13.2 Uniforms Wearing

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Centreville Police Department
Title: Uniforms Wearing Directive #: 13.2
Issued: 10.1.2016
Revised: 9.29.2020/ Rev. #3
Approved by: Joseph S. Saboury
Chief of Police
A. Purpose
To establish uniform standards for officers and civilian employees.
B. Policy
Officers and civilian employees are expected to maintain their uniforms in a manner that is appropriate for their
assignment.
C. Procedures
1. Applicability
This written directive applies to officers and civilian employees.
2. Uniform Regulations
a. All uniform clothing and equipment will be approved by the Chief.
b. The wearing of the CPD uniform will be governed by the regulations concerning how, what, where
and when specific uniform items will be worn.
c. The CPD will provide uniforms and equipment necessary for the performance of the duties of all
employees to the extent permitted by the budget and will remain property of the CPD.
d. Personal items of clothing may be authorized by the employee's supervisor to be worn in addition
to regulation uniform items during severe weather conditions.
e. Uniformed personnel while on-duty will appear in the prescribed uniform at all times, unless
otherwise advised by a supervisor.
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f. Any sworn employee of the Department under indefinite suspension pending a hearing for dismissal
must turn in all Department property issued to them. Whenever a police employee is under
suspension for a period of thirty days or less as a result of disciplinary action, he/she will be required
to surrender his issued weapon, badge(s) and all cards which identify him as being an employee of
the Department, to the Chief of Police for the period of suspension.
g. Uniformed employees of the Department will be held responsible for uniform, motor vehicle or other
equipment, issued or assigned to them, and where it is established that this equipment is lost or
damaged through negligence, the employee concerned may be obligated to replace the same at
his own expense. Every Department employee will assume a personal responsibility for all
Department property issued to them or placed in service for their use or convenience.
h. No decoration or insignia will be worn by any Department employee on the Centreville Police
Department uniform unless authorized by the Chief of Police, who will designate where, when, and in
what manner the insignia or decoration shall be worn.
i. Generally, the regulations concerning the wearing of uniforms and equipment as described in this
section are applicable only to police employees of the Department. However, the wearing of any
portion of the uniform or the improper or unauthorized use of Department equipment by civilian
employees is a violation of rules and regulations unless covered by orders specifically applicable to
the individual or group. Employees of the Department are forbidden to wear uniform items or use
equipment that fails to meet established specifications. All uniform clothing and equipment will be
approved by the Chief of Police or his designee.
j. The uniform must command respect, for it identifies the employee as a representative of the
Department. The uniform must be worn with pride and in a way to bring credit to the Department.
k. The following regulations govern the wearing of the Centreville Police Department uniform. Deviation
from the policy by substituting personal equipment, from that issued or approved for use, will
constitute grounds for disciplinary action:
Item Regulation Description
The issued Stetson style hat may be worn by uniform police employees
when in public or engaged in law enforcement activities. The hat does not
Hat, Stetson Style
need to be worn in the police station, while performing routine vehicle
maintenance, or when inside a building or vehicle.
*Shall be worn on the shirt collar, centered diagonally over the collar center
point.
Insignia of Rank
*Shall be worn on the sweater on the epaulet, 2 inch from bottom epaulet
seam
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Item Regulation Description
*Shall be worn on the patrol jacket epaulets, when issued shoulder boards.
When authorized, the pistol qualification badge will be worn as follows: On
the blouse, the medal will be centered over the button of the left pocket
Pistol Qualification Badge flap. When worn on the uniform shirt, the Pistol Qualification Medal will be
worn under the breast badge, centered on the flap of the left shirt pocket.
It shall not be worn on the sweater.
The wearing of the regulation issued tie is optional when the long sleeve
regulation shirt is worn, however, it shall be worn at special events, while
attending court or when the class ‘A’ uniform is worn. The tie will be
Necktie and Tie Bar secured to the shirt by a regulation issued tie bar, attached to the tie
between the third and fourth buttons from the top of the shirt. No tie will
be worn with the regulation short sleeve shirt. Non-regulation tie bars or
accessories will not be worn.
