Do clothes matter?

[Stinky The Clown]

No, this isn't about a naturist resort.

I'm talking about police uniforms.

Just to get some housekeeping out of the way. I am not a rabid pro-cop type, but neither am I a person who won't give them the benefit of the doubt. I guess I'm generally supportive of them.

I also think we've managed to allow too many kooks into their ranks. To be sure, lots of professions have members they'd rather not have. But it seems cops have more than the average.

With that, I ask these question in good faith:

Do police uniforms influence those wearing them? Do police uniforms influence those observing them?

As some police wear what can only be described as paramilitary uniforms - you know, all black, pants tucked into high top boots, gloves, short hair and sunglasses - are citizens more intimidated? Do the cops feel more authoritarian?

What about plain clothes cops? What would happen if cops wore gray slacks and blue blazers? Or tan slacks and gold shirts with an alligator-sized cop logo on the breast?

This post was not inspired by any current event. It was simply a thought that occurred to me.

[aquart]

1. When you need a cop, you want to be able to spot a cop.

Which holds true if you don't want a cop, too.

[Manifestor_of_Light]

2. Pete Townshend wrote a song about that.

"Uniforms" on his solo album "All the best Cowboys have chinese eyes". 1983 or so.

[RKP5637]

3. Uniforms can serve for intimidation IMO and IMO do affect those wearing them. Think of

a cop in a Barney outfit ... or Ronald McDonald.


:rofl:

[hlthe2b]

4. I don't think the uniform explains the abuse by some cops...

I think it is a personality issue that many departments have been ineffective in weeding out. That said, it isn't the uniform or else there would not be such incidents among plain clothes officers, which I do not believe o be the case. The tools of policing though do reinforce those with abusive, control-driven and power-craving personalities. Handing such a person a gun, a taser, a baton, handcuffs and other tools of the 'trade' certainly can't be helpful in combating such tendencies. :shrug:

[RKP5637]

6. Yep! +1, n/t

[Countdown_3_2_1]

5. Everything about a cop is to influence US...

The uniform, the car, the gun in the holster...its supposed to be intimidating.
That intimidating design has probably saved a lot of policemen's lives over the years.

But its also to make guys like me go, "Yes sir/ Here's my license sir."

Its part of a cops job to be the intimidating face of the law.

[truedelphi]

7. John Wayne Gacey liked to wear clown outfits when around

The police, and police uniforms when out on the road trolling for young teenage boys.

There's something to consider.

[KT2000]

8. clothes matter very much

many doctors have given up the white coat because the white coat was generating negative feelings in patients, such as fear; a uniform sets the person apart and in the case of police, communicates authority.

Designed costumes for plays for a time and the job was to assist in telling the story using clothing as communication.

Imagine the police wearing pink uniforms.

[Curmudgeoness]

9. Thanks a lot. I now have this image in my mind

and I cannot get rid of it. Police wearing pink uniforms. :rofl:

Your point is well taken.

[immoderate]

10. Sadly, it's true. And I do like my doctors in white coats.

It's part of the ceremonial and ritual nature of humans, and a method of communication.

I deliver training in business and they are mostly casual but I wear a tie. As one of my long-time paper pusher friends put it, "Because YOU are the presenter. Like a judge wears a robe so you know (and are constantly reminded) that he's the judge."

I don't prefer ties, but probably get better service when I wear one.

Cops need to be in control of whatever situation they confront. Like them or not, it's their lives. I'm glad they can now wear comfortable shoes.

--imm

[MichiganVote]

11. Oddly enough they are said to make the man.

[jberryhill]

12. Run an experiment with nude cops

[cali]

13. yes, yes and I don't know. and it's rather a brilliant question

[pitohui]

14. of course clothes matter

there are laws against impersonating a police officer, if i got dressed up today as a police officer and went out in public in a uniform that could be mistaken for genuine, it would be a big fucking deal
and i could be charged w. a crime if i didn't take off the costume in question

clothes tell people who you are, what you do, what powers you hold, and the police are very jealous of their powers

it doesn't matter what the uniform is, NOPD famously changed from the dark blue shirts to the light blue (or was it the other way round, a blue shirt is a blue shirt to me) but their attitude hasn't changed, we just sent some more new orleans cops down the river for cold blooded murder...

it isn't WHAT the uniform looks like, it's the fact that it's THEIR uniform