Police uniforms of the United States

Police uniforms in the United States vary widely due to the nation's tradition of highly decentralized law enforcement. Over time, however, a number of general conventions and styles have become representative of American police fashion. Police officers wear uniforms to deter crime by establishing a visible presence while on patrol, to make themselves easily identifiable to non-police officers or their colleagues who require assistance, and to quickly identify each other at crime scenes for ease of coordination.

History

Uniforms of the New York City Police Department in 1871

Centralized, municipally-managed police departments were unknown in the United States prior to the 1830s. Early law enforcement functions were largely performed by volunteer watchmen as well as elected or appointed constables and sheriffs, who were paid by the fee system for warrants they served.[1] The advent of professional police forces in the United States foreshadowed the introduction of standardized police uniforms. While uniforms for police had been introduced in the United Kingdom as early as 1828, adoption of standardized dress in the United States took longer, with many of the new police objecting to uniforms out of concern they would be subject to public ridicule.[2] Nonetheless, in 1854, the New York City Police Department became the United States' first municipal police force to issue uniforms to its officers. New York City was followed, in 1858, by Boston, Chicago, and soon thereafter, other cities.[3]

A New York City police officer, wearing a custodian helmet, answers a visitor's questions at the corner of Fulton and Broadway in 1899.

The navy blue uniforms adopted by many police departments in this early period were simply surplus United States Army uniforms from the Civil War.[4] Cover typically took the form of stovepipe hats, a starched woolen head cover similar in appearance to a top hat but with a squatter dimension, or British-style custodian helmets. In rural areas, where preventative policing was limited or non-existent, sheriff's deputies continued to wear civilian attire, using only their badge as a mark of identification. In many states this practice continued well into the following century. The Orange County, California sheriff's office, for instance, did not adopt a uniform until 1938.[5]

By the early 20th century, the style and form of American police uniforms had essentially settled into its modern pattern of button-up shirts, neckties, slacks and military-style blouses with unbanded collars, all worn with peaked hats. Many early uniforms had loose-fitting jackets that would conceal a police officer's equipment, such as truncheon and sidearm. Beginning in the 1930s, officers more frequently began wearing their personal gear on a Sam Browne belt worn outside the coat, for ease of access.

One of the biggest evolutionary experiments in police uniform design began in 1969, when the police department in Menlo Park, California moved away from typical police uniforms, opting instead for a dress style designed to better emulate civilian fashion trends and communicate a "softer" appearance. The new uniforms consisted of green blazers, black slacks, a white shirt and black necktie. Officers wore their weapons concealed under their coats. Many other police departments soon followed the Menlo Park lead. In psychological tests, it was discovered police - after using the new uniform - displayed less authoritarian personality characteristics. In addition, civilians and suspects injured during arrests by police dropped by 50-percent and assaults on officers by suspects also plummeted by nearly a third. Despite these initially promising signs, however, it was subsequently determined that other factors, including increased police recruitment of college graduates and adoption of more responsive management techniques, had probably accounted for the statistical shifts. By the eighth year of the uniform experiment, assaults on police had more than doubled from what they were prior to the dress change and the "civilian" style uniforms were subsequently dropped.[6]

Current designs

The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Office badge is typical of the six-pointed star design used by many U.S. sheriffs. The panel at the bottom of the badge is where a deputy's badge number would be engraved.

Badges

Despite the wide variety of uniforms used by United States police departments, virtually all incorporate the use of metallic badges as a means of primary identification. Unlike in the United Kingdom, where officers both in and out of uniform carry - but do not publicly display - paper or plastic warrant cards, U.S. police badges are the official symbol of office and are prominently worn over the left chest of the uniform (or, in the case of plainclothes officers, displayed from a concealed badge carrier when necessary to establish authority). In Virginia, for instance, police only have the power to make arrests when "in uniform, or displaying a badge of office."[7]

Badges are typically engraved with a unique identification number matched to the officer to whom it is issued. Some departments - most notably the New York City Police Department (NYPD) - traditionally pass individual badges through several generations of police so that current officers can establish a symbolic connection with the retired and deceased officers to whom their badge had previously been issued. In the case of the NYPD, officers who misplace their badge are docked five days of vacation time and many officers wear replica badges to avoid losing their issued badge (though the practice is officially discouraged).[8]

Federal law prohibits the sale or purchase of counterfeit police badges[9] and many states have laws regulating the wearing of metallic badges by persons other than law enforcement. Florida, for instance, prohibits unauthorized persons from wearing or displaying badges if their wear or display would be likely to deceive someone. New York and New Jersey, meanwhile, allow private security guards to wear badges provided they are in the shape of a square and not the more traditional shield or star shape used by police.

Badges are usually constructed out of metal with an enamel finish in either a gold and/or silver. As a general rule, the badges issued by county sheriff's offices take the form of a five, six, or seven-pointed star, while municipal police have shield-like designs. Following the death of a police officer, other officers will typically cover their badges with a black mourning band. Mourning bands can also be seen worn on May 15, "National Peace Officers Memorial Day."[10]

Patches

Most police uniforms feature shoulder sleeve insignia in the form of cloth patches embroidered with the agency's name, logo or a heraldic device. These patches are displayed either on both shoulders, or on just the left shoulder side of the uniform.

Horse mounted New York city police in 2005

Uniforms

Individual municipal and county law enforcement agencies in the United States are typically responsible for designing their own uniforms, often with minimal state regulation. As a result, there is no universal form or pattern for American police uniforms.

