metropd
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First let me say five point is the product line by Midway cap co. The hat is rounded style service cap and does NOT HAVE ANY POINTS. The hat is similar to the hat of Detroit PD, Chicago PD, New Jersey State Police, LAPD, San Diego PD, Oakland PD, Michigan State Police, and maybe soon IMPD. The only point style hats are called 8 point service caps and are used by NYPD, SFPD, Baltimore PD, you can add to the list.
Now with that said the Hat Policy will continue to be optional on patrol.
http://www.wthr.com/Global/story.asp?S=7862089&nav=menu188_2
Indianapolis - With the mayor soon in charge of the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department, there could be other changes at the top.
Public Safety Director Scott Newman told Eyewitness News he'd like to revert to the five-point style hats worn by police officers prior to the merger. Newman said the switch was meant to boost morale among the ranks.
Prior to the merger, a committee considered several uniform options for the new IMPD. It ultimately chose the dress blues of IPD and the brimmed or "campaign" hat of the sheriff's department, intending to reflect the traditions of both departments.
"IMPD officers could be changing hats
Updated: Feb 12, 2008 03:18 PM PST
IMPD hats
The public safety director prefers the five-point hat, left, to the current brimmed hats.
Fraternal Order of Police President Bill Owensby
Mary Milz/Eyewitness News
But Fraternal Order of Police President Bill Owensby said one year after the merger, the brimmed hats remain unpopular among many officers. Part of it, he said, is due to the change, but he pointed out practical reasons for the objections.
"They're a little more cumbersome, a little more difficult to wear and move in in an urban environment," Owensby said.
He said the hats also require more care. "The hats have a tendency to roll," he said noting that officers must buy a press to make sure the rim stays flat.
But Owensby also notes that most officers seldom wear their hats - not even for a swearing in.
Democrat Joanne Sanders, the council minority leader, questions the change. "Will a hat only worn maybe two to three times a year do anything to boost morale?" she wondered.
The bigger question: How much will switching hats cost and who will pick up the tab?
Since many officers kept their old hats, Newman says IMPD would need just 400 new ones to cover the former deputies. But at roughly $150 a pop, that's $60,000, more than enough to hire a new officer and at a time when the city faces a financial crunch.
"If they want to find it in their own budget, that's one thing," Sanders said. "But we worked long and hard on the transition and to make this decision when we're scraping for money for everything else I would be hard pressed to approve a new appropriation."
Owensby agrees taxpayers shouldn't have to foot the bill.
"I think it would be done without taxpayer's dollars," he said. "The bottom line is we have a hat we just don't like and that's not necessarily the taxpayer's fault."
Marcus Barlow, a spokesman for Mayor Greg Ballard said, one option is boosting the clothing allowance and having officers pay. He said besides the hats, they were also considering a switch in uniforms from the dress blues to a battle dress uniform or one that's more of a military style. He said any changes to the uniform will be announced when the mayor officially takes control of IMPD February 29."
Now with that said the Hat Policy will continue to be optional on patrol.
http://www.wthr.com/Global/story.asp?S=7862089&nav=menu188_2
Indianapolis - With the mayor soon in charge of the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department, there could be other changes at the top.
Public Safety Director Scott Newman told Eyewitness News he'd like to revert to the five-point style hats worn by police officers prior to the merger. Newman said the switch was meant to boost morale among the ranks.
Prior to the merger, a committee considered several uniform options for the new IMPD. It ultimately chose the dress blues of IPD and the brimmed or "campaign" hat of the sheriff's department, intending to reflect the traditions of both departments.
"IMPD officers could be changing hats
Updated: Feb 12, 2008 03:18 PM PST
IMPD hats
The public safety director prefers the five-point hat, left, to the current brimmed hats.
Fraternal Order of Police President Bill Owensby
Mary Milz/Eyewitness News
But Fraternal Order of Police President Bill Owensby said one year after the merger, the brimmed hats remain unpopular among many officers. Part of it, he said, is due to the change, but he pointed out practical reasons for the objections.
"They're a little more cumbersome, a little more difficult to wear and move in in an urban environment," Owensby said.
He said the hats also require more care. "The hats have a tendency to roll," he said noting that officers must buy a press to make sure the rim stays flat.
But Owensby also notes that most officers seldom wear their hats - not even for a swearing in.
Democrat Joanne Sanders, the council minority leader, questions the change. "Will a hat only worn maybe two to three times a year do anything to boost morale?" she wondered.
The bigger question: How much will switching hats cost and who will pick up the tab?
Since many officers kept their old hats, Newman says IMPD would need just 400 new ones to cover the former deputies. But at roughly $150 a pop, that's $60,000, more than enough to hire a new officer and at a time when the city faces a financial crunch.
"If they want to find it in their own budget, that's one thing," Sanders said. "But we worked long and hard on the transition and to make this decision when we're scraping for money for everything else I would be hard pressed to approve a new appropriation."
Owensby agrees taxpayers shouldn't have to foot the bill.
"I think it would be done without taxpayer's dollars," he said. "The bottom line is we have a hat we just don't like and that's not necessarily the taxpayer's fault."
Marcus Barlow, a spokesman for Mayor Greg Ballard said, one option is boosting the clothing allowance and having officers pay. He said besides the hats, they were also considering a switch in uniforms from the dress blues to a battle dress uniform or one that's more of a military style. He said any changes to the uniform will be announced when the mayor officially takes control of IMPD February 29."
