Kevlar Protection items

[British Red]

Honesty is unprofessional?

 

[Itzal]

Ok. Thanks. It's a stab vest though? Not true bulletproof armor? That's more like what corrections officers wear inside some of the more violent facilities here. Yes it can douldle as equipment carry (usually your back-up handgun is in a holster velcroed to the vest) but one of the reasons we wear it UNDER the the uniform is because it's less threatening if unseen. Also more difficult for a bad gut to target just where you're not armored.

It is ballistic, for 9mm etc, firearms officers wear a higher rating with ballistic plates.

 

[Itzal]

Just seems unprofessional.

To wear a vest in an overt manner? So what about US Troops in Afghan, are they unprofessional? The vest serves as a kit carriers also, just like it does with Military troops for ammo etc. Its also a system of carrying kit that is better for your back than overloading your belt.

 

[santaman2000]

To wear a vest in an overt manner? So what about US Troops in Afghan, are they unprofessional? The vest serves as a kit carriers also, just like it does with Military troops for ammo etc. Its also a system of carrying kit that is better for your back than overloading your belt.

True for combat soldiers with much heavier vests and much heavier loads who are intentionally going into a firefight.

Police on the other hand might get into a firefight once in a career, and wear lighter, suppler vests and much, much less equipment (unless in a SWAT situation) A typical police officer's duty id primarily traffic control and patrol to deter criminal activity.

Mainly I say unprofessional because it diminishes (obscures) the police uniform itself. It just looks more like an overzealous private security guard.

 

[santaman2000]

Honesty is unprofessional?

Nothing dishonest intended by wearing it under the uniform red. Everyone knows that all the cops are wearing them. It just lets the uniform itself take the prominent professional image the public expects.

 

[Retired Member southey]

 

[santaman2000]

Thanks Southey; my point exactly.

 

[Itzal]

True for combat soldiers with much heavier vests and much heavier loads who are intentionally going into a firefight.

Police on the other hand might get into a firefight once in a career, and wear lighter, suppler vests and much, much less equipment (unless in a SWAT situation) A typical police officer's duty id primarily traffic control and patrol to deter criminal activity.

Mainly I say unprofessional because it diminishes (obscures) the police uniform itself. It just looks more like an overzealous private security guard.

Private security in the UK rarely use vests so that point is not relevant in the UK. Having worked heavily with US troops, I can say most have armour thats hardest day will be picking which flavour ice cream to have with lunch. The idea of a load carrying vest it to reduce the pressure on your back and alleviate back problems. More over the obscuring of uniform is negated by the fact it has a massive sign saying 'Police' on the back and from and sleeves and hat and car.

Having worn both types of vest in all types heat, cold, peace and war I see absolutely no issue with overt armour. To me it makes sense. I suppose different countries grow up with different ideas.

 

[British Red]

Nothing dishonest intended by wearing it under the uniform red. Everyone knows that all the cops are wearing them. It just lets the uniform itself take the prominent professional image the public expects.

Interesting, I believe our police are the most professional in the world - far more so than the swaggering machismo I have been saddened to encounter in other countries - not much public service but a great deal of ego. We probably expect different things from our forces - "public service" is uppermost in our mind. Our public expects (for example) an unarmed police force for the most part.

 

[Retired Member southey]

Its just part OF the uniform here dude,

 

[Itzal]

Thanks Southey; my point exactly.

Which point?


** For the record, no offence intended here, I do love a good debate**

 

[santaman2000]

Which point?

That it doesn't look like a professional police uniform.

Think for a minute in terms of military uniforms (I'm going to mess this up because of different terms I'm sure) The normal everyday police uniform is more similar to what we call "service uniform" in the military over here. Not a coat and tie but a semi dress shirt tucked into trousers. The whole thing pressed. Whereas with the vest on top, it looks more like a fatigue type uniform (especially that last photo Southey posted where they're wearing T-Shirts.

 

[British Red]

How peculiar - I find police officer dressing up like cowboys or baseball players unprofessional

 

[Retired Member southey]

just out of interest What % of a us pealers shift is spent on foot ?

 

[Itzal]

just out of interest What % of a us pealers shift is spent on foot ?

He wont get Pealer or Bobby terms I am guessing

 

[santaman2000]

How peculiar - I find police officer dressing up like cowboys or baseball players unprofessional

LOL. Ironically, wearing the vest on top is what we would call "cowboy."

As to the only other thing I can think of that would be close to dressing as a cowboy might be the hats. The closest ones I know of in a police uniform would be the ones that most State Highway patrols and the RCMP wear.

 

[santaman2000]

just out of interest What % of a us pealers shift is spent on foot ?

None unless you're being punished. It's impossible to patrol an area of any size on foot. Or to carry the equipment required.

 

[santaman2000]

He wont get Pealer or Bobby terms I am guessing

As in Robert Peale? The man who said, "The police are only the ones paid to do that which is incumbant upon the whole populace to do as a matterof course?" You do know the story is taught in the police accademies?

 

[Itzal]

That it doesn't look like a professional police uniform.

Think for a minute in terms of military uniforms (I'm going to mess this up because of different terms I'm sure) The normal everyday police uniform is more similar to what we call "service uniform" in the military over here. Not a coat and tie but a semi dress shirt tucked into trousers. The whole thing pressed. Whereas with the vest on top, it looks more like a fatigue type uniform (especially that last photo Southey posted where they're wearing T-Shirts.

I agree tshirts look scruffy, but, and its a big but, its about comfort not ascetics these days, our nonsensical Health and Safety Laws say so. I find US police uniforms comical by and large, and think the UK are striking a good balance, between practicality and usefulness. Military dress in the US or indeed the UK for that matter cannot compare to a Police Officer on duty, as a Military person is not likely to come into confrontation. This is why operationally armour is worn overt by troops, a Police Officer operational on duty is in their theatre of war as such.

 

[Itzal]

As in Robert Peale? The man who said, "The police are only the ones paid to do that which is incumbant upon the whole populace to do as a matterof course?" You do know the story is taught in the police accademies?

I am shocked and impressed, please have my apologies, you are the first American be it Police or Mil that knows of him. Pealers is only really used in Norther Ireland everywhere else they are known as Bobbies. I didnt know US Police were taught that.