Police Uniforms
Police uniforms convey the power and authority of the person wearing it. Clothing, including police uniforms, has a powerful impact on those who view it. Police uniforms give a powerful clue as to the officer's authority, capabilities, and status. When a law enforcement professional wears police uniforms, civilians tend to be more cooperative with his or her requests. People also tend to curb their illegal or criminal behaviors when police uniforms are a visible presence in the community.
Police uniforms are as old as the field of law enforcement itself. In 1829 the first modern police force, the London Metropolitan Police, created the first series of police uniforms. These early police officers or "Bobbies" were issued dark blue, military-style police uniforms. The color blue was chosen to distinguish the police from the British army who wore red and white uniforms at the time. In the city of New York in 1845, the first official police force in the United States was established. Based on the London police, the New York City Police Department adopted the dark blue uniform in 1853, other cities, such as Philadelphia, Boston, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Buffalo, and Detroit, also adopted similar police uniforms that include the dark blue military-like attire that the British introduced earlier.
The Gakuran is based on a military-style uniform. Learn more about Japanese School Uniforms.
Police uniforms influence the safety level of the officer who wears it. Dark colored uniforms promote negative reactions from civilians. These negative reactions encourage some civilians to consider violence when confronted by the police because the civilian perceives the police as aggressive. The condition of police uniforms also has an impact on the officer's safety. Prison inmates who have murdered police officers suggest that they often visually "size-up" the officer before deciding to confront them. If the officer looked or acted weak or unprofessional, then the assailant felt that he was capable of fighting the officer and eluding apprehension. Dirty or wrinkled police uniforms, may inform the suspect that the officer has an apathetic or flippant attitude about his occupation. Therefore, it is essential that police uniforms are always clean, pressed, and provide a strong indicator as to the officer's authority.