Hays Police Department receives a complete uniform overhaul <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/11/1574297924827.jpeg"> By JAMES BELLHays Post Guns, tasers, batons and handcuffs are typically what is considered police department equipment. But an often overlooked, but vital, part of the police inventory is the uniform. Recognizing the importance of safety, comfort and functionality for officers, the Hays Police Department has completed the switch to a new uniform system, while at the same time keeping alive a traditional police look. Hays Chief of Police Don Scheibler said the HPD uniform had not changed since the 1950s and it was becoming challenging to maintain. A recent picture of officer graduation in which the pants every officer was wearing was a slightly different color highlighted the need for Scheibler. “Quickly, our uniform became non-uniform,” he said. The search for new uniforms began in 2018 when a group of department employees, called the roundtable committee, began looking at new options. “We knew there we better options out there for our officers in terms of wellness,” Scheibler said. “Those guys researched, tested and evaluated several different brands of uniforms.” And the timing was perfect for change. “We had gotten to a place where we had gotten through a lot of our inventory so the timing was good for this uniform change,” said HPD Lt. Brandon Wright. <a href="https://www.blauer.com/?gclid=Cj0KCQiA5dPuBRCrARIsAJL7oejMfkswIuqAGuhX3BVGw8Hm7i4AhjoHDMH0JmdFlqbH87xU1DdGEH8aAg9IEALw_wcB" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent;">While the gear attached to it is the same he said, he said, the underlying uniform system from Blauer is a complete overhaul.&nbsp;</a> “It’s a one-stop-shop,” Wright said of Blauer. "They produce all parts of the uniform, meaning colors will always match and the pieces of the system will work together." Among the upgrades with the new system is an outer carrier suspension system that moves weight from the hips to the shoulders. <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/11/1574298124510.jpeg"> “Wearing that extra 25 pounds of weight on the hips causes all kinds of back problems,” Scheibler said, adding many older officers have needed surgery to repair long-term damage to the back from years of wearing heavy police belts loaded with equipment. The new system shifts the weight with an underlying suspender system that goes under the external vest carrier that looks like a traditional police shirt, Wright said. The system also allows for better airflow, freedom of motion, and it is easily removable, giving officers the option to quickly pull it off when working in the office. It accomplishes this while looking innocuously like a traditional shirt. “We really like the crisp traditional professional police look and for a long time the external carriers had the bulky, pockets and pouches — giving it a militaristic look," Wright said. "We really wanted to stick to the traditional police look.” And many additional pockets in the shirt and pants make up for the missing storage capacity of the old vest system the department deployed. “The extra pockets gives them the ability to carry the extra gear they need while maintaining the professional look that we are going for,” Wright said. The traditional uniform style also helps keep the officers safe, Scheibler said, as studies have shown it is a deterrent to attacks. “If you look professional and act professional, people are less likely to assault or attack you,” he said. The traditional police uniform style is sported by other larger departments in the state, such as the Topeka and Wichita departments and the Kansas Highway Patrol. While the improved performance and added safety is important, some ascetic features of the new uniforms also help achieve the look the department is working toward. The old-style belt went from basket weave to a high gloss. <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/11/1574298062256.jpeg"> “We think that looks sharp and professional,” Wright said. A redesigned Hays Police Department Badge is another notable feature of the new uniform. The previous badge featured an image of the Monarch of the Plains along with an image of old Fort Hays. The Fort has been a feature on all of the Hays Police badges over the years and is also on the new badge. <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/11/1574297854057.jpeg"> “The history of the Fort is the history of our community,” Scheibler said. “It’s really the first place where we put our flag and said we would defend this ground, and this is where we will raise our family, start our businesses and make our community.” But the statue has been removed. “It’s a beautiful statue and an amazing thing to see, but I don’t think we were doing it justice on the badge,” Scheibler said. <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/11/1574298017565.jpeg"> The badge was designed by Fort Hays State University student MaKinlie Hennes. “She did amazing work for us,” Scheibler said. “We have a modern, professional-looking patch that has ties to the history of our community.”

Hays PD: Protecting and serving in style