NCJ Number
46758
Date Published
1978
Length
25 pages
Annotation
THE CHARACTERISTICS OF THE POLICE UNIFORM WHICH ARE OF MAJOR CONCERN TO THE OFFICER ARE IDENTIFIED; THESE CONCERNS ARE CORRELATED WITH THE DUTIES OF THE OFFICER; AND AREAS FOR CLOTHING IMPROVEMENT ARE DEFINED.
Abstract
THE FUNCTIONS OF THE POLICE UNIFORM ARE TO BE DURABLE AND TO IDENTIFY THE WEARER AS A LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER; TO BE COMFORTABLE WITHOUT HINDERING MOBILITY; AND TO PROVIDE PROTECTION AGAINST THE ENVIRONMENT AND INJURY. A SURVEY WAS MADE OF 304 POLICE DEPARTMENTS ACROSS THE COUNTRY. UNIFORM MANUFACTURERS, OTHER CLOTHING EXPERTS, AND POLICE DEPARTMENT PERSONNEL WERE ALSO INTERVIEWED. THE SURVEY CONSISTED OF 20 QUESTIONS AND A REQUEST FOR SUGGESTIONS ON CLOTHING IMPROVEMENT. OUT OF THE 304 DEPARTMENTS WHICH RECEIVED THE SURVEY, ONLY 96 RESPONDED, INCLUDING 21 URBAN DEPARTMENTS AND 75 RURAL DEPARTMENTS. UNIFORM SPECIFICATIONS WERE ESTABLISHED IN 61 PERCENT OF THE DEPARTMENTS; REQUIREMENTS WERE BASED ON THEIR OWN UNIFORMS' PERFORMANCE AND TESTS OF THE VARIOUS CLOTHING TYPES WHICH WERE AVAILABLE. THE SURVEY SHOWED THAT WEAR WAS THE MAJOR REASON FOR THE PURCHASE OF NEW UNIFORMS. HALF OF THE DEPARTMENTS REPLACED THEIR UNIFORMS ANNUALLY AND THE OTHER HALF REPLACED THEM AS THEY WERE NEEDED. IN CHOOSING UNIFORMS, POLICE AGENCIES WERE MAINLY CONCERNED WITH OFFICER RECOGNITION, AND THEN PROTECTION AGAINST THE WEATHER. THERE WAS LESS INTEREST IN DESIGN AND PROTECTION AGAINST ATTACK. RURAL AGENCIES REPORTED THAT THEY MOST DESIRED IMPROVEMENT IN CLOTHING WEIGHT AND RESISTANCE TO TEAR AND PENETRATION. URBAN AGENCIES RECOMMENDED VENTILATION AS WELL AS TEAR AND PENETRATION RESISTANCE. SURVEY FINDINGS INDICATED THAT THE MOST FREQUENT CAUSES OF INJURIES TO POLICEMEN WERE PHYSICAL ATTACKS DURING ARRESTS, ENVIRONMENTAL CAUSES, AND AUTOMOBILE ACCIDENTS. CHARTS ON THE SURVEY RESULTS ARE PROVIDED, AND THE ACTUAL QUESTIONNAIRE IS APPENDED.