What are the legal and psychological effects of police uniforms? How are times changing in these areas?

Question

What will be an ideal response

Answer 1

"The uniform stands out as one of the most important visual representations of the law enforcement profession." The officer is immediately and uniquely set apart from society. For some, the uniform seems to be a target for all kinds of verbal abuse and even fists or bullets; for others, it is a welcomed as a symbol of legal authority. Police administrators have long been able to regulate the appearance of their officers. In Kelley v. Johnson, 1976, the U.S. Supreme Court held that police agencies have a legitimate, rational interest in establishing such rules and regulations. Therefore, police administrators can dictate how the uniform will be worn—as well as other aspects of personal appearance. Research has consistently supported suggestions about the police uniform's power and authority. In one study, individuals ranked 25 different occupational uniforms by several categories of feelings. The test subjects consistently ranked the police uniform as the one most likely to induce feelings of safety. Studies have also shown that people consistently rate models as more competent, reliable, intelligent, and helpful when pictured in a police uniform, rather than in casual clothes. This is an area where the views of administrators toward officers' uniforms and appearance may well inherently clash with the street officers' viewpoints, as the latter try to be more "expressive" in an era when tattoos and facial hair are more commonplace and less stigmatized.