Show your Pride?

**TXPO710** · 03-02-09, 11:26 AM

I ran across a couple of articles that got me to thinking. One was all about hideing that your a cop. No t-shirt, hat, or other articles that would identify you as LEO. The other was about showing your pride and let the criminals fear us.
I see thousands of firefighter t-shirts out there and very few for LEO so that set me to wondering how others felt. Hide it or flaunt it?
Personaly, I wear a few things in an understated way. Got a belt buckle from the prison that I wear when I dress up. I keep a hat on the dash of my truck that I can stow away when the need arises and a T-shirt that I wear at certain events. How about the rest of you?

**Big Al** · 03-02-09, 11:41 AM

I don't wear anything LEO related at all that is visible to the public. Yearsssss ago I used to flaunt it, but not any more. Having a marked patrol car at my house has drawn unwanted attention on more than one occasion over the years.

I see firefighter license plates and ems license plates and at one time there was talk of some type of LEO license plate being available. I would not want one on my vehicle as it would to easily become a target for some scumbag to vandalize....

**Car 4** · 03-02-09, 11:57 AM

I am always very low key.....I want it to be a complete suprise when some jerk off screws up in front of me.

Car 4

**Five-0** · 03-02-09, 01:12 PM

Under the radar and out of mind. If the trap needs to be sprung it will a complete surprise and merciless. This will be especially true if I am between my family and a threat.

**irishmick** · 03-02-09, 01:15 PM

I voted "Only on 'special' occasions" because I'll often wear some sort of signifier if I'm headed to, say, the Chaplain's Dinner or something. Other than that it's on lock-down.

**Pudge** · 03-02-09, 01:24 PM

Originally Posted by Five-0

Under the radar and out of mind. If the trap needs to be sprung it will a complete surprise and merciless. This will be especially true if I am between my family and a threat.

+1

When I get those things as gifts from those who don't understand, I only wear them around the house. Nothing about my clothing says cop. As a matter of fact I'm very opposite when I'm off. Unless there is some special occasion, I rarely shave on my days off. My clothes tend to be comfortable jeans and a hoodie or tee shirt. Usually a hat of some sort (beanie or ball cap depending on weather) or the longer hair on top of my head is styled in a messy fashion to distract from the high and tight sides.

**Second Chance** · 03-02-09, 01:37 PM

I agree with most, never wear anything that would give my job title away. I am with Pudge I do not shave when I am off, unless I get called to court, then well I have better.....................

I am very low key and rarley attract any dirt bag attention, I guess being 6'2", 250 stops most dumb asses. I would also wear my hair alittle longer, but since I don't have any (shave) then I go for the baseball hat style.................lol

**Captain America** · 03-02-09, 02:01 PM

Originally Posted by Five-0

Under the radar and out of mind. If the trap needs to be sprung it will a complete surprise and merciless. This will be especially true if I am between my family and a threat.

+2 Very rarely have I enjoyed the element of surprise my sworn adversary has always enjoyed since I've spent most of my career in uniform. If I need to take action off duty, I don't want the scumbag to know what hit him from where.

**irishmick** · 03-02-09, 02:04 PM

Originally Posted by Captain America

+2 Very rarely have I enjoyed the element of surprise my sworn adversary has always enjoyed since I've spent most of my career in uniform. If I need to take action off duty, I don't want the scumbag to know what him from where.

Not only that, why make it easier for the scumbags to see you? Really, we spend all of our LEO lives and training trying to make ourselves NOT the target...why be stupid and do so in our personal lives?

**Twan007** · 03-02-09, 02:18 PM

"Special Occasions" - if I'm going to/at training - I'm sure if I ever make it to cop week - stuff like that

there is always a tin blue line wristband on my wrist tho - in one shape or another - that's the only identifying markers I have on my person

(my POV's only have the thin blue line sticker on the back window)

I agree with most - if it goes down - it's going down fast, merciless, and with one hell of a surprise to the bad guy

**chewy** · 03-02-09, 02:51 PM

I'm all for pride in being an LEO but the difference with us wearing cop wear and firefighters wearing hosemonkey wear is that the firefighters aren't likely to become a target to anyone. The bad guy out on the town may be completely pissed because he was arrested again for something then sees you standing there alone with your "I'm a cop go F*$k yoursef" T-shirt and suddenly he gets the idea that he'll take out his hatred of LE on you...

