Patrol Uniform Questions

[jkrein]

I'm looking for some help regarding patrol uniforms. Currently my dept has a wear a class B uniform. I am interested in opinions on wearing a BDU and Polo Type shirt instead. What are the Pro's and Con's. Any officer safety issue's. I'm also intersted in anybody who might wear a drop holster for patrol duties. What are the pro's and con's with this as well. ( I'm thinking the onloy issue might be weapon retention. I'm anybody's dept allows them to wear a more tactical type uniform for patrol in would be interested in the dept policy if your superiors wouls allow it to be released. I am planning on going to my Capt with some suggestions but I would like to have info on it first. Also if any one does have this type of uniform what is the public's perception (ie too military like). This will most likely be an issue.

Thanks in advance.

[AggiePhil]

Some people are of the opinion that the more professional an officer looks (meaning his uniform, duty rig, etc.), the less likely he is to be assaulted. And the more GI Joe/soldier-ish an officer looks, the more likely he is to encounter resistance. Not sure I agree completely, but I can see that possibly being true to some extent. YMMV.

[dogcop]

Drop holster - do a search here and any other Cop Board. The general opinion is it has NO PLACE in general uniformed patrol due to comfort, weapon retention, ability to draw from a seated position, etc. Down side to Polo's is losing pockets and usually no patches on sleeves (if they do, then they usually look REALLY dumb) so you lose "presence". Polo's good for warm weather...maybe. By the time you are done with the vest, either over or under it, the "cooling" effect is negated. Polo's, to me, don't make much sense, but functional pants do. I am all about FUNCTION over fashion. I am also of the opinion the "tougher" the uniform looks, the less people screw with you. We wear all dark blue with outside vest covers that somewhat (not alot) resemble military covers in black with name and star sewn on, and the BG's don't like messing with us much. As for the general (law abidding) public, we are always professional and proper and the "good people" respond to our disposition, not to our uniform, in a favorable manner.

[Goforth]

Drop holster - do a search here and any other Cop Board. The general opinion is it has NO PLACE in general uniformed patrol due to comfort, weapon retention, ability to draw from a seated position, etc. Down side to Polo's is losing pockets and usually no patches on sleeves (if they do, then they usually look REALLY dumb) so you lose "presence". Polo's good for warm weather...maybe. By the time you are done with the vest, either over or under it, the "cooling" effect is negated. Polo's, to me, don't make much sense, but functional pants do. I am all about FUNCTION over fashion. I am also of the opinion the "tougher" the uniform looks, the less people screw with you. We wear all dark blue with outside vest covers that somewhat (not alot) resemble military covers in black with name and star sewn on, and the BG's don't like messing with us much. As for the general (law abidding) public, we are always professional and proper and the "good people" respond to our disposition, not to our uniform, in a favorable manner.

At my department we in the process of getting the drop holsters approved for us K-9 officers. I'm not sure what holsters you've looked at but Safariland makes drop leg holsters in both level 2 and level 3 retention. We are looking at either going with the 6005 model (level 2) or maybe the new ALS system (level 3). I prefer the drop leg as it is much easier to draw from any position (standing, kneeling, sitting in a car) Depending on how my new Springfield XD holster works out I may have a drop leg made for it also.

Our School Resource Officers wear black polo shirts and black BDU pants. The back of the shirt says P O L I C E in big white letters while the front has the badge and officer's name embroidered on it. They look professional and still maintain the "presence". I have worn the polo / BDU combination on special assignments and it was a lot cooler and I had better mobility wearing it.

Command presence really comes from the officer. People are more in tuned to listen to someone that carries themselves professionally than someone who is not squared away. I've seen guys lose their pants and duty belts in a foot pursuit who was wearing the traditional blues.

Right now I wear the Transcon black BDUs with Bianchi Acculmold Nylon duty rig. I also wear K&W Nylon suspenders. Hopefully soon I will be switching over to the drop leg holster as its a lot easier to draw from being a K-9 officer. The Transcon are nice uniforms once you get used to the neck. It rides a little high but other than that they are a sturdy uniform and hang well.

[dogcop]

I will be switching over to the drop leg holster as its a lot easier to draw from being a K-9 officer.
Hmmm, I was a K-9 Officer for 5 years, I think the drop leg would be nothing but in the way (leash get wrapped around it, shrubs, etc., getting caught on it while doing a track thru heavy brush). Don't see how it makes "K-9" any easier with it, but hey, as long as it works for you and you have fully tested it, to each his own. The biggest gear asset I found while working K-9 was having a tac light attached to my Glock.

[jkrein]

Thanks to those who posted responses. The drop leg holster isn't that big of a deal. I would most likely just add a tac light to my gun, which would also make it easier since I use my duty weapon for SWAT also. I am more concerned with the different options in patrol uniforms. I agree that the officer's attitude has more to do with compliance and general acceptance by the public than the uniform. However, a "sloppy" uniform will also project a negative image as well. I do agree with having a "tougher" looking uniform also. I also think that most people don't really care what type of uniform we wear. Just like I don't think people even realize that one cop may have strips or bars and the others don't.

Goforth is the Transcon BDU a trouser type BDU or is it actually a BDU. Also what kind of uniform shirt are you guys wearing? Thanks for the info

[k9 max]

Hmmm, I was a K-9 Officer for 5 years, I think the drop leg would be nothing but in the way (leash get wrapped around it, shrubs, etc., getting caught on it while doing a track thru heavy brush). Don't see how it makes "K-9" any easier with it, but hey, as long as it works for you and you have fully tested it, to each his own. The biggest gear asset I found while working K-9 was having a tac light attached to my Glock.
I would have to second the thoughts of Dog Cop above. The drop/thigh holster in my opinion will probably not aid you in k-9. Should you need to go hands on with a suspect, retention will be of concern. Also as mentioned above, I found the addition of a light to my firearm of benefit working k9.

[Goforth]

I would have to second the thoughts of Dog Cop above. The drop/thigh holster in my opinion will probably not aid you in k-9. Should you need to go hands on with a suspect, retention will be of concern. Also as mentioned above, I found the addition of a light to my firearm of benefit working k9.

Its all presonal preference. I love the drop leg and have never had a problem with it. As far as retention its a level 2 holster so its the same as a waist holster just down a few inches.

The Transcon BDU is a trouser style bdu with Cargo pockets but no ties at the bottom. We wear the 701 pants and top.

[AggiePhil]

Sewn-on badges look like crap. And this talk of a "tougher" looking uniform? Some would argue that a squared away Class A uniform demands more respect and compliance than something that looks like it was bought from an online airsoft store.

[dogcop]

Uniforms, I have found, is a regional thing. Aggie, I see you are from Texas. I have seen some southern uniforms and they would be viewed with as much of a crossed eye up here as you would view some of ours. Shiny guns belts and Stetson hats is something you won't see up here. ;)