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36 LAW ENFORCEMENT TECHNOLOGY AUGUST 2017 www.officer.com had pockets hidden all over the place," Dandoy says. "The function was good because we could store documents on the inside of the shirt, but the look was not acceptable for us." Luckily, says Dandoy, manufac- turers are creating uniforms that are functional, keep a desired appearance U NIF O R M S A N D B O D Y A R M O R After the workday, keep your style on with an authentic Stratton Western Hat! Stratton Hats is the world's largest manufacturer of hats for uniformed personnel. Stratton Uniform Hats enhance authority and dignity, and have the added benefi t of opaque, sun-shielding brims for valuable protection against harmful UV rays. All Stratton Hats are made in the USA. Nothing tops a Stratton Hat. Visit our website or call today. Phone: 708-544-5220 Fax: 708-544-5243 WWW.STRAT TONHATS.COM TO SERVE AND PROTECT This Offi cer Wears a Stratton Hat and So Should You. Use your Smart Phone and QR code scanner to visit our web site. Circle 40 on Reader Service Card and feel good, which is important. "If you're not comfortable, you're going to complain," he notes. 3 Evaluate cost (in time and money) Cost has been a large factor in uniform replacement for both the Wisconsin and Kansas agencies. The entire transition to new uniforms will take two years for the Wichita Police Department, with com- pletion set for March 2019. "It would be nice to transfer all at once, but it comes with a cost," says White. "We have 650 commissioned officers who need four to five uniforms each. It's not a cost we can afford all at once." Dandoy notes that his department has a uniform allowance, but switching uniforms can be expensive. "You have to think about the look of your uniform after a few months of wearing and wash- ing. The color is going to fade eventually on your uniforms, and if you have the same color uniform on top and bottom, then it's going to look really silly if you place a new shirt with a faded out pair of pants. It's not going to look uniformed." Wichita PD also found that while one uniform worked best for some, it did not work for all so the department ulti- mately chose two uniform suppliers who had similar Navy Blue. Of the decision, White says, "There was a cost to it, but the committee was split nearly 50/50 on which uniform they liked best." The uniform redesign process can be tedious, says White, but it's one that people like when they have a say. "You just have to have patience and know it's not as simple as a shirt and pants change. You must look at the badge design, the shoulder patch, belts and more." Over the next two years, Wichita PD will transition from tan to Navy Blue uniforrms.