Only department issued shall be worn. When worn, the breast badge shall
be affixed to the badge holder that is provided. The nameplate shall also be
Uniform Sweater
affixed on the name plate holder provided. Rank insignia shall be worn on
the epaulets 2inches from bottom of epaulet seam.
All uniformed personnel below the rank of Lieutenant are required to wear
the vest while in uniform and on-duty. Personnel have been given the
option to either wear the vest traditionally, in the carrier under the uniform
Body Armor shirt or by using the exterior carrier. Under no circumstances will an
employee make or attempt to make any alterations to the vest. If it
becomes unserviceable, it will be returned to the Chief of Police for
replacement.
Police personnel, when in uniform, shall have the option to wear a
traditional "military" style black dress shoe or black tactical style boots.
Uniform shoes will have a plain toe; a five inch high (maximum) quarter;
and a distinct one and one-quarter inch high (maximum) heel. Shoes will be
Uniform Shoes/Boots constructed of black smooth leather or simulated leather capable of being
polished to a high luster. They shall have no ornamentation. The design of
the shoes will not permit the uniform trousers to ride up on the heel
opening. No other footwear shall be authorized, including, black style
sneakers, cowboy boots, etc.
Raincoat/suit Only Department issued shall be worn, unless otherwise authorized
When worn on the blouse, shirt, or the patrol jacket, badge will be worn in
the holder/location provided. When not in uniform but on-duty, the badge
Breast Badge
will be displayed on the front of the waist belt or displayed on a necklace
type chain.
*Line of duty death of a Centreville Police Officer - 30 days.
*Line of duty death for other Maryland Police Officer - 10 days.
Mourning Shroud for Breast Badge
*The mourning band will be worn by all police personnel attending such
funeral services.
Issued to all personnel and will be kept in a readily accessible location on
OC Spray/Chemical agent
the gun belt.
The gun belt, minus the shoulder strap, will be worn directly over the waist
Gun Belt belt. The shoulder strap will be used only by personnel when the dress
blouse is worn.
Handcuffs will be carried by all on-duty personnel. When carried by
Handcuffs uniformed personnel, handcuffs will be placed in a case and worn on the
uniform gun belt or waist belt, in a position that is accessible to the
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Item Regulation Description
individual. The actual use and the method of carrying handcuffs by
non-uniform personnel will be determined by the nature of the individual's
assignment.
The issuance and use of handguns by police employees will be in
Handguns
conformance with specifications and procedures in Directive 22.1
The Department issued holster shall be worn on the gun belt according to
the dominant hand of the user. When on-duty and not in uniform or
Holster
otherwise permitted by a supervisor, an issued or approved holster shall be
worn affixed to the waist belt.
Will be placed on the gun belt wherever it is most convenient, accessible,
and comfortable for the individual. The Microphone Holder, when used
Radio
with a portable radio, will be worn in the manner recommended by the
manufacturer.
Will be placed on the gun belt wherever it is most convenient, accessible,
Expandable Baton
and comfortable for the individual.
Will be placed on the gun belt wherever it is most convenient, accessible,
Taser and comfortable for the individual. However, the Taser will be worn to be
accessible only in a ‘cross-draw’ motion.
*Only Department issued will be worn.
*When the short sleeve shirt is worn, the undershirt will not be visible at
Uniform Shirts either the neck or biceps, nor will any medallions, chokers, or necklaces be
visible at the neck.
*Pencils or pens will not protrude from the pockets.
*Only department issued will be worn.
*The undervest shirt is only to be worn when the outer body armor carrier
Undervest Shirt
is worn.
*Not to be worn as an outer uniform shirt.
Only Department issued uniform slacks will be worn by all personnel unless
Uniforms Pants
otherwise authorized.
Will be issued to all uniform personnel. The patrol jacket will be worn with
the front zipper closed at least halfway up from the bottom. Only the
Patrol Jacket
breast badge, shoulder patch, and rank insignia, will be displayed on the
patrol jacket.
When worn on the uniform shirt, regulation issue will be worn over the
right breast pocket, centered, and with the bottom edge of the name plate
Nameplate
touching the top edge of the flap of the right breast pocket. When worn on
the on the sweater, the nameplate shall be affixed in the holder provided.
