawl under a house or car, wade through a ditch, climb a fence, or roll around on the ground with an ethically challenged client of the criminal justice system, a part of me was thinking about those expensive duds I was wearing. I don’t want cops worrying about their wardrobe when bad things happen. Give them comfortable uniforms that are easy to care for and relatively inexpensive, and accept that they’re going to get damaged from time to time. Replace the item when this happens, and let the troops worry about doing their jobs and staying safe. Blazers, ties, and slacks might make for a kinder, gentler police force, but I think we can better accomplish that through careful selection and carefully planned and well-considered training.
Outstanding! Image should not be pursued at the expense of practicality.
Absolute crap…… what’s next Hawaiian shirts and shorts
Uniforms should be appropriate for the task. My favorite uniform (that I ever wore) remains dark brown Dickies shirt and pants, ankle high boots, sewn on emblems and web gear. Cheap, easy to clean, easy to replace and best of all, as comfortable as you’ll get lugging all the gear and vest.
Excellent. More departments should go to BDU style, or cargo style pants, with a polo shirt. It is still profeessional, and can still provide command presence.
Well said! Do you see members of the Armed Forces wearing their Class A’s in the field? Nope! Function over fashion!
Any Officer who has ever had to walk through any kind of thorns or woods can appreciate the need for ripstop-BDU pants. I hope in the future BDU’s will be the norm for everyday uniforms
BDU pants are fine but dont wear a polo with them. They make BDU shirts short and long sleeve. But you still need a class A for special occasions or funerals.
This is a great idea that I have been trying to “sell” to the brass of my department. So far it has gone no where fast. Have any ideas to help initiate some type of negotiation?
I have worn both class A type uniforms and class B tactical BDUs and would choose the BDUs over my class A given the preference. Class A uniforms have a place, such as when you are at a public function where you need to present a sharp professional image, but for the normal day to day down and dirty aspect of our jobs, BDUs are more practical. They wear well, hold up to rough treatment that would destroy my class As, are easy to keep clean and are cheaper to replace when they do get ripped or dinged.
My BDUs are well marked and easily identify my agency, my purpose and my authority. With a little TLC and a pair of shined tactical boots, I command just as much respect from the people I encounter as I do in class As. In fact, I command a greater degree of respect with a few elements of society because in the BDUs I look a lot better prepared to “get down to business” than I do in a tie and regulation headgear.
The US armed forces have already field tested this attitude towards uniforms for several decades - they have proven hands down that each uniform has a function and a purpose. So why should we not use all of that free experience and do the same thing in law enforcemnt. If it works, use it!
My agency leaves it up to the officer. We are issued class A’s, BDU w/gof shirt and a bike uniform (even if you don’t ride the bike. The officer wears what he feels comfortable in. Except for details (parade, funeral, etc) when the A is required. The only rule is that is must be over 80 to wear the bike uniform (shorts and golf shirt). We were web gear year round with all uniforms.
I think every patrol officer should be in BDU style uniforms. Its more of the idea of whats functional and practical. With the idea of having to carry more and more equipment the extra pockets on the pants are an extreme plus. They are making a lot of BDU style uniforms that look professional. Hey its professional enough for the military, why isn’t it good enough for the guy chasing down bad guys in the streets every day.
My department summer uniform are grey polo shirt with police on the back and black BDU pants. Our officers and other departments like the look. Its good comfort and still has the police authority look
Right on the mark Tim!! My old Dept.(Tucson, Az.) in the same time period had white shirts, US mailcarrier polyester grey slacks, a class A braid called the “drunk handle” hanging from the right shoulder, Acme cowboy boots and mandatory clip-on ties during certain seasons. We too had a ‘Blazer’ squad called Adam 1 and they had gold blazers over darks slacks, gold striped ties etc. It was style over substance, and not that stylish anyway. I think the prevalent philosophy behind all this nonsense was whether patrol officers were ‘blue collar’ or ‘white collar’ workers. At some point most of these depts. went to a shirt color change, (usually white) for command staff and up, which answered THAT question. I have seen a progressive change to the BDU’s and Rockies’ boot style over the past 30 years and it is wonderful as long as it doesn’t get out of hand, like patrol officers wearing T shirts or Balaclavas.
We wear the cargo style pants and they are great. Plenty of room and comfortable. We also wear polo shirts with sewn on badges and patches. They breath and are cheap
I would rather see agencies goto a trouser with cargo pockets. I do not like the look of BDUs as you see the military wearing… but thats just me.
I think that BDU’s may well be practical for many aspects of the job, but I think they’re look puts people in a different frame of mind where they see them. BDU’s are military, and I think it is important to maintain a distinction between the military and police officers.
BDU pants and a polo shirt? Nonsense. That is range gear and completely UNPROFESSIONAL for everyday patrol work. My departments pants are absolutely horrendous for patrol. They look good in the Class A with a dress blouse, but that’s it! Apparently it’s more important that we look good to the public than be comfortable for 8+ hours.
if you think that image and impression to the public isnt important then you are all kidding yourselves. The uniform has to send out the right message. Cargo pants and ‘Ts’ lok slopy and unprofessional
gGreat article. We don’t carry call box keys and drive Dodge Diplomats any more either. The reason being, there are better options available for these now, just like the uniform.
As one of the many working for small agencies with small budgets, I am also required to purchase my own trousers and while issued shirts (two each of long and short sleeve) I am expected to purchase replacements should anything happen to them on the job. I have to provide my own duty gear, and have had leather items destroyed or torn off the belt in heavy action. While I am generally opposed to the militarization of the police, I must concur that form must follow function and not arbitrary regulations based on what the administration thinks looks “snazzy” or trendy.
My dept wears BDU pants and class a shirts and I think we look great. I’d love to go to polo’s though. Anyone who thinks we should wear the same dressy class A uniform for almost 100 years is just stuck in the past. Mosern problems = modern solutions. I personally htink we should go to duty vests instead of belts. More comfortable and easier on the back.
From talking to public and working with Some californian police departments I think the bdu is highly UNproffesional. For instantance before I worked with my partner he wore a class b uniform or bdus when working beach patrol. I talked him into wearing his lapd style service cap on patrol. Together we must of had three or four people a day coming up to us telling us how proffesional we looked and all we did was put a service pershing style cap on our class b uniform. I hate Bdus and find them sloppy and should only be used for high risk enviornments. Personaly I would make service caps mandatory at ALL times on patrol as well as ties and sam browne shoulder straps and maybe even dress jackets and high leather boots. When I am on patrol I like to look as if I am the law.
I for one have found that the whole idea of modernizing the police uniform to be repulsive and very disturbing… We appear to be entering into a state of fascism… Its not just the the new mode of dress but also the attitude of a lot of these so called law enforcement idiots.. What ever happened to protect and serve? Unfortunately the type of people that the modern day police seem to be recruiting are sadists under the skin…Being from NYC I’ve witness some extreme behavior from some of these barbarins, and its not pretty.. We need to get back to basics here with the police departments all across the country. This judge and jury attitude must stop… I also blame the media for fueling a lot of this behavior… Come on America stop allowing these sico’s to harass its citizens…