Columbus Police Department changing look for officers, vehicles

COLUMBUS, Ga. (WRBL) — There are alterations at the Columbus Police Department that the general public will quickly observe — if they have not presently.

People alterations will impact the way the law enforcement officers look – and what their vehicles appear like.

And, some of the changes are heading to be extraordinary.

For virtually a 50 percent century, Columbus Police officers have experienced very much the identical appear. They have driven two-tone blue and white autos. And they have worn mild blue slacks and dim blue shirts.

Which is all transforming.

“The command personnel met with our officers and listened to their requests for new cars, new uniforms and facial hair,” Chief Freddie Blackmon told News 3.

The new uniforms will be what they phone LAPD blue — a dim blue, practically black. And the trousers will be the similar color as the tops.

Officers will be donning individuals uniforms, which price $625 every, by July 1st. The uniforms are designed to reposition some of the weight officers have. A vest will also some things currently on a belt to be moved better on the system, having some strain off the hips and back again, Blackmon claimed.

A different improve is facial hair. For decades, officers have been limited from escalating facial hair. That was lifted about two months ago and properly around 50 per cent of the male officers now have some form of facial development.

“The bottom line is our officers that go out and conduct their positions to the greatest of their skill, investigating conditions, answering 9-1-1 phone calls, and offering expert services to our citizens,” Blackmon explained. “Facial hair is not heading to quit our officers from currently being in a position to do that.”

Deputy Main Lance Deaton, who is in administrative solutions but has invested substantially of his 20-12 months profession as a parole officer and detective states the facial hair is a positive for officers.

“I imagine it is a morale booster,” said Deaton, who has grown a beard. “I think it’s a compact matter in the grand plan of points. But it does have a huge impact. … You will see a considerable total of our officers who are expanding beards, goatees or some kind of facial hair.”

The adjustments are not restricted to own grooming and uniforms.

The section has bought 31 replacement cars. They are all Ford Explorers – SUVs — and for the 1st time in decades, they won’t be blue and white.

The recent fleet is Dodge Costs and Chevy Tahoes. All the new vehicles will be a single shade — a uniformed royal blue.

“The matter about these new Ford Explorers – and we looked at numerous distinct alternatives as we were likely through this process seeking to purchase new automobiles and seeking at transitioning our graphics and paint plan and that sort of things,” Deaton explained. “The point that jumps out about the Ford Explorers is there is a lot more room than our Chargers. It still has a very low center of gravity that is a lot safer for our officers as it relates to the Tahoe. But it offers you more space when compared to the Chargers.”

With the total police deal on the Explorers, the value is about $53,000 pounds for every SUV. That compares to 20-19 price ranges of $40,000 pounds for the Chargers and $45,000 dollars for the Tahoes.