The CPD shoulder patch is to be placed on the left and right shoulder of the
shirt, blouse, patrol jacket, and sweater. All shoulder patches will be placed
CPD Shoulder Patch
so that the top is ½ inch below the shoulder seam and centered on the
seam.
Will be placed on the gun belt wherever it is most convenient, accessible,
Firearms Magazines
and comfortable for the individual.
*Hash marks shall be worn on the left sleeve of the Long Sleeve Uniform
Hash marks Shirt and Class A Blouse.
*Each Hash mark represents 5 years of law enforcement service
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3. Prohibitions
a. Uniforms may not be modified in any way without permission of the Chief.
b. Officers and civilian employees will not allow another CPD employee or any other person to use their
badge or any other means of personal identification.
c. Substituting unapproved personal equipment for equipment that was issued or approved for use
may result in disciplinary action.
d. No decoration or insignia may be worn on the CPD uniform unless authorized by the Chief, who will
designate where, when and in what manner the insignia or decoration will be worn.
e. CPD employees will not wear the uniform while attending any court as a defendant in any trial, as a
party in a civil trial or while serving as a juror.
4. Classes of Uniform – Non-Commissioned Officers
a. CLASS A: blouse, long-sleeve shirt, tie, felt Stetson; gun belt with shoulder strap.
(1) Dress uniform.
(2) Worn by all officers when attending or assigned to any official function (unless this requirement
is waived) and when ordered by the Chief.
(3) Worn by commissioned officers at public appearances.
b. CLASS B: long-sleeve shirt, tie (optional), felt Stetson; gun belt; officers may wear the patrol jacket
and/or uniform sweater with the Class B uniform.
(1) Work uniform.
(2) Worn for routine duties or assignments.
(3) May be worn to official functions with authorization from the appropriate commander.
c. CLASS C: short sleeve shirt, straw Stetson, and gun belt.
(1) Work uniform.
(2) Worn for routine duties or assignments.
5. Classes of Uniform – Commissioned Officers
The classes of uniform remain the same as non-commissioned officers, except commissioned officers:
a. must wear only a holster, without a gun belt, with the Class A uniform.
b. may wear only a holster, without a gun belt, or may wear a gun belt with Class B or C uniforms.
c. must always have a Class A uniform available.
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6. Uniform of the Day
a. All officers, regardless of assignment, will have at least one uniform of each class available.
b. Officers will wear the uniform of the day, unless authorized by their commander to wear other
appropriate apparel.
c. The dates of change from winter to summer uniforms will be the prerogative of the Chief.
7. Department Citation Ribbons
1. Award Medals
a. One medal may be worn, at the discretion of the officer, on the uniform blouse.
b. The medal will be worn centered on the right pocket below the pocket flap.
2. Award Ribbons
a. May be worn, at the discretion of the officer, on the uniform blouse or shirt.
b. Awards will be worn centered ½” above the name plate in rows of up to three across.
c. When wearing three or fewer ribbons, all will be worn in a single row, with the highest-
category ribbon closest to the heart and other awards descending from left to right.
d. When wearing more than three ribbons, the highest category ribbon will be worn on
the top row, closest to the heart and other awards will descend from left to right and
from top to bottom.
3. Unit or Training Insignia
a. One insignia may be worn, at the discretion of the officer, on the uniform blouse or shirt.
b. The insignia will be worn centered ½” above the nameplate.
c. If an officer is wearing award ribbons and a unit or training insignia, the unit insignia or
training insignia will be centered ½” above the awards.
d. Once an officer has served in one of the units that issues a unit insignia or has received
training for which an insignia pin has been issued, he is authorized to wear the pin
whether or not he remains in the unit or maintains the certification requirements.
e. The following unit insignia pins are authorized to be worn on the uniform:
(1) K-9
f. The following training pins are authorized to be worn on the uniform:
(1) DARE (Drug Abuse Resistance Education).
(2) DRE (Drug Recognition Expert).
(3) EMT (Emergency Medical Technician).
(4) FTO (Field Training Officer).
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