However, in general, most large police departments provide officers with two types of uniforms for wear, tactical (also called "Class B"), and traditional (or "Class A"). Tactical uniforms - similar in material and cut to the U.S. Army's former battle dress uniform - are generally worn while on patrol, or performing physically intense duties, while traditional-style uniforms are more often used for station assignments, high profile events, and ceremonial functions.[11] In addition to these two basic uniform types, a variety of specialized clothing may be deployed as necessary, including jumpsuits (sometimes called "Class C") and - in the case of police pipe bands - highland dress. Many police departments restrict the use of tactical uniforms to tactical units, such as SWAT teams, or for special assignments, such as riot control, in order to present a less militarized appearance in day-to-day operations.

Rhode Island State Police Uniforms (L-R) K-9 Utility, SWAT, Winter Patrol, Winter with Cold Weather Parka, Spring/Fall Patrol, Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Unit (CVEU aka. Truck Squad)Winter Utility, Ceremonial Dress, Summer Patrol, CEU Spring/Summer/Fall Utility, Motorcycle, Dress Uniform

Municipal police uniforms are typically colored in blue or black, while uniforms worn by sheriff's deputies are more often brown and khaki. Unlike British police, American law enforcement agencies do not usually include white-colored apparel, such as shirts, in their uniforms due to the fact white reflects in the dark and can make police officers more prominent targets for armed criminals during building searches or standoffs.[12] There are, however, many exceptions to this general rule; the Miami Police Department wears white uniform shirts, and senior officers in the New York City Police Department and Philadelphia Police Department have uniforms that also feature white shirts.

Headgear

Unlike police in some Commonwealth nations, U.S. police forces subsequently abandoned the custodian helmet by the early 20th century they had incorporated with their uniforms. Today, municipal police forces typically wear peaked hats or, in tactical uniforms, baseball caps. County sheriff's offices often issues their deputies with campaign hats or Stetsons for cover; the use of western-style headgear for law enforcement is a custom that may be unique to the United States and Canada. Some departments permit the usage of the hijab for female Muslim police officers.[13]

Unique elements

Several United States police forces are known for unique uniform items not commonly used by other departments.

Awards

Since 1977, the North American Association of Uniforms, Manufacturers and Distributors have sponsored an annual award for the "best dressed" police department in the United States. The awards are currently awarded in several classes, depending on a department's size. In 2013 the Florida Highway Patrol was recognized as the "best dressed" police force among departments with more than 2,000 personnel.[14]

Examples of United States police uniforms

Contemporary Uniforms
A U.S. Park Police officer in summer short-sleeve uniform 
Shown here on a U.S. Customs and Border Protection officer, the campaign hat is frequently used by sheriff's offices. 
California Highway Patrol SWAT team in tactical uniforms 
Berks County, Pennsylvania sheriff's deputies in dress uniform 
Historical Uniforms
A Josephine County, Oregon sheriff's deputy pictured in 1939 wearing civilian clothes. Particularly in rural areas, sheriff's offices were slow to adopt uniforms. 
A White House Police officer (now the Secret Service Uniformed Division) in 1938 
Seattle, Washington police in 1921 
A Salt Lake City, Utah police officer wearing custodian helmet in 1874 
Ritzville, Washington police officer in 1950 
Municipal police officer in an unknown U.S. city, circa 1924 

See also

References

  1. ↑ "The History of Policing in the United States, Part 1". eku.edu. Eastern Kentucky University. Retrieved 18 January 2014.
  2. ↑ Archbold, Carol (2012). Policing: A Text/Reader. New York: SAGE. ISBN 1412993695.
  3. ↑ "Important Dates in Law Enforcement History". nleomf.org. National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund. Retrieved 18 January 2014.
  4. ↑ LAPD's Finest (PDF). Los Angeles Police Department.
  5. ↑ http://www.ocsheriffmuseum.com/
  6. ↑ Johnson, R. (4 March 2005). "The psychological influence of the police uniform". policeone.com. Police One. Retrieved 18 January 2014.
  7. ↑ "Arrests without warrants in certain cases". Legislative Information System. Commonwealth of Virginia. Retrieved 19 January 2014.
  8. ↑ Buckley, Cara (3 March 2007). "More Than Symbol: Police Badge Saves Lives". New York Times. Retrieved 3 March 2013.
  9. ↑ Rivera, Ray (30 November 2009). "The Officer Is Real; The Badge May Be an Impostor". New York Times. Retrieved 18 January 2014.
  10. ↑ "Mourning Band Protocol". odmp.org. Officer Down Memorial Page. Retrieved 18 January 2014.
  11. ↑ Baldassari, Shana (16 August 2012). "Tactical vs. Traditional Uniforms". lawofficer.com. Law Officer. Retrieved 18 January 2014.
  12. ↑ Antonelli, Kris (3 April 1996). "Baltimore Co. police replacing white uniform shirts with blue Dark color for night to work as camouflage against criminals' aim". Baltimore Sun. Retrieved 18 January 2014.
  13. ↑ http://www.startribune.com/lori-saroya-minnesota-muslim-women-share-hijab-experiences/306856681/
  14. ↑ Kozlowski, Jonathan (8 May 2013). "The best-dressed officers of 2013". officer.com. Retrieved 18 January 2014.
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