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November 27, 2007, 08:43 PM | #1 |
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Why dont cops like to wear hats?
I remember when cops used to wear the old bus-driver caps. It didnt look "tough", but instead, professional. What happened to the bus-driver caps? Is it tactically bad to go bareback instead of looking like a bus-driver?
Most cops I see have shaved heads nowadays or wear a baseball hat like they are going to a game. |
November 27, 2007, 08:59 PM | #2 |
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Good question.
The only time I ever see cops wearing the old-style hats nowdays is at parades and funerals. |
November 27, 2007, 09:38 PM | #3 |
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For local police, the same is true here (North Carolina). However, I do sometimes see state troopers wearing their "Smokey Bear" hats. Not the old style bus driver hats, though.
I think people in general wear fewer hats (only exception: baseball-style caps). Hats that are the most associated with certain professions (ie. "specialty hats") seem to be the most out of favor. Remember those weird little "wing" hats that nurses used to wear? How long has it been since you've seen one of those? |
November 27, 2007, 10:18 PM | #4 | |
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Quote:
As for the short hair? Same reason as the military; it doesn't provide a handle during a fight. As to whether or not this is on topic for T&T? Sorry guys, it ain't. Closed.
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November 28, 2007, 04:50 PM | #5 |
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Re-opened
All righty, then. I got a PM today convincing me that this subject may indeed have some training value here.
This thread's re-opened. Go to it, guys.
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November 28, 2007, 04:57 PM | #6 |
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I thought the military shaved your hair to prevent lice
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November 28, 2007, 05:24 PM | #7 |
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My dad was an old school police officer & wore that type of hat in certain roles. They were trained to approach most situations with their hat on. It was part of the uniform & presented a professional image of authority. Times have changed. Not many people wear that type of hat any more. They didn't wear vest back then either.
Later, WNTFW |
November 28, 2007, 05:29 PM | #8 |
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Bus driver hat
If you have never worn one you can't imagine how uncomfortable they are. When you take it off you have a crease in your forehead where the hat was riding. They are normally only used in class A uniforms for ceremonial duties.
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November 28, 2007, 05:39 PM | #9 |
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They wear the octagon hat all the time here in NH.
I guess they've gone informal elsewhere? |
November 28, 2007, 06:35 PM | #10 |
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What's wrong with an officer with curly hair, smelling good, with a smart UZI on his hip? Willing to serve. Hu?
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November 28, 2007, 07:42 PM | #11 |
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Ahhh... the hat.
The one that you wear year round. In summer, you sweat like crazy inside the hat, making your hair wet or at least oily by the end of the shift. In the fall & spring, you put the rain cover on, stand in traffic while the water sluices down the hat to the rear... right down the back of your neck. :barf: In the winter, it keeps heat in, but once you get really bad weather, ice forms from the moist heat. Like Capn Charlie said, they're the first thing to fall off in a fight or foot pursuit. On days with gusty winds, they can be a distraction as they try to fly away. In the squad car, you have to have a place for it lest you end up sitting on it. All too often you spend money on a spare hat, extra money on dry cleaning a suspect's footprints out of it or replacing it if the bill was trashed during a fight. The "Mountie" hat (or Smokey bear, DI or Campaign hat) was better in rainy weather as it really kept water off your head. They were also different than what most agencies wore too. But these were also fast to fall off despite the head band in the back and in a wind... well you've seen a frisbee in flight. I personally like the look a hat imparts to an officer's appearance. The round police hat looks better than the 8-point hat, IMO and the "Mountie" hat can be intimidating (or a reminder of how much you hated your D.I. in the service ). It used to be that police officers wore ties (clip-on ties for certain) during the cooler months. Nowadays, some agencies permit officers to wear a jumpsuit and baseball cap in the winter which, to me, looks too "Ninja".
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November 28, 2007, 08:19 PM | #12 | |
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I did PM CC to let him know that there is a bit of tactical concern, here is what I sent him for everyone's consideration:
Quote:
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November 28, 2007, 08:33 PM | #13 | |
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And, my reply to Rob .
Quote:
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November 28, 2007, 08:34 PM | #14 |
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Wearing no hat, or something as simple as a ball cap is alot more functional than puting on a regular hat.
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November 29, 2007, 07:01 AM | #15 |
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Military short hair is also in case of a head wound there is less liklihood of wound contamination and infection.
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November 29, 2007, 08:38 AM | #16 |
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As one of my partners showed me on one occasion, they can be used in what he called "the hat trick".
We were dispatched to a domestic call, with the dad possibly armed. We went inside and found the guy in bed, and could see the end of the barrel of a rifle. Unnoticed by me, my partner had taken out his revolver and conceled it with, of all things, his hat! As soon as we got in the bedroom and saw the rifle barrel, partner simply raises his revo and has Mr. Suspect already covered. In the worst event he could have simply shot thru the hat, which he held about waist level with the revolver pointed at our suspect. Had my partner's .38 not been needed, he simply re-holsters, and no one (usually) is the wiser. Hate them hats, though. Hate 'em! Last edited by FM12; November 29, 2007 at 08:39 AM. Reason: speling |
November 29, 2007, 09:51 AM | #17 |
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I never cared much for the hat and we had a devil of a time getting officers to wear them on the street. They don't provide any protection from the sun on the face and as we age skin cancer is the result. The Smokey the Bear hats at least provide protection when you are outside in the hot sun directing traffic.
The one thing the police hat does provide is recognition. What are the most recognizable parts of a police uniform? The hat with cap piece and the badge. I believe the recognition of the police officer by these symbols has saved many an officer. Wearing the hat leaves no doubt that a suspect is looknig at a police officer. On the other end, it gives the bad guy a nice target. |
November 29, 2007, 12:20 PM | #18 |
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I wear glasses and I wear ball caps when it rains to keep the glasses dry. The Taxi Driver hats don't have enough of a bill to keep my glasses dry. Bit of a pain if you ask me.
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November 29, 2007, 12:48 PM | #19 |
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How about the cost issue? The ball caps looks considerably cheaper than either Taxi Driver or Smokey the Bear style.
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November 29, 2007, 01:07 PM | #20 |
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Funny thing, here in the States you guys fought to get rid of the hats, while where I'm from, the Sikhs in the RCMP fought to wear a turban instead of a hat...
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November 29, 2007, 02:44 PM | #21 |
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Back in the day, everyone wore hats. These days, almost nobody does. The exception is baseball and cowboy hats which corresponds, one may argue, as to why these are found in greater rates than the more traditional offerings on the heads of officers.
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November 29, 2007, 03:08 PM | #22 |
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The "garrison" caps idea it to be a recognizeable piece of headgear.
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December 1, 2007, 07:04 PM | #23 |
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A retired police officer says (hearsay, no attribution) that the older hats - aside from looking more professional - allowed an officer to distinguish between officers and others in the dark, when turning on a flashlight may not be the best idea. Don't respond to me; I didn't make the assertion, and don't particularly care. This is just what someone told me.
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December 1, 2007, 09:46 PM | #24 |
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It could be worse...
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December 1, 2007, 11:02 PM | #25 |
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The British Bobby hat is actually a "light" helmet. And it offers a degree of impact protection for the head.
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