White uniforms?

[SecTrainer]

But when you are working somewhere that is a little more rugged and requires more dexterity like a bike patrol, high-crime (proactive security) housing complex, disaster area, etc... you are probably better off with the baseball hat.

Of course, if you're working bike patrol, you'd better be wearing a bike helmet (or better), and if you're working a disaster area I'd be thinking in terms of a hard hat.

I do kind of agree with you that the military cap wouldn't look right with a standard security/police style uniform - better with BDU's.

So...I think we do agree that every hat has its place, but I just don't think a baseball cap is appropriate for what you might call "normal/typical duty situations" when worn with standard police/security uniforms. It's just as much out of place to me as the military patrol cap. A baseball cap would be more appropriate for very casual uniforms such as polo shirts with cargo pants, etc., however.

...but to put a guy in a nice, crisp, professional uniform and then top him off with a baseball cap just destroys the whole look you're trying to achieve, to my way of thinking. If that's what they're trying to do, they should just go all the way and put the officer in a beanie with a propeller, or maybe a dunce cap. Nope...to me, it's like making a banana split and then topping it off with an olive instead of a cherry - with the exception of those special situations you mention.

I've noticed, incidentally, that several of our local PDs are getting real sloppy in their appearance anyway. Really cheap-looking uniforms that don't fit properly, "tactical" boots all scuffed up, etc. They even seem to be dropping some of the "appearance" items like collar pins...basically just dark navy BDUs that they look like they've been sleeping in. What's that all about, anyway?

[N. A. Corbier]

White shirts can be fine, but only if the fabric is treated with anti-stain material to prevent every little drop of dust from forming a giant black smear on the shirt. They also need to be regularly dry cleaned (even if with that Dryel thing), and then whitened routinely (bleach, UV stabilizer, whatever goes with that fabric...)

White shirts are an investment that the individual wearing them must undertake, or they look like ass.

[Lawson]

Before I became a CPO and on Bike Patrol at Wackenhut I used to wear the white shirt. It didn't bother me so much, the only thing I didnt like about it was that EVERYTHING showed, from an accidental drop of ketchup to a mark if you brushed up against something dusty/dirty. Not exactly a good color choice for Warehouse Security IMO, but as most things, it can have its place. I would not mind wearing white if I was in a mall or an office situation.

[BadBoynMD]

What is it with mall security and white uniforms? Its this way in most malls I have been to (including my own) and they look awful. I only have 3 shirts (paid for them out of my own pocket since most of ours look grey or awful). After 1 or 2 days, they look like I came out of a factory or something. How do they expect us to look professional? Is there anything I can do?

When, I was a police explorer we had white shirts. The pants were navy blue, with a french blue stripe like the officers. I, hated the white shirts with a passion.

In my area Baltimore/Washington Metro area just about every color combination is used by both police and security. White shirts are normally worn by LT's and above.

[Lawson]

As I said, every hat has its place. When I was working a detail as a CPO where I was standing out in front of a door checking IDs for people coming in and out, I wore my CPO hat. It was a good piece of headgear for that detail. When I was on Hurricane duty in LA I wore a baseball hat because we were at times crawling around in blown over businesses, through rough terrain, and other unpleasant areas, the CPO hat would not have been a wise choice there even if it was more "professional". It is my belief that baseball hats look better than the military PC covers. Military BDU style hats with a police style uniform look silly. I can understand if you wear one on a BDU style uniform though.

Another for instance... If you are working an area like a populated mall, the campaign hat, CPO hat, eight point, garrison cap, whatever may be the better choice because it simply fits the area. But when you are working somewhere that is a little more rugged and requires more dexterity like a bike patrol, high-crime (proactive security) housing complex, disaster area, etc... you are probably better off with the baseball hat.

[bigdog]

A few years ago, this and the "Sheriff" hat were the only authorized covers at Bigdog21's employer. You took an OD USMC patrol cover, dyed it black, and had a hat. The dying was both to match the uniform and remove the USMC logo.

