NCJ Number
31134
Journal
Police Chief Volume: 43 Issue: 1 Dated: (JANUARY 1976) Pages: 28-29
Date Published
1976
Length
2 pages
Annotation
RESULTS OF A PILOT PROGRAM WHICH TESTED COMMUNITY REACTIONS AND POLICE ATTITUDES TOWARDS USE OF POLICE BLAZER STYLE UNIFORMS INSTEAD OF THE TRADITIONAL MILITARY STYLE UNIFORM.
Abstract
THE BLAZER PILOT PROGRAM SPANNED THE EIGHT-MONTH PERIOD FROM JANUARY 2 THROUGH SEPTEMBER 2, 1974, ALLOWING SIX MONTHS FOR ACTUALLY WEARING THE BLAZER AND TWO MORE MONTHS FOR EVALUATION AND ANALYSIS. A TOTAL OF 18 OFFICERS IN THE DEPARTMENT WERE OUTFITTED WITH THE BLAZER UNIFORM. TO ASSESS THE EFFECT OF THE BLAZER PROGRAM, THREE SURVEYS WERE CONDUCTED - ONE OF PALO ALTO RESIDENTS, ONE OF ALL SWORN PERSONNEL, AND ONE OF THE OFFICERS WEARING THE BLAZER. THE RESIDENT SURVEY SHOWED THAT OF THE RESPONDENTS, 55.6 PERCENT WANTED THE DEPARTMENT TO CONTINUE IN THE TRADITIONAL UNIFORM; ONLY 42.4 PERCENT PREFERRED THE BLAZER. A MAJOR REASON CITED BY THE CITIZENS FOR PREFERRING THE TRADITIONAL UNIFORM WAS THE EASE OF RECOGNITION. OVER 90 PERCENT OF THE SWORN PERSONNEL AND THE PILOT PROGRAM OFFICERS FELT THE BLAZER WAS INAPPROPRIATE FOR FIELD USE. AGAIN, THE MAJOR CONCERN WAS EASE OF IDENTIFICATION BY BOTH THE PUBLIC AND OTHER POLICE OFFICERS. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED)