LE uniforms dressing down ?
Interesting article on some LE agencies permitting “dressing down” as a new trend: https://www.calibrepress.com/2019/11...g-you-at-risk/. I’m retired now, but I do think the author has a point. Only time we could wear alternate uniform was as an instructor at the Academy. What is your opinion ?
LE uniforms dressing down ?
Also, I’ve noticed that some small agencies are very lax about uniforms, to the point that if three patrol officers show up on a call, one might be wearing a black T-shirt and outer vest, one might be wearing a traditional uniform shirt with shoulder patches and a concealed vest, and another might be wearing a long-sleeve T-shirt with “POLICE” written down the sleeves and no vest at all.
I think that’s a mistake too. Residents and visitors should be able to get used to what a given police force’s uniforms look like. Such familiarity is part of the identification benefit of a uniform.
Oh, and another thing. In terms of “command presence”, I think that being fit, alert, and decisive all matter more than how much bling and shoe shine you’re wearing.
You might be all dressed up like a blend of LAPD and RI State Police, but if your upper arms are 12” around, your posture sucks, you have a pot belly, and your face is buried in your phone all the time, someone will eventually decide to kick your ass just because.