Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Connecting Officer Appearance with Officer Safety: A Survey of Police Officers’ Perceptions of Uniforms and Accoutrements

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Policing & Firearms

Abstract

A burgeoning body of literature has demonstrated the relevance of officer appearance for public perceptions of police. Much less research, however, has explored how officer appearance can impact officers’ perceptions of themselves, including with respect to safety. Drawing upon survey data from a sample of sworn police officers (N = 238) from the Queensland Police Service, we empirically investigate the effects of different uniforms and accoutrements on officers’ perceptions of their own safety, comfort, and power. Our results reveal that officers’ perceptions vary as a function of equipment (e.g., shirt color, vest style, headwear). Our results also reveal that officers’ perceptions of safety correlate with the other perceptual outcomes tested as part of our research. We discuss our results with respect to existing literature regarding officer appearance as well as policing policy and practice.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution

Subscribe and save

Springer+ Basic
$34.99 /Month
  • Get 10 units per month
  • Download Article/Chapter or eBook
  • 1 Unit = 1 Article or 1 Chapter
  • Cancel anytime
Subscribe now

Buy Now

Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 149.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 199.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 199.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

Notes

  1. 1.

    Given the dearth of scholarly literature in this specific domain, we rely upon a combination of formal and informal sources, including officer narratives as quoted in media, as well as our professional experience discussing uniforms and accoutrements with police from around the world as part of this section. We suggest that rigorously testing these dynamics should form the subject of future research.

  2. 2.

    We collected all images with the assistance of the QPS, and therefore they feature actual police officers and genuine police equipment.

  3. 3.

    Participants were given the following written instructions: “Imagine YOU are wearing this pictured combination of uniform and accoutrements. Using the below scales, please rate how YOU would feel in this capacity.”

  4. 4.

    In this image, the officer’s thigh firearm holster was removed so that they were not wearing two holsters at one time.

References

  • Antonelli, K. (1996, April 3). Baltimore Co. police replacing white uniform shirts with blue dark color for night to work as camouflage against criminals’ aim. The Baltimore Sun. Accessed via https://www.baltimoresun.com/news/bs-xpm-1996-04-