"California Cover"

[willpolice4food]

This maybe an unusual question, but why do most CA LE organizations seem to have an aversion to wearing hats?

I am very fair complected and have since lost most of the hair on my head and shave it down to nothing with a razor. Anytime I am outside for an extended period of time I need wear cover - if I can't wear a hat I wear number 60 sunscreen. If I ever make it to an academy, I plan to smuggle a tube onto the PT field and constantly reapply after sweating it off. Not only does a hat provide skin protection, but it take the glare off your face, and keeps sweat from going in your eyes (officer safety?).

I am just surprised to always see CHiPies and other traffic cops doing traffic investigations or stops with no cover in the blazing sun.

I can possibly see an officer safety issue with large brimmed Stetsons or Smokey hats - but how about a sharp fitted ball cap approved by rand-and-file? The other day, I ran into an OCSD deputy wearing a ball cap and told me that they were "begrudgingly" approved.

I spent a bit of time outside CA and noticed most every LE officer wearing cover.

[EMVAMPYRE]

That's a very good question. My department (LASD) has an optional campaign hat and a cold weather "ear flap" hat that are allowed for wear in our Class A (wool) uniforms. In our Class B uniforms (cotton, sewn on badges and name tags mostly worn in custody) we are allowed to wear department baseball caps. Now, back 30 years ago, all deputies on patrol were required to wear our helmets. Yep, riot helmets with no shileds. I'm quite happy we don't have that little bit of BS now. The only time I really see deputies wearing their covers is when they are on some special detail or academy staff scaring the new kids...

LAPD for many years had a requirement that all officers would wear their covers whenever out of their vehicles. That kind of died away and when I was a reserve with them in 1987-1989, there was no hat requirement. Now, as I understand it, any officer on foot patrol must wear their cover. Don't take that as the hard facts as to LAPD.

I guess it's just another of those east coast/west coast things...

[SgtCHP]

During the latter part of the twentieth century, a great number of agencies began to re-evaluate their uniforms for appearance and practicality. Hats, caps, covers, etc were determined to be a piece of the uniform that was not an essential need to perform the job. There were exceptions: Crowd control, special details that required Class "A" uniforms, traffic control, etc.

Officers enjoyed the relaxation and are now "demanding" that agencies go further and allow them to wear BDUs, Class "B" uniforms, wash and wear, etc. It is called evolution.

Until all of this came about, Class "A"s were the norm with hat. There were even cases that were lost because the officers were not in "Full Uniform."

The CHP negotiated with the officers for the campaign hat over the bus driver hat to offer the officers more protection from the sun and reduce the claims for skin cancer. Yet, today's young officer does not want to wear anything.

Sometimes agencies go with the flow and do not stick to their own rules and regulations.

[pkagel]

Don't worry about smuggling it, bring a huge bottle and share it with your fellow recruits. You won't get in trouble for having sunscreen in your bag.

If I ever make it to an academy, I plan to smuggle a tube onto the PT field and constantly reapply after sweating it off..

[deputy x 2]

At certain duty stations we have to wear our hats. Uggghhh. They are the bus driver type that everyone hates. Not to mention the hat head you get but the ring around your forehead is.........

I wouldn't mind wearing a bb cap but with the uniform it looks terrible. Thank god the new sheriff hates em to and is looking for a replacement.

[mdrdep]

For everyday patrol in a radio car, I think a hat/cover isn't practical. It gets in the way and could present officer safety issues.

I think for walking a footbeat or for dress ocassions it should be mandatory.

[Kieth M.]

When I started with LAPD 30 years ago, everytime we got out of the car, we were to wear our hats. I still remember a classmate on a robbery alarm call, low-crawling with a shotgun, being yelled at by a sergeant for not having his hat on.

That was also in a time, when we could not wear short-sleeved uniform shirts except between Memorial and Labor Days, and the temp would be over 90(?) degrees, and the Department had sent out a teletype saying so.

Daryl Gates changed all that, in 1979, when he took office. Then the big debate became the ability to wear a short-sleeved shirt with a jacket. We had to wear a tie on the short-sleeve, if we wanted a jacket.

Today, as I leave LAPD, the uniform committee argues, "if you want to protect your head, wear your uniform hat....not a ball cap...it's not professional looking." Maybe someday, but not too soon.

Side-note: I recall the deputies in West Hollywood when they got their earflap hats. My G-d, that was hilarious. They'd been hoping the LASD would approve a watch cap/beanie. No such luck!:D

[ElDiabloJoe]

LASD rain gear consists solely of your station hat. Each station worth its salt has its own symbol and mascot. Your station's symbol will be on your station hat (Class B baseball cap).

You wear that in the rain, hence it is your rain gear. None of that crappy yellow-duck reflectorized stuff.

EDJ

[exComptonCop]

Daryl Gates changed all that, in 1979, when he took office. Then the big debate became the ability to wear a short-sleeved shirt with a jacket. We had to wear a tie on the short-sleeve, if we wanted a jacket.

Many years ago, I had taken an injured prisoner to MLK Hospital for treatment. While waiting, I past the time shooting it with a couple of 77th Division officers. Quite suddenly, an LAPD Sergeant popped his head into the treatment room, gave one of the LAPD cops the once over, and said..."just as I thought!" The Sgt. left as suddenly as he appeared, without saying another word. :eek:

I looked at the officer whom had be scrutinized, and asked him what the heck all that was about. He told me his supervisor was simply checking whether or not he was wearing a tie, with his jacket...he was not :confused:

[DOAcop38]

For everyday patrol in a radio car, I think a hat/cover isn't practical. It gets in the way and could present officer safety issues.