**Jenna** · 03-02-09, 04:46 PM

Originally Posted by chewy

The bad guy out on the town may be completely pissed because he was arrested again for something then sees you standing there alone with your "I'm a cop go F*$k yoursef" T-shirt and suddenly he gets the idea that he'll take out his hatred of LE on you...

I wonder if there actually is a T-shirt with that slogan!

**Wolven** · 03-02-09, 08:02 PM

I dont flaunt it. My biggest problem when I first became one was to have my non-cop friends keep their mouths shut about what I do. A few times of them screaming "she's a cop" and a few "come to the light" meetings later they stopped.

I will say though that although most of us profess to hide our "cop-ness" most long time criminals can usually spot us from a thousand miles away unless we make honest attempts to hide that which gives us away. Just food for thought.....a tshirt or a bumper sticker is usually NOT what gives us away.

**2 Blue 4 U** · 03-02-09, 08:43 PM

Originally Posted by Wolven

I dont flaunt it. My biggest problem when I first became one was to have my non-cop friends keep their mouths shut about what I do. A few times of them screaming "she's a cop" and a few "come to the light" meetings later they stopped.

I will say though that although most of us profess to hide our "cop-ness" most long time criminals can usually spot us from a thousand miles away unless we make honest attempts to hide that which gives us away. Just food for thought.....a tshirt or a bumper sticker is usually NOT what gives us away.

I agree, I hate when someone announces your profession, one time I was waiting online in the bank, saw someone I had not seen in a while and they yelled from their place on line "Are you still a cop"? The first thing that came to mind is if there is anyone in here looking to stick the place up I am the first person they would hit, of course you immediately canvass the area to see who else in banking. When I first moved into my house, I did not even tell my neighbors what I did. After a while they found out, I suppose having a friend from mounted stop by every so often and tie the horse up in my back year did not help matters (damn horse chewed on my deck too) LOL!!

You are right about the "cop-ness", it is probably the way we talk, walk and look at people and our surroundings.

**Five-0** · 03-02-09, 08:58 PM

Spoken by someone that has been sized up a couple of times 2 Blue.

**lewisipso** · 03-02-09, 09:24 PM

Only to things like special events. I wore a LEO T-shirt to a motorcycle competition not to long ago. Outside of cop oriented occassions I don't wear LEO clothing. I do however carry my 1911, a straight blade, a lock blade, a .25, spare ammunition for both and a little bit of attitude. Most folks in my city know me and know I carry anyway but I don't flaunt it. I've been accosted a few times off duty without flaunting my job but it was because they knew me anyway.

**jmur5074** · 03-02-09, 09:32 PM

Typically don't flaunt it, unless I'm doing something "cop related"

I have a bunch of LEO tshirts, but wear them under button up shirts of hoodies.

**Billy Mack** · 03-02-09, 09:42 PM

I don't really hide it, but I don't advertise either.

It's hard to really hide. I've met enough people on the job that they generally recognize me when I'm off duty too. I treat people pretty well, and I tend to give the impression of being a bit crazy. Taking off weapons at the jail can be like a scene out of Mad Max.

I have a marked car in front of my house. I've had a couple people come to the door to ask questions in 12 years, but it's not that big a hassle.

I don't care if people talk about me being a cop when we're out and about.

**Cidp24** · 03-02-09, 10:05 PM

For years, depending on where I went, I was an offshore oil well worker if anyone asked. I would say I was a tool pusher and I would make up a company name. You would have to look hard to find anything on me that said "cop".

I also hate it when someone I am with volunteers my profession. I usually ask them if they want me hollering "Hey, he's a (insert car salesman, car wash manager, chef, etc here). I, too have had some words with such people.

**Hannibal** · 03-02-09, 10:36 PM

I voted for "Only on special occasions," i.e. Police Week in DC, training or networking with other LEOs, and in promoting my LE related business.

Other than that, I try to be low key even though I know I stand out. I do my best to blend in.

I really have come to hate it when someone announces to others about where I work. My friends and family know better, but there often seems be 'that guy' around.