Cops, over dressed?

[EconGuy]

Am I the only one that thinks that police department attire like this has become pretty self aggrandizing at this point?

Now, before anyone accuses me of being anti-police, I assure you I am not. I took criminal justice in school with the intention of being a police officer. I also have several members of my family whom I am close to who are police today. Some (not all) agree that too much of the military culture has seeped into police departments, which aesthetically would be ok, I guess, but there are other facets of peoples time in the military that find their way in police departments.

That said, I think it possible to have a uniform that looks sharp and conveys your position without trying to look like a 4 star general. The ribbons are a nice touch as well.

There's also the "tacticool" look that police are embracing.

And where there is nothing wrong with carrying your tools in a way that is comfortable, I think the overall look is aggressive and I think that's the point.

I dunno, maybe I'm wrong?

 

[dybmh]

The more detailed and specialized ( fancy ) the outfit, the more difficult it is to impersonate.

Is it to look aggressive? I don't know, maybe. There's certainly a military culture in the police. At least in my locality. I worked for county government for about 10 years, and there was a revolving cast of law enforcement who did double duty as reservists. In that culture, it makes sense to feel safe and secure when outfitted in military style clothing and feeling prepared for anything. So, given the choice, that's what they will wear.

OTOH we had police out to my office not too long ago, and they definitley were not military in their behavior. Just a pair of them responding to a low priority non-dangerous request for assistance.

 

[Subduction Zone]

Unless the "four star general" is at least the head of the state patrol, and even then, it is excessive. That along with all of the "operations" medals that he has looks like overkill.

As to the second officer that is a functional look. You have his bodycam which makes sure that both he and the people he interacts with are honest. His radio that keeps him in touch with the department. Handcuffs in case he has to arrest anyone and both lethal and less than lethal armaments. Police in the US are far too often dealing with armed people so they need the lethal option. I like that he has has more than one nonlethal tools on his belt. I would like them to be very easily accessible so that he does not feel the need to draw his gun first.

 

[ChristineM]

You need to see the police in Rome.

Polizia dressed by Armani.

Carabinieri

 

[anna.]

You need to see the police in Rome.

View attachment 81847
Polizia dressed by Armani.


View attachment 81848
Carabinieri

You forgot the Swiss Guard.

 

[ChristineM]

You forgot the Swiss Guard.

Yes, they are a private force so I didn't even think of them. Pretty though, aren't they;-)

 

[anna.]

Yes, they are a private force so I didn't even think of them. Pretty though, aren't they;-)

I thought they were kinda cute. I happened to be in Rome this summer so I have my own photos, similar to the stock photo I posted.

 

[ChristineM]

I thought they were kinda cute. I happened to be in Rome this summer, so I have my own photos, similar to the stock photo I posted.

It's a nice city if you don't drive...

 

[anna.]

It's a nice city if you don't drive...

Didn't drive, just walked or took an uber. My brother used to live above a Roman intersection and he loved to watch the arguments, including the reciprocated jumping up and down on the car hoods.

 

[ChristineM]

Didn't drive, just walked or took an uber. My brother used to live above a Roman intersection and he loved to watch the arguments, including the reciprocated jumping up and down on the car hoods.

It's wonderful to watch the cops standing on their little plinth in the middle of a junction directing the terrific. No matter what chaos is happening around them, they are always cool and calm.

But i think Naples has Rome beat for traffic chaos, I've never seen a traffic cop there. The mayor of Naples once famously said about traffic lights "green is for go, red is for go with caution, and amber looks pretty"

 

[anna.]

It's wonderful to watch the cops standing on their little plinth in the middle of a junction directing the terrific. No matter what chaos is happening around them, they are always cool and calm.

But i think Naples has Rome beat for traffic chaos, I've never seen a traffic cop there. The mayor of Naples once famously said about traffic lights "green is for go, red is for go with caution, and amber looks pretty"

I love that!

Haven't been to Naples, just Rome, Florence, and Siena. Beautiful country.

 

[ChristineM]

I love that!

Haven't been to Naples, just Rome, Florence, and Siena. Beautiful country.

I've spent a lot of time in Italy. Been to all of your destinations plus a few more, i love it. We thought about moving there but France won out.

 

[anna.]

I've spent a lot of time in Italy. Been to all of your destinations plus a few more, i love it. We thought about moving there but France won out.

I'd love to get back there again, I was struck by how much Tuscany looks like SoCal. I know we have a Mediterranean climate here, but I didn't realize just how similar the countryside would feel. And then we'd pass a random castle and I'd be jolted back to reality. We have no castles.

 

[anna.]

I've spent a lot of time in Italy. Been to all of your destinations plus a few more, i love it. We thought about moving there but France won out.

Do you miss the UK?

 

[ChristineM]

Do you miss the UK?

The only thing i miss is bacon, it's available but not easy to get. And I've got used to not having it for Sunday breakfast.

 

[Esteban X]

The only thing i miss is bacon, it's available but not easy to get. And I've got used to not having it for Sunday breakfast.

"Whatever happened to that crispy bacon we had before the war?"

One no-prize if you can identify the reference.