The 2005 NAUMD Best Dressed Law Enforcement Award Winners

By Donna J. Pierson,
Director of Marketing & Communications, NAUMD

For 28 years, the NAUMD has had the honor of viewing some of the best-dressed law enforcement officers in this country. Over the years, the law enforcement officers uniform has come to represent many things for the officer and the public who depend on their community police force. For the officers who put on a uniform every day, they are the first recognized safe person for most children. The uniform is also the officers first line of defense against those who challenge authority and break the law. It is a unique combination of duties for any one article of clothing. The best law enforcement officers uniform projects an image of authority and constant professionalism that commands respect. As a result, even as uniform designs change due to function, fabrics and job factors, many would say a uniform is timeless, especially those who depend on it most the everyday officer.

Each year the NAUMD sponsors the Best-Dressed Law Enforcement Award that honors and publicly acknowledges police departments across America. This competition supports the professionalism of the appearance of law enforcement officers by emphasizing the importance of the officers uniform. All U.S. law enforcement departments are eligible to participate in the NAUMD Best-Dressed Law Enforcement competition. This year a wide variety of states and departments were represented.

The judges review each departments professional appearance and uniform diversity, and they pay attention to detail and written standards. Written standards provide every officer instruction for a uniform look to be presented. Since many officers have specific assignments and patrol details, there are many factors to consider when deciding to purchase uniforms for a department. The judges carefully consider how the uniform fits the job function. They review details of the overall uniform appearance, neatness, proper fit and the publics immediate recognition of the uniform as that of a law enforcement officer.

NAUMD is proud to present the 2005 Best-Dressed Law Enforcement winners!

NAUMD would like to thank the judges this year as they took time from their schedules to support this competition, now in its 28th year. This year the three judges were:

Michael T. Filippello, Chief of Police, Parsippany, N.J., Police Department. Filippello scrutinizes the details, looking closely at the line of the shirt and belt and pant lengths, among other things. Filippello says, When I look at the departments, I ask myself, would this officer pass daily inspectionnot only the departments, but the one the general public will give this officer.

Pete Kingwill, of Law and Order magazine. Pete has worked with the law enforcement industry for over 20 years.

Patrick De Mare, retired manager, New York Custom and Uniform Tailors Division of Amalgamated Clothing and Textile Workers Union. De Mares training has him looking at the fit and design of the uniforms. De Mare says, It has been very interesting to see the growth and changes in the mainstream uniform, using street-gear that is more appropriate to the needs of the officers daily tasks. The NAUMD was deeply saddened by the news that De Mare passed away while this article was being sent to press. De Mare served as a judge for more than 20 years and enjoyed the whole judging process, and he shared his expertise of uniform clothing with the NAUMD staff and various departments.

The handsome rural setting of Franconia Township makes one realize that large or small all communities depend on their law enforcement departments to make theirs the ideal community in which to live. Franconia measurers 15 square miles and offers breathtaking landscapes, rolling hills, family farms and 15 well-dressed police officers. All are well equipped and ready to handle the many unique calls of a rural police setting. The departments award-winning uniform provides the officers, citizens and visitors of Franconia with a unique and recognizable uniform image.

The Class-A uniform has navy trousers in a poly/wool blend that is marked by a wide one-inch oyster blue/gray stripe on the side seam. The short-sleeved shirts for summer are in oyster blue set off with silver buttons and imprinted with the state seal of Pennsylvania. The shoulder epaulets are in the same oyster blue of the shirt and are held in place with a single silver button. The winter and fall uniforms include a navy turtleneck or poly/wool navy tie paired with a long-sleeved oyster blue shirt. A uniform schedule is issued to officers specifying which shirt combination will be worn to insure a cohesive look.

All uniforms are complimented with a Persian style hat in navy with a black leather top strap and Philly Visor. The hat is piped with the same oyster blue/gray fabric of the uniform shirt. Officers hats are completed with gold trim, buttons and shield. The patrol officers hat has silver trim, shield and buttons. Most of the officers are moving away from the leather belts and are now wearing black nylon duty belts.

On April 1, 2005, the Franconia Bike Patrol Unit hit the pedals, having completed an intense 40-hour course offered through the International Police Mountain Bike Association. The department is very proud of its new Bike Patrol Unit, and the units uniform fits right in with the whole department. Its black/navy, cotton/poly blend BDU-style shorts or full-length pant is functional and is paired with a dark navy or white polo shirt, which allows for full shoulder movement. The departments shoulder patch and shield are embroidered on the shirt along with the officers name. A bike helmet with white reflective tape and a bike duty belt is worn to complete this officers uniform.

