Thread: Police logos (NYPD) and civilian clothing

Good morning/afternoon/evening everyone.

I have been seeing a lot of people lately wearing clothing with NYPD logos. Some of these people are wearing shirts that could even be mistaken as a real police officer. Obviously in MN it is not realistic to think that they are real officers since we are in MN and not New York.

So what are officers opinions about civilians wearing clothing with police logos? How about the NYPD Officers? Has it been a morale boaster since 9-11 or do you feel differently?

I bought a couple of NYPD shirts about three or four years ago and used to wear them occasionally. However, since 9-11 it seems like a trend for people to wear them and subsequently I stopped. Perhaps it is defeating the purpose, I don't know.

All opinions are greatly appreciated.

K9

I'll tell you my opinon off the web at a later date K9

Though I can not respond as an LEO, I can respond as a firefighter. All of our meetings at the department, most of the guys have on their FDNY/NYPD/PAPD hats or shirts on. All we are doing is showing support for the departments.

The NYPD logo has to be one of the most recognized logos among law enforcement due to media/television/movies, what have you. At this point, wearing shirts/hats out here I think means as much to people as wearing the American Flag on their chests. NYPD/FDNY paraphernalia is abundant when you go to any one of our local airports/variety gift shops in the city, and always has been. I would think that most police officers/firefighters are just used to seeing it.

Though while I was in California, I had the opportunity to stop at a couple of firehouses, (trying to mooch shirts!!) It was a really good feeling to see them have the FDNY patch on their truck and the American Flag being displayed, and other people walking around the city with their FDNY hats on. I'm not FDNY and it felt good! It's just good to know that even 3000 miles away people are showing support.

I think it depends on the wearer of the shirt/sweatshirt etc. I think most people wearing NYPD shirts are doing so to show their support, and to thank the brave men and women of the NYPD. There are some people out there, as there will always be, who are wanna be's, and wear the paraphanalia and act like they are on the job. I think we have all seen some guy wearing a NYPD raid jacket, or shirt walking around trying to walk the walk and talk the talk.

I personally am not a member of the NYPD, but I have bought and occasionally wear a NYPD memorial T-Shirt off of the NYPD Detectives who are assigned to DOI. These shirts are from the FOP and all proceeds go to the families of those lost officers. I bought a few shirts for friends and family members as well. Almost all the investigators at DOI have bought one and wear them occasionally. Granted, they are all in the LE field but are not NYPD.

There is nothing wrong in my opinon with wearing a t-shirt, sweatshirt, or hat with the NYPD logo on it. If I was a member of the NYPD I would be proud that people want to wear and show their support for my agency. It seems like just yesterday that most people, the press included, was jumping down the throats of the NYPD. You heard for the most part nothing but bad press knocking the NYPD and its officers for one thing or another. Since the tradgic events of 9/11 it seems everyone is on the NYPD "bandwagon", and I for one am thankful for that. It's nice to see the brave men and women of the NYPD finally getting what they so much deserve.........RESPECT.

In closing I say wear your NYPD/FDNY/PAPD shirts are wear them proudly. I would however try to buy one from a legitimate dealer where some of the profit goes to help those in need of it. I hate walking around the city and seeing street vendors peddling memorial stuff, making 100% profit off of 9/11 thinking of nothing except making their pockets fatter. That makes me sick. Well end of rant......(stepping off soap box). Stay safe!

I will keep this short. Anyone believe that it is the new "trend" to wear police type clothing? At my college, I have seen an enormous increase of students wearing police clothing. It seems like its the new "cool" thing to do. Believe me, I am all for supporting NYPD or any other agency. It is definetly a good break from what I hear and see in the media. I guess it just concerns me that some people are doing it because it is "trendy". Perhaps it isn't a bad thing, but perhaps a really good thing. Just some thoughts.

K9

My opinion on this is that it depends on the shirt design and on where the wearer is at. If it just says "NYPD" on it, and the wearer is in MN, then I don't have much problem with it...but, if it says the word "POLICE" anywhere (doesn't matter if it says "City of New York" there too...), then I think it is pretty stupid for anyone to wear that type shirt in public. When I was at FLETC, you could get all sorts of shirts with badges or agency logos on them, and while they were nice shirts, I would never buy one for my family. I am of the opinion that, generally speaking, no one should be wearing anything that COULD get them confused as a cop (on-duty or off-duty) by a bad guy. We all know the NYPD logo, but all the dirtbag needs to see is the big word "POLICE" at the top of the logo to decide "police, I better shoot this guy before he shoots me." Anyone think that no bad guy is stupid enough to be confused under high stress? Or maybe that the bad guy who takes you hostage in a bank might not decide that the first hostage he is going to shoot is the guy with the pro-police shirt on?

There was an incident--I want to say it was in Atlanta, but I don't recall the specifics--in which a non-LEO was shot because of the money clip he was carrying...it was designed in the same manner as a DUSM badge, looked about the same, and when the guy robbing him came across it, he put one round into the head of the victim (who survived). The money clip was a gift from a friend who was with the USMS.

Personally, my rule is not to wear ANY law enforcement-type clothing while off-duty, including polo shirts, hats, etc. I have a closetful of shirts from training courses, etc. and usually wear them to do yard work or lounge around the house, but I don't wear them around town because in this day and age, you never know. That's just me, though, and I know that opinions vary.

Raid gear, on the other hand, has a single purpose, and anyone who wears any type of raid shirt/jacket for no reason other than to be seen in it is a moron, plain and simple.

k

I don't have a problem with it when done with respect, but I do have a problem when people wear Police gear thinking they can get out of a ticket because they " support us" by wearing Police shirts, hats or stickers on vehicles.............