Now they wear baseball caps. Thankfully, I was prohibited from wearing one, and could only wear a smokey bear by order of the owner.

Certain officers are still issued the USMC cover and the seriffs hats.

[SecTrainer]

A few years ago, this and the "Sheriff" hat were the only authorized covers at Bigdog21's employer. You took an OD USMC patrol cover, dyed it black, and had a hat. The dying was both to match the uniform and remove the USMC logo.

Now they wear baseball caps. Thankfully, I was prohibited from wearing one, and could only wear a smokey bear by order of the owner.

The campaign hat is obviously expensive and it's difficult to maintain it's shape. The edges can curl up just sitting in a hot car unless you have a special "carrier" for them. I also think it looks just a bit pretentious. The first city PD I worked for wore them and we ended up using them as frisbees.

When we dropped the campaign hats, we went to one that I have always preferred ever since. I don't know what it's called exactly, but it's the style that is still commonly worn by airline pilots, is the best way I can describe it. It doesn't have any "points" like the former NYPD hats and it DOESN"T LOOK LIKE AN ICE CREAM VENDOR'S HAT EITHER, MR. SMARTY-PANTS BHRLAWSON (well....maybe in white it would suggest ice cream). Very sharp in navy, black and tan, IMHO, and hey - there'd be room on the bill for my scrambled eggs! And a gold band. Oh, yeah, and a gold badge that says "GODALMIGHTY". What else could you want?

I and my fellow cops never had any trouble wearing this sort of hat into any environment, with only the occasional need for replacement. But, if the situation is such that you're going to ruin this hat, you probably should be wearing a helmet, because whether the hat costs $16 or $46, it's your PUMPKIN that's going to be expensive to fix, not the hat.

And, incidentally, it wasn't wearing the hat that usually broke it anyway - it was dumbos sitting on their hats that broke most of them. Once you explained the difference between their heads and their arses to these heffalumps ("This is your arse and this is your head...this is where the hat goes...see how much better it fits your head than your arse? Very good...now you've got it!"), you didn't usually wind up replacing many hats.

Sheriff's hat as worn by the Wackenhut "special" officers would be my second choice - straw for summer.

Speaking of straw. My third choice, particularly for summer wear, would be the hat with the beer cup holders on either side and straws leading directly to the oral orifice for instant, effortless refreshment. (If you have anything to say to me, though, try to do it early in my shift when still I'm not very fresh...yet. I might forget later.)

[N. A. Corbier]

Well, that's what makes for horseraces...different opinions!

I think I wouldn't mind the military/Marine Corps cap (also called a patrol cap) style, which would offer the same practicality you mention without projecting such a dorky appearance. They're made now in lots of different colors other than camo, etc., also, and you can buy them for $10-15 retail.

A few years ago, this and the "Sheriff" hat were the only authorized covers at Bigdog21's employer. You took an OD USMC patrol cover, dyed it black, and had a hat. The dying was both to match the uniform and remove the USMC logo.

Now they wear baseball caps. Thankfully, I was prohibited from wearing one, and could only wear a smokey bear by order of the owner.

[SecTrainer]

I solomnley disagree with the baseball hat issue. I think they are nice because they are practical. Campaign hats, eight-points, ice-cream man hats, all fine and dandy in certain settings, but when you are crawling and sneaking around at night and potentially have to chase/fight people or head out into rugged terrain, it's nice to have a firm hat that will hold to your head, is more durable and not "crushable", and if it happens to become destroyed you are out 16 bucks, not 70.

Though I will say, every hat has their place. As do baseball hats.

Well, that's what makes for horseraces...different opinions!

I think I wouldn't mind the military/Marine Corps cap (also called a patrol cap) style, which would offer the same practicality you mention without projecting such a dorky appearance. They're made now in lots of different colors other than camo, etc., also, and you can buy them for $10-15 retail.

