What are you wearing? Tactical vs Professional

[DEP_134]

At my jail we use to wear BDU's. Due to getting an old school new Major we were forced to switch to a class B style uni. the new major wanted to give a more professional appearance to our jail staff. Which is understandable. However another reason for changing uniforms and it was argued "BDU's are intimidating to the Inmates"

Can't a tactical look be just as professional? and less intimidating?

with that major now retired most of us would like to change to a Polo shirt and TDU style pants. what do my fellow CO's think?

[BSOdeputy]

Have you seen a New York State's C.O.'s uniform? It is hands down the ugliest, most non-intimidating, least comfortable and often mistaken for a bus driver uniform in the entire United States. Be glad for whatever you are wearing because I guarantee it is 3000 times better than the rags I wear on a daily basis.

[BSOdeputy]

http://www.industrialamusement.com/fr_kramerreports.cfm scroll down to see it.

[DEP_134]

those are ridiculous....ours are all navy blue...remove the patches, badge, and name tag we look like mechanics....they are cheap and very uncomfortable....mine are less than a year old and are faded and lil lint balls forming on them...t

[subyray]

Have you seen a New York State's C.O.'s uniform? It is hands down the ugliest, most non-intimidating, least comfortable and often mistaken for a bus driver uniform in the entire United States. Be glad for whatever you are wearing because I guarantee it is 3000 times better than the rags I wear on a daily basis.

I agree 100%. I love how it was rumored we were getting a new uniform since we merged with parole, but nothing was ever made of it. And New York sucks so bad, their not even inmates anymore. Their offenders... But who cares if a tactical style uniform intimidates them, isn't that the point. If their intimidated, they don't act out, they don't act out, everyone goes home at the end of the day.

[ret2991]

BDU pants are way better, especially if your working "in population". Pockets are great for extra cuffs, gloves, masks. Granola bars (if you don't get to go to meal that day). They're more sturdy, in case you gotta"mix it up" that day. They regular pants are good for working at headquarters, the academy.
The question of intimidating? I don't want to look like Im friends or friendly. Fork 'em. The person making that decision is their oak wood office, sippin on scotch, watching me do some real work- on camera.

[DEP_134]

I agree 100%. I love how it was rumored we were getting a new uniform since we merged with parole, but nothing was ever made of it. And New York sucks so bad, their not even inmates anymore. Their offenders... But who cares if a tactical style uniform intimidates them, isn't that the point. If their intimidated, they don't act out, they don't act out, everyone goes home at the end of the day.

The only ones allowed a tacticle uniform are our SERT members, why is this when we only use them about once a year....even if we used them more than that why do they get to look different, we are all part of the same family....regular deputies do more hands on with inmates every day...it would make more sence for us all to wear the same uniform but identify SERT member with a patch...

BDU pants are way better, especially if your working "in population". Pockets are great for extra cuffs, gloves, masks. Granola bars (if you don't get to go to meal that day). They're more sturdy, in case you gotta"mix it up" that day. They regular pants are good for working at headquarters, the academy.
The question of intimidating? I don't want to look like Im friends or friendly. Fork 'em. The person making that decision is their oak wood office, sippin on scotch, watching me do some real work- on camera.

our office people are civilian and classification officers...civilians get to wear just about anything and classification wears polos and TDU pants. these employee's deal with the general public everyday much more than those of us who work the floor....my take is this, shouldnt these workers have to wear a professional looking uniform as well seeing how they deal with the general public...

I know it sounds like i am bitching and in some sence i am...mainly i'm just curious what the uniform standards are at other facilities... thanx

[cagipson]

I work in a County Jail and we wear 5.11 tactical polos and pants. I'd actually much prefer wearing the traditional uniform same as our deputies, which we used to do but it was changed before I got hired on.

[DEP_134]

I work in a County Jail and we wear 5.11 tactical polos and pants. I'd actually much prefer wearing the traditional uniform same as our deputies, which we used to do but it was changed before I got hired on.

why? tacticle polos and pants are more tacticle and comfortable....

[indianaco64]

we usually wear class b pants with two tone class a shirts and leathers

[Albert Wesker]

Look at the BOP uniforms

[DEP_134]

WOW those suck

[MPDCjock]

I used to wear BDUs. We have the option to wear either. However, since I have be training to (hopefully) switch agencies soon I have been be wearing Class B's. I have noticed the better shape I am in the less uncomfortable they feel. They really are not practical for today's policing considering all the stuff a patrol officer has to carry but they do the job.

[cagipson]

why? tacticle polos and pants are more tacticle and comfortable....

Image and air of authority. It's sorely lacking in my department and "looking the part" I think would help solve some of our issues with respect. However, I'm in the minority of that thinking and a Rookie.. so mouth stays shut.

[Koala45]

We wear tan non-BDU uniforms and our SERT team members get BDUs. In the winter, we have to wear dark green (almost brown) long sleeve shirts with black turtlenecks. Nevada DOC officers wear green BDUs.

[DEP_134]

Image and air of authority. It's sorely lacking in my department and "looking the part" I think would help solve some of our issues with respect. However, I'm in the minority of that thinking and a Rookie.. so mouth stays shut.

rookie or not your opinion still matters brother

[Deputy Medic]

It's obvious I'm getting old. In my day you were supposed to intimidate the IMs.

[DEP_134]

It's obvious I'm getting old. In my day you were supposed to intimidate the IMs.

Brother in some states CO's aren't allowed to call them inmates anymore they have to refer to them as offender

[Deputy Medic]

Brother in some states CO's aren't allowed to call them inmates anymore they have to refer to them as offender

I can't imagine that lasting too long before some squishy-hearted somebody says "We can't call them offenders, that's too much like sex offender, and that could blemish their self esteem!"

[Koala45]

Brother in some states CO's aren't allowed to call them inmates anymore they have to refer to them as offender

If they're going for political correctness, offender is actually more offensive. They are all inmates, but if they're in a local or county jail, they may not have been found guilty yet and not technically "offenders."

[Ransom]

Regular officers here wear Class A uniforms, those are white dress tops and french blue pants with a navy blue stripe down the side. Ugly as sin.

Our SORT team members wear navy blue BDUs, are firearms and OC certified. Regular officers basically don't do anything except work a post.

I sure am gonna miss these BDU's, comfy as hell

[DEP_134]

We've recently got a new jailer...hopefully he changes the uniform policy...we were told he was going to get rid of our metal badges and metal name tags and replace them with patches...but keep the same uniform...but it's all still on the air...

[cagipson]

It's obvious I'm getting old. In my day you were supposed to intimidate the IMs.

Yeah.. here we can't even write them up for calling us every name they can think of..

[Iowa #1603]

Brother in some states CO's aren't allowed to call them inmates anymore they have to refer to them as offender

I got in trouble about twice a year for 10 yrs or so because I insisted on calling them convicts.

That was back when we were instructed to call them INMATES. About 10 yrs ago the new director decided we would call them OFFENDERS (STATE DOC so they were convicted)

I never did use the word OFFENDER -------except when I updated policy because I HAD to there..

[HollywoodJayy]

I Nevada we wear 5.11 or Popper BDU's with the option to wear BDU Pants and a polo drom April-September.

Those dealing with the public wear class B's, CERT where's black BDU's, no summer options.