I think for walking a footbeat or for dress ocassions it should be mandatory.

We have the basic military Officers "cover" and the smokie the Bear type for commercial enforcement( I like th smokies,but you have to take care of them to keep the brim flat and even) We only wear the cover when its a formal or when theres some incident that cuases our LAPD counterparts to be heavily deployted here or in the area( when they pop them on,we have to also-YUCK!) You can't go in foot pursuit or anything and it really doesn't provide good sun protection-most of us will push the baseball caps when its comes to it,although management is fickle on wearing one in uniform...

[Bully]

At my old and soon to be again dept, we were authorized the "saucer cap" (Adam 12 type) or a smokey. BB caps strictly prohibited. The only time they were worn is at special events. Right before I left, they started wearing them at the major football games because you could pick out officers in a crowd by the hat.

At RSO, I have yet to see a uniform hat. We could wear bb caps during inclement weather.

[ejay]

haha I had a campaign hat once. I wore it once but it was too big for my head. I had a small head at the time so it looked like a good breeze would make me take flight.

I wedged it to the back of my locker and when I left that department I had to pay for the hat because it was warped beyond repair.

[EMVAMPYRE]

LASD rain gear consists solely of your station hat. Each station worth its salt has its own symbol and mascot. Your station's symbol will be on your station hat (Class B baseball cap).

You wear that in the rain, hence it is your rain gear. None of that crappy yellow-duck reflectorized stuff.

EDJ
And if you work north of the 5/14 or the mountains, that watch cap is in your war bag too...You can always tell the leg climbers or newbies without the station hat...

[nobody33]

We can wear the old school "LAPD" hat, the smokey bear hat, or baseball caps. We are not issued anything and class "A" is without a hat.



Actually we are issued helmets. But they don't look cool like the ones in the 60's. I don't think SDPD has had hats as normal attire since the helmets were mandatory. Which is good for me since I hate hats. I think the ball caps look bad on most people.

[Five-0fromSoCal]

For everyday patrol in a radio car, I think a hat/cover isn't practical. It gets in the way and could present officer safety issues.

I think for walking a footbeat or for dress ocassions it should be mandatory.

I heard the uniform committee is considering making the smokey cover or round cover part of our uniform again. Only for special occasions, graduations, or funerals.

[Fuzz]

We have baseball caps that we are allowed to wear and I think they are not very professional looking, but it beats getting the top of my head burned when I'm standing inthe sun all day.

[EMVAMPYRE]

I heard the uniform committee is considering making the smokey cover or round cover part of our uniform again. Only for special occasions, graduations, or funerals.
I had heard that as well. This isn't the first time that has been proposed.

[mdrdep]

I believe it goes back to a rise in skin cancer claims. The way the cover was approved in the first place was when we first got the Blue Line contract in the early 90's. The R.I.D. program at the Ranch wanted the smokeys for their D.I.'s, they were going to get denied until a friend of Lt. Hartwell (who was in charge of R.I.D.) was assigned to the start up team for the Blue Line. He sold it to the brass on the basis that so many deputies standing on platforms in the sun would present a skin cancer risk. Once that happened Blue Line, R.I.D. and Academy got the smokeys. They were then approved for all members (at your own expense) in both class A and B styles. I believe the class B has been droped. The class A is still approved. The latest rumors I believe have to do with the County actually providing the smokey as an issued item. Lately skin cancer claims have been on the rise again.

[Five-0fromSoCal]

I rather get the round type class A hat instead of the smokey. Smokey looks good for D.I's but not for everyone in A's. Looks like a forest ranger.

[EMVAMPYRE]

I agree with you Five-0. I look like a moron in a smokey. If they issue them as mandatory, do we get the mirrored RayBans as well?

[ElDiabloJoe]

I agree with you Five-0. I look like a moron in a smokey. If they issue them as mandatory, do we get the mirrored RayBans as well?
And you get to change your name plate so it reads: Buford T. Justice :D

EDJ

[Nightshift va]

Neatly pressed baseball caps are good and not as much an officer safety issue as big brimmed stetson's and campaign covers. The hats are a symbol of authority but not at the expense of limiting your field of vision and other than traffic control or ceremony they should be optional and a baseball cap should be allowed if well maintained and clean. Our department is caught up on the myth of the 'hat" also and we are required to wear goofy stetson's until late hours. In my carrer I dont see in the situations where I was assaulted on duty that the goofy hat would have made the thug reconsider his actions at taking a poke at me but you cant convince some of these old time administrators of this fact so we have to wear them.

[1oldsarge]

At Riverside S/O, we could purchase and wear campaign hats, which I did as I've had skin cancer. A baseball cap was also authorized, which didn't look all that good...

[Conallron]

I think it would be nice for agencies to give the OPTION Patrol Officer's/Deputies to wear a BB on duty. I know the local SO's makes all the Recruits wear a BB while outside, and carry it with them everywhere indoors.

[Garbage Man]

We can wear BB cap anytime we want.. we have the old style covers for funerals. I would like to se us use the floppy style full brimmed that I see the military wearing in Iraq.

I think our whole uniform style is dumb, frankly. We wear a parade ground style wool or polyester uniformed in a physical job. I like the military style, you wear the parade style uniform in parade an a more practical style BDU for the field. We have too many people that get hung up on the aesthetic of our uniform. I tell them "the Marines did not storm the beaches of Iwo Jima in their dress blues." Then they tell me to shut up.

[DagoStar]

San Diego Sheriff's you can wear a bb cap, campaign hat, and a "stetson" type cover (usually worn by deps in the rural areas). During platoon activations (riots, protests, etc.) you can wear a floppy hat when in the rear or staging areas.