What is your favorite patrol uniform- dress or casual?

**Terminator** · 03-14-08, 06:05 AM

What is your favorite patrol uniform- dress (Class A or Class B) or casual (BDU's)?

**k-9max** · 03-14-08, 11:54 AM

TDU's here!!! We are wearing all 5.11 tactical for the K9units.

**jmur5074** · 03-14-08, 12:20 PM

Well I said casual even though we don't have a "casual" uniform.

Shit, even on bike patrol we wear our typical uniform shirt, with BDU shorts. God forbid we get a polo.

I would like to switch to jumpsuits, that'd be tight.

**Xiphos** · 03-14-08, 12:24 PM

We could stand to loosen up a bit here. This is a dirty job and the poly gets messed up way to fast and easy. With supervision you can make sure guys don't look like slobs in any uniform.

**ARJJ** · 03-17-08, 04:26 PM

We were typical class A's (poly dress uniforms) on day shift, and black BDUs with the tuck in 2-pocket shirt on nights. I voted for the dress uniform, simply because our shirts have gussets that allow greater movement, the pants don't have to be bloused, and it's cooler. Only downside is the shining of insignia.

OTOH, if we could wear polos instead of the BDU shirt, the BDUs might be better.

**Jks9199** · 03-17-08, 04:56 PM

I think patrol uniforms should reflect patrol duties. Bike units, commercial vehicle inspectors, motor officers, etc. all have specialized uniforms, and are often considered part of patrol. An ideal routine patrol uniform would probably combine something like the old military fatigues; it'd be durable, hold a crease, and not be destroyed if you have to go through the woods. The current trend toward cargo pockets is nice -- but not essential. For a lot of reasons, I like the recognition of the more traditional class A style uniform. But officers should be able to switch to a more subdued approach at night, with less shiny crap to hang up on stuff and draw light.

I don't like, for routine patrol, the polo shirt look. I believe there have actually been studies showing that more casual or less military looking uniforms are associated with more assaults on officers. So leave the polo shirts to special units, like bike teams and vehicle inspectors where it fits with the duties and is more expected, or SROs and others that don't have a different sort of public interaction.

**mavriktu** · 03-17-08, 05:41 PM

I voted class As,we wear the 511 BDUs,and they look like crap,I spend as much time ironing(gotta have a crease) as I would shining brass.I also feel Class As are more authorative.With our blue shirts(511 Polo),and Khaki pants,we look just like the Catholic kids down the street from the station.Oh,Yeah,that'll strike fear in their hearts

511s used to even be wrinkled in the ads,but with todays Galls catalogue,it appears someone has been busy with an airbrush

**Cidp24** · 03-17-08, 05:46 PM

I'm torn on this one. Our department allows BDU pants with a regular class A poly shirt but I rarely wear them. I do believe that something else would be more comfortable, and even though I have spent a lot of time "shaving" my pants and sometimes even my shirt after going through the woods, I believe the regular class A looks better and gets more respect.

**Xiphos** · 03-17-08, 05:56 PM

Originally Posted by mavriktu

I voted class As,we wear the 511 BDUs,and they look like crap,I spend as much time ironing(gotta have a crease) as I would shining brass.I also feel Class As are more authorative.With our blue shirts(511 Polo),and Khaki pants,we look just like the Catholic kids down the street from the station.Oh,Yeah,that'll strike fear in their hearts

511s used to even be wrinkled in the ads,but with todays Galls catalogue,it appears someone has been busy with an airbrush

Our K9 unit went to 511's and they look like crap. Very wrinkled. And they fade FAST!

One of the guys got a test uniform that is a heavier fabric. It holds the crease and looks great and it's far more durable and functional than Class A's. Good BDU's can look great. 511's are NOT good BDUs.

**Motorwaycop** · 03-17-08, 06:00 PM

Don't even start with the hat!

**Cidp24** · 03-17-08, 06:06 PM

Is that thing a left over from the days y'all had to water horses or something?

**Motorwaycop** · 03-17-08, 06:07 PM

Listen mate where I water me horse is my business

**smokey703** · 03-17-08, 06:43 PM

We don't have a choice to which uniform we wear. Class A for day shift and night shift. Khaki 5.11 pants and green polo shirt for extra duty.

**MacLean** · 03-17-08, 06:51 PM

Bratwear or 5.11 pants and polo.

**Lazy Fed** · 03-17-08, 06:53 PM

BDU'S!!!! gives the JBT look anywho

Also much more durable when I am climbing in, out and around my office chair

(they have extra padding in the ass

)

**MacLean** · 03-17-08, 06:54 PM

Originally Posted by Lazy Fed

BDU'S!!!! gives the JBT look anywho

Also much more durable when I am climbing in, out and around my office chair

(they have extra padding in the ass

)

And here I thought that was just a diaper so you didn't have to get up to use the john.

**gopherpuckfan** · 03-24-08, 09:46 AM

Our department just switched to the 5.11 Class A shirts and cargo pants. They didn't do a test phase, which I think was a huge mistake

The 5.11's, like has been mentioned already, wrinkle easlily and look like ass by the end of a shift. I wasn't able to wear two pairs of thermal long underwear with the pants when it was -15 degrees a month ago. No problems with the Elbeco pants in the same size.

We have a shirt that has embroidery on it, in place of collar brass and name tags. It's nice because we can wear it every day, not just when we're working the extra detail it was designed for (carrying the MP5 around the terminal). I hate dealing with collar brass and name tags

**gopherpuckfan** · 03-24-08, 09:48 AM

Originally Posted by maclean

And here I thought that was just a diaper so you didn't have to get up to use the john.

LOL

**bayern** · 03-24-08, 10:00 AM

Originally Posted by Jks9199

I think patrol uniforms should reflect patrol duties. Bike units, commercial vehicle inspectors, motor officers, etc. all have specialized uniforms, and are often considered part of patrol. An ideal routine patrol uniform would probably combine something like the old military fatigues; it'd be durable, hold a crease, and not be destroyed if you have to go through the woods. The current trend toward cargo pockets is nice -- but not essential. For a lot of reasons, I like the recognition of the more traditional class A style uniform. But officers should be able to switch to a more subdued approach at night, with less shiny crap to hang up on stuff and draw light.

I don't like, for routine patrol, the polo shirt look. I believe there have actually been studies showing that more casual or less military looking uniforms are associated with more assaults on officers. So leave the polo shirts to special units, like bike teams and vehicle inspectors where it fits with the duties and is more expected, or SROs and others that don't have a different sort of public interaction.

I have to agree. A sharp cop really impresses the public; sloppy one doesn't, and his actions and paperwork reflect this. Just think, howdo yu act in civies - Sharp looking coat and tie, you act different then if in raggedy jeans and sloppy t-shirt.

**Jks9199** · 03-24-08, 11:02 AM

Originally Posted by bayern

I have to agree. A sharp cop really impresses the public; sloppy one doesn't, and his actions and paperwork reflect this. Just think, howdo yu act in civies - Sharp looking coat and tie, you act different then if in raggedy jeans and sloppy t-shirt.

Yep... Think about that first day you put on your uniform at the end of the academy. Just about everyone straightens up, stands a bit taller, sucks in their gut and walks like their 10 feet tall and bulletproof. You can tell the rook walking out of the station from a hundred yards away. They're the guy "acting like a cop."

A few months or years down the road, and you can tell they're a cop whether or not they're in uniform -- but lots of them don't have that crispness and they don't get that quick respect from the average citizen. (I know, they don't want it, either!)