BDU question...Anyone else?

[SGT_GRUNT_USMC]

My department is switching to BDU's for all
officers who work in the medium and maximum
security institutions.Right now line staff
(CO's) wear a light blue shirt with navy
blue trousers,black combat boots (Rocky's)
and usual dept. patch,US flag,and badge.
The new uniform is supposed to be a black
BDU uniform,with bloused boots,a black t-shirt,and the usual patches,except an
embroided badge instead of a metal one
(inmates have stabbed officers with thier
own badge).Officers on official dept. functions,outside court and hospital trips
(where the inmate is in cuffs,leg irons,and waistchain),and those that work in the
outer control center will wear the dress uniform.
To me this all makes sense.BDU are more
comfortable (especially when searching cells
during shakedowns in the August heat!),they
look a hell of a lot better if worn properly!
I know the California Dept. of Corrections
and the Connecticut Dept. of Correction
have been wearing a similar style of uniform
for years.
Anyone else already wearing the uniform on
normal duties?

Semper Fi,

GRUNT

[Erick]

Grunt-
When I worked our county-wide street gang unit, we wore:
2 pocket BDU shirts, tucked-in;
6 pocket BDU trousers, bloused;
Regular insignia.

No one complained about the attire; though we all wanted a 'softer' look.

[SGT_GRUNT_USMC]

Erick,
What do you mean a "softer look"?As in the
non-military,non-threatening,"community
policing" look?I've heard the public isn't
exactly enthusiastic about cops in SWAT gear
armed and equiped with MP-5.This despite
the proliferation of street gangs and
heavily armed criminals....like the LAPD
Bank of America shootout...Waco...Ruby Ridge
LA Riots...the Lucasville prison riot...etc

My 2 cents...

Semper Fi,

GRUNT

[SGT_GRUNT_USMC]

I'm lucky...
Over 50% of my "community policing" "jurisdiction" are serving life sentences
for 1st degree murder,2nd degree murder, or manslaughter......but,there all "innocent"

Semper Fi,

GRUNT

[India Raider]

I'm not an officer; just applying at the moment, but this is what I've seen/heard.

In my area (Atlanta) you see more and more departments switching to BDU's of various styles. I've seen K-9 officers in BDU tops and bottoms. Traffic Officers in BDU bottoms and Uniform Tops. And Patrol Officers in BDU Bottoms and Collared Shirt Top with "Police" on the back. (Also should note, most if not all of the bike police wear cargo pocket BDU type shorts with collared shirts).

I haven't heard any complaints from the public in this area. In fact most seem to argee with the move. I spoke with one woman who said it seemed more practical. There was a discussion on this topic on Officer.com about a month ago. A lot of the officers stated that from 1600-0800 the officers wear BDU uniforms, while the day shift wears traditional uniforms.

I personally think it's going to be a gradual change. I don't think that BDU's make an officer any more intimidating to the general public then a regularly dressed officer. BDU's look sharp when wore properly and certainly are more practically and not as expensive.

[RECON5]

After wearing BDU uniform for the last half of my career in Municiple Department Swat Team, I think the community is becoming accustomed to seeing officers dressed in this fashion. We wore the regular uniform, but for any special assignments, or SWAT duties we wore the BDU in conjunction with properly marked T-shirts or BDU shirt. (depending on the mission)Of course, I can not respond to SGT. public opinion statement, because as a normal course of duty we rarely patrolled or went into the general public carrying our fully auto long guns. (though they were never far from hand) This being said my current Agency would never allow this type of dress code. (they have no use for it either)My OPINION, I think it all depends on your operating environment, and public mood.....discretion.
Just my .02 worth.

REMEMBER 1*

[Erick]

I much prefer the BDU look, if they're worn correctly.

That said, why did we want a softer look for working gangs? The reason was one less "fight" for us & our our bosses.

Out here in the touchy-feely, kindler-gentler SF Bay Area, there are some cop-unfriendly elements (aside from the criminals) who will rant & rave over anything or nothing. We already knew we'd get the racist 'you're just picking on us because of the color of our skin' thing just for working gangs. Plus, we were going to (and did) hear the "they're only children hanging out together" - which they aren't.

We figured that the gangsters wouldn't care what we wore. I believe that a soft look won't effect our interactions with them, rather that would be determined by our interactions with them. We figured though, that a soft look would do away with extraneous grief from the fern-fondlers who've got nothing better to do in life than complain about us.

What we were hoping for was utility-type trousers and polo-shirts (summer) or raid jackets (winter), except for warrant services, etc when we'd go to complete BDUs.

Didn't happen, the brass wanted the BDUs and they get to answer the complaints.