In 2000, the department modernized the appearance of the old uniforms in order to make the department more distinguished, says Detective George Moyer of Franconia. The department also implemented new uniform standards to enhance their image, thus reflecting their high level of integrity and professionalism. Due to the individualized and unique appearance of our uniforms, the community can immediately identify Franconia Township Police from any surrounding departments.

Congratulations to the dealers and manufacturers who dress this award-winning department. All uniforms are custom tailored by Red The Uniform Tailor, and outerwear and footwear are from Galls Inc. and Atlantic Tactical.

To learn more about the Franconia Township Police Department and its many programs, visit www.franconiatownship.org. One visit to the communitys website will have you ready to move!

The roaring 1920s gave birth to the Delaware State Police. With cars speeding at 35 miles per hour, bootleggers and roving bands of troublemakers, a need to regulate and maintain safety soon became apparent to the citizens. The result of these factors led to the beginning of a state police force in Delaware. Many of the state police departments have strong and interesting histories, some of which established traditions within their uniform design. For the men and women of the Delaware State Police Department, their uniform finds its origins on a day in April 1923.

Superintendent Col. Thomas F. Macleish proudly says, The uniform is a consistent and daily reminder of the tradition upon which the current Delaware State Police was founded. Many of the components in the current uniform, such as the boots and britches, come from the original uniform, which dates back to April 23, 1923. The uniforms are a consistent and daily reminder of the state and the citizens our troopers serve. This is evident in the patch and badge worn on each uniform, bearing the seal of the state of Delaware. It is my hope that visitors and citizens of Delaware recognize the uniform of the State Delaware Police as a symbol of professionalism, fairness, high ethical standards and dedicated public service officers.

These days in the summer months, a Delaware trooper can be seen wearing a midnight blue, poly/wool blend trouser that has a one-inch gold side stripe sewn within the side seam. The French blue poly/wool blend shirt is set off against the dark trousers and is completed with gold buttons stamped with the state seal. Buttons are issued to the officers directly and are placed upon the shirt by the officers to ensure that only official officers wear the uniform. The shirt has pleated breast pockets with a button closure. The shirt also has three stitched military pleats on the back and two on the front. The uniform is completed with a black leather duty belt, and for the formal uniform a Sam Brown* strap is added to the belt.

The color combination of the formal winter Class-A uniform is a true winner. Troopers wear French blue trousers in a three-ply weight poly/wool blend fabric and the same striking gold side stripe. The shirt is long sleeved in French blue and is worn with a dark navy tie. The uniform is completed with a hip length single-breasted jacket in dark navy with gold buttons and French blue shoulder epaulets. All uniforms are finished with a navy campaign hat bearing a gold shield with the state seal.

Congratulations to the dealers and manufacturers who helped create this winning uniform program: custom-made uniforms from Red The Uniform Tailor; Gortex jackets from Blauer Manufacturing; footwear from Bates Uniform Footwear; headgear from Stratton; and additional items from Graves Uniforms, a dealer in Lewes, Del.

To learn more about the unique history of the Delaware State Police, visit its website (which contains pictures of past uniforms) at www.state.de.us/dsp.

The Harris County Sheriffs Office was founded in 1837 in what was then Harrisburg County in the Republic of Texas. At that time, the Sheriffs Office consisted of the sheriff, his horse and a jail built out of logs. Today, the Harris County Sheriffs Office employs nearly 4,000 people, maintains four state-of-the-art jail facilities with a capacity of over 9,000, and employs innovative technology in conducting investigations. As the department changes, however, it acknowledges and reveres its rich heritage of Texas law enforcement.

One finds evidence of this in the Harris sheriffs uniform, which includes a Western-style hat, a straw hat for the summer and felt hat for the winter. Other unique features are Roper style boots and the traditional seven-point star badge that bears the Texas state seal.

The departments Honor Guard keeps with tradition, wearing a tan Western hat that is paired with a dark navy Ike Jacket with a center row of silver buttons embossed with the state seal. The jacket displays rank awards and shield with clarity and prominence. The shoulder aiguillette matches the ascot in either gold or white. The Honor Guard wears a leather duty belt that holds all required items of the daily patrol officer. The uniform is completed with tan poly/wool trousers accented by a navy side stripe with gold piping on both sides. This group is the only unit required to wear the western style boots as a part of its uniform design.