[Lawson]

I solomnley disagree with the baseball hat issue. I think they are nice because they are practical. Campaign hats, eight-points, ice-cream man hats, all fine and dandy in certain settings, but when you are crawling and sneaking around at night and potentially have to chase/fight people or head out into rugged terrain, it's nice to have a firm hat that will hold to your head, is more durable and not "crushable", and if it happens to become destroyed you are out 16 bucks, not 70.

Though I will say, every hat has their place. As do baseball hats.

[Mr. Security]

I have been on vacation the past week, and went to the Danbury Fair Mall in CT; One thing I noticed since my last visit was that they are allowed to wear shields other than square shaped? They had the LAPD 2 tone silver/gold oversize style, white shirts, and a nondescript, no lettered LAPD shaped dark blue shoulder patch with what looked like the scales of justice on them...

I know this goes back to the thread about States regulating the badge, but I just drove 4+ hours and didn't feel like looking for it; Does CT only dictate badge shape for companies or in house security too?

Danbury Fair Mall is in-house and the badge is not regulated as in contract security. That day is coming though. The first step has already been taken. In-house will have to be licensed this fall.

[acrand]

Both are covered, they're wearing illegal badges. Now, its up to the state to catch them.

Do you know where I can find this on paper? West Farms Mall in Farmington CT. also wore the shield until they went contract. I thought it was just for contract companies.

Thanks.

[acrand]

A uniform is more than a shirt...to avoid looking like your local police, the pants could be a different color than the ones worn by the police and that might help.

There are arguments to be made on both sides of the question of whether security uniforms should closely mimic those of the police, but aside from the local legalities which may prohibit such, I think it's usually best to adopt a truly sharp uniform that is not "police-like" in terms of colors. Among the biggest reasons for this is that it *instantly* improves police/security relations (this just seems to be a big hair up some cops' butts for some reason - I never cared, personally, when I was a cop), and a second big reason is that it lets both police and citizens easily identify you and your role when a "situation" involving the cops is going down on or near the property you protect.

This can prove challenging in areas where there are lots of departments all wearing different garb, but there are enough very attractive combinations of shirt/pants that it can usually be accomplished. Navy shirt with one of the lighter shades of tan trousers (with or without a thin navy stripe), for instance, is not a combination that is commonly used by the police and can be very sharp looking by picking just the right shades AND top-drawer materials - which will repay you by improved wear and lower maintenance costs. I do know of a sheriff's department that wears this navy/tan combo, but there aren't many.

Oh, and here's my rant for the day: BASEBALL CAPS LOOK TOTALLY DORKY AND UNPROFESSIONAL, whether on the police OR on security officers. I loathe baseball caps. How in the hell did that ever get started? Trust me on this...they are NOT "cool" on cops or security officers and make you look like anything but a professional. Yeah, I know they're cheap...and they look like it, too. We have to remember that our officers are our BILLBOARDS and they "advertise" us to every solitary person who sees them merely by their appearance. This is absolutely critical, but lots of agency owners seem clueless and "cheap" is all they can think about.

...and "SWAT" style uniforms with bloused BDUs, IMHO, are only appropriate in certain high-security venues. Otherwise, they convey a very negative image to the public.

Well put. I agree with the whole thing.

[N. A. Corbier]

Both are covered, they're wearing illegal badges. Now, its up to the state to catch them.

[flashlightcop509]

I have been on vacation the past week, and went to the Danbury Fair Mall in CT; One thing I noticed since my last visit was that they are allowed to wear shields other than square shaped? They had the LAPD 2 tone silver/gold oversize style, white shirts, and a nondescript, no lettered LAPD shaped dark blue shoulder patch with what looked like the scales of justice on them...

I know this goes back to the thread about States regulating the badge, but I just drove 4+ hours and didn't feel like looking for it; Does CT only dictate badge shape for companies or in house security too?