New Jackets Don't Conform?

It's hard to tell from this video, but it appears as though this officer is explaining WHY certain officers do not have their badges on their jackets. My photo's from earlier protests will follow the 'transcript'.

8:30 - 9:00:

Officer: ...the underlying velcro is on there. [inaudible] is how I can wear my nametag. He just got his jacket a little while ago, there's no underlying velcro piece. We said where's the velcro piece? And this is just uh, straight from the people that distribute our police equipment. The nametags are not to be on this because they have uh, a water repellent quality to them. And the nametag... (unsure) So it voids the warranty...

"A little while ago" to me, indicates NEWER rather than OLDER. Therefore he is claiming that the newer jackets cannot conform to the Uniform Code due to warranty and water repellent issues. This is ridiculous...on MANY levels. IF that is the case, the jackets are personally issued, presumably, you only get one. Therefore, the name and badge number can be PRINTED on the jacket, much like POLICE is emblazoned on them. Barring that...HOW is the TPD logo attached on the arm. Either way, it proves the name badge CAN be attached. I can't speak to the warranty issue since I don't know how the equipment distributer procures the product. Either way...they have the wrong one, and MUST replace them to conform to the code. Honestly, I hold nothing against this Officer, I believe that he believes what he is saying in answering the question.

He says that they asked about the velcro, meaning they at least did some due diligence in conforming to the law. Regardless, they are wearing them anyway, and they know it's wrong, so they ARE responsible. They KNOW they are responsible since he said they asked about it! On top of all this, we seem to have a procurement process in place that doesn't know WHAT they need, or are required to have. This is also troubling.

Here are the two shots from an earlier protest that I shot. You can see that there are three different jacket types, two with badges, one without. As stated earlier, it looks like the ones WITHOUT velcro are the the NEW ones. Note, these photos only show two different types, the third is the Officer in the video with his name badge opposite "Police".

(Click to embiggen)

This officer has been issued a jacket without velcro for a name badge. Therefore, it should have been handed back.



Even after 90 officers have supposedly been disciplined with the loss of a days pay, they still continue to do this. Is the potential loss of a days pay worth NOT being identified BY NAME in a criminal situation...looks like!