The sheriffs daily uniform of dark navy blue trousers has a navy side seam stripe trimmed with a gold pin stripe. These impressive trousers are partnered with a dark navy blue shirt. Sheriffs wear long-sleeved shirts with a navy tie for winter and a short-sleeved open-collared shirt for summer. The Western tradition is maintained with the dark navy gold-trimmed epaulets that are secured with gold buttons. A Western tan Stetson hat completes the sheriffs uniform. This distinctive uniform immediately identifies the wearer as a member of the Harris County Sheriffs Department.

Our Texas heritage is also signified in the departments official patch, which depicts Justice superimposed over the state of Texas along with a banner that proclaims the Sheriffs Office to be the Pride of Texas. The men and women of the Harris County Sheriffs Office, ever mindful of their status as employees of one of the states premier law enforcement agencies, strive to represent the Sheriffs Office in a professional, dignified manner and to demonstrate excellence in both appearance and deportment, says Lt. John Martin.

Congratulations to the dealers and manufacturers who dress this winning department: Perfection Uniforms, Gerber Clothing, Blauer Manufacturing, Bailey Hats, Lone Star Uniforms and Allens Western Wear.

Visit the great state of Texas via the Harris County Sheriffs website at www.hcso.hctx.net and learn what Nemo Me Impune Lacessit means.

The Spartanburg County Detention Facility, which was originally part of the Spartanburg County Sheriffs Office, was created as a separate county department in 1971. The detention facility averages approximately 20,000 admissions per year and houses an average of 734 inmates per day. Spartanburg County Detention Facilitys winning uniform look starts at the top with a Stratton campaign hat, and that powerful impression carries through the officers whole uniform. It is important for detention officers to have a strong first line of defense appearance. For Spartanburg County Detention officers, it is visibly stated in their uniforms, thus providing a feel of order and security.

The Spartanburg County Detention officer greets each inmate with a crisp uniform of dark navy blue pants in polyester with military pleats on both the front and back. The dark trousers are partnered with a French blue polyester blend shirt with pleated breast pockets and button closures. The shirt sports military pleats on both the front and back and dark blue shoulder epaulets. The departments patch is displayed on both shoulders. The officers nameplate and sheriffs seven-point star badge have pre-trimmed placement holes, and all officers wear a leather duty belt. Officers with the rank of lieutenant and above wear white shirts with navy blue epaulets, while the winter dress shirts are long-sleeved and worn with a dark navy tie.

The dress uniform for this department is very impressive, with Ike Jackets done in dark navy with gold buttons and navy epaulets. The jacket is worn with dark navy polyester blend trousers with a one-inch side stripe stitched into the side seam. A long-sleeved French blue polyester blend shirt with a dark navy tie is worn underneath. The jacket also displays the departments patch.

Director Larry Powers expresses the thoughts of many of the agencys chiefs with the following statement:

As a law enforcement agency, it is important to present and maintain a professional appearance. In a day and age of casual business attire, I often tell my officers that if they want to work for a department that lets them wear T-shirts, golf shirts, ball caps or jeans, they need to find another department, because they are working for a dinosaur. I was brought up in an era where my parents taught me that appearance and first impressions count. This lesson was further influenced by such television shows as Dragnet and Adam-12 as well as the FBI and military traditions. Therefore, I believe it is always important how officers present themselves. I remember an incident from my early training years that happened in Los Angeles whereby two officers stopped two defendants that (unknown to the two officers at the time of their stop) had already shot and killed an officer in another state. Later, when [the defendants were] interrogated, they were asked why they did not attempt to shoot these two officers, to which they replied that they thought about it, but from the officers appearance, they looked too squared away. The same applies today, whether an officer works the street, a courtroom or inside the jail, his/her appearance, demeanor and actions determine how he/she will be treated. Subconsciously, we all want to see those who represent order and security in our communities to look and dress in a manner that gives us a feeling of both confidence and comfort in their ability to protect us. An officer who looks and carries him/herself in such a manner has less trouble, just as the officers who captured those two individuals without a shot. Appearance counts.

Congratulations to local dealer Wright Johnston Uniforms of Columbia, S.C., and to the manufacturers who created this winning program: VF Imagewear, Stratton Hat Company, Samuel Broome Uniform Accessories, Propper International, Fechheimer Brothers, Rocky Shoes & Boots, Bates Uniform Footwear, Original S.W.A.T., Magnum USA and Hatch.

Visit Spartanburgs winning department at www.spartanburgcounty.org, and read its history.