LMPD :: Louisville Metro Police Department
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Fischer, Leet offer starkly different pictures of Louisville at debate

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RE: Fischer, Leet offer starkly different pictures of Louisville...

November 23rd, 2018 @ 9:50AM (5 years ago)

Being retired for 7 years now, I hadn't realized standards on such things as facial hair had relaxed quite so much.

It may seem that such things as a standard uniform or consistent grooming standards couldn't have an impact on the overall effectiveness of the department, but they really do.

I'm sure all the different uniform options are popular with the officers, and I get that...who wouldn't rather be more comfortable in a polo shirt and shorts when it's 100F outside, or wearing BDU pants with a warm hoodie in the winter?

But I think not having all the officers appear uniform takes away a little bit of the "power of presence" when an officer interacts with the public. (After all, simply showing up on a scene, in uniform, is part of the force continuum.)

Back in the day, when all patrol officers wore Class A uniforms, they may not have been ideal in all situations, but the public knew exactly who they were interacting with when an officer showed up, and they also responded (usually) with appropriate respect. (Although I can say keeping that white parade stripe looking good on our old LPD Class A's was a pain!)

It may only be one small part of the reason, but I believe that as the citizens take notice of the lack of that "powerful presence" that a professional uniform projects, along with officers that don't even appear (many times) to respect each other, there's going to be an inevitable loss of respect from the public.

I may get called old school for this sentiment, and that's OK...but I remember being proud to put on that Class A uniform and go to work. It just seems (from the "outside" perspective, at least) that pride has been lost on the department, and that's a sad thing.

I'm sure there are still many officers out there who take pride, as they should...so not saying this is across the board, just an observation.

Just my $.02