Erick

[DCH]

In regards to BDU's,

I recently bought a set of Vietnam era Poplin BDU's in OD. Does anyone know if 'bleaching' OD Ripstop fabric will damage them? I want to fade the BDU's since they are too dark a shade right now. I like the faded OD look and it does tend to run a bit 'cooler' when out in the range under a hot sun.

Also, has anyone ever seen Vietnam Era BDU's in NON-RIPSTOP fabric?? (ie: Poly/Cotton) Are there any still available?

Thank you in advance,
-DCH

[jcollettusa]

I have never tried bleach, but washing them a couple of dozen times will cause them to fade, along with ironing them. I have a couple pair of cammies that are so salty and faded that they almost look like they are turning blue.

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Semper Fi

[This message has been edited by jcollettusa (edited 08-26-2000).]

[HmtPD2]

The Dept I work for allows our "Target Team" to wear black polo shirts with black BDU pants and boots. The only other officers that wear them are the K-9 officers, and they wear the black BDU top and bottom. I think someone said it above...for the regular patrol officer it is a little unnecessary. I believe officers still need to prestent the uniformed look. I do know that when I worked for Riverside Sheriff in the jail, we used to be able to wear green jump suits. They were supposed to be pressed, bloused w/ boots, and maintained as a uniform. Well...people started to abuse the privilige, and the took them away. Ca. Dept of Corrections does still wear them. But your right, in a Corrections situation, BDU's and jumpsuits are ideal.

[E19]

Originally posted by DCH:
In regards to BDU's,

I recently bought a set of Vietnam era Poplin BDU's in OD. Does anyone know if 'bleaching' OD Ripstop fabric will damage them? I want to fade the BDU's since they are too dark a shade right now. I like the faded OD look and it does tend to run a bit 'cooler' when out in the range under a hot sun.

Also, has anyone ever seen Vietnam Era BDU's in NON-RIPSTOP fabric?? (ie: Poly/Cotton) Are there any still available?

Thank you in advance,
-DCH

DCH,

The Vietnam Jungle Fatigues (not BDU's)were made for years of non ripstop 100% cotton. I have sets of types 1, 2, & 3 (not for sale!)and all are non ripstop. I could be mistaken but the ripstop type came out in 68 or 69. I'm not certain but would guess that poly/cotton blends are post war knockoffs.

E19 Out

[carpe282]

DCH, from personal experience, I would not bleach your BDU's, especially if they are actual OG 107s. Bleaching seems to weaken the fabric, making it more brittle and you may end up with some sort of tye-dye. You would be better off washing and wearing them more frequently if you want them to fade.

[DCH]

Excellent Guys!

I have Type 1 OG 107 Poplin Cotton Fatigue Jacket and Pants (with inner pocket in left thigh pocket) I'm curious to know what Types 2 & 3 look like?, I'm guessing those are the 'exposed buttons' and 'short sleeve' variants??

Thanks again gents!

[E19]

DCH,

Type 1. Epaulets, Exposed Buttons, Tie-Down Straps in Cargo Pockets, Two Inner Pockets.

Type 2. Epaulets, Covered Buttons, No Tie-Downs, Small Inner Pocket Deleted.

Type 3. No Epaulets, Covered Buttons, No Tie-Downs, Second Inner Pocket Added.

All 3 types were made of 100% cotton and all had long sleeves. To my knowlege the Army did not issue short sleeve Jungles. The AF wore short sleeves but they most likely were locally modified.

The lightweight wool Jungle Sweater was a great accessory for wear the Jungle Fatigues.
I don't know if they are still available.

[jcollettusa]

My favorite type for any climate is still the woodlands. They last longer and are more durable when your in the mud or low crawling. I know most of you will not be in the mud or low crawling with a police department unless you are on a tactical team, but they are still the most durable in my opinion.

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Semper Fi

[MZILLS]

Our sheriff's dept, is set up a little different by which jobs the ppl, do, the road deputies wear the brown street gear pants, that are sort of like utilities, or bdu's and make it more comfortable for us, imagine rolling around with a subject in the dress uniform pants, not comfortable and they don't move as well, with these we can run, climb, and roll with somebody a heck of a lot better, plus i just like em cause i can put small stuff in the cargo pockets without having to try and dig around in pockets with my duty belt on, the county detention center wears the black bdu's, one so as to distinguish who's who, and for comfort, hard to bend and do shake downs in the dress type pants and also if they have to roll with someone, with the detectives in their usual semi-corporate attire, ya know "professional" looking, BTW we switched to the circular badges with the star in the center for one of the reasons that no sharp edges or points less likely to be stabbed or cut with it, all though if they're that close, they should either be already cuffed or wishing that they were, Semper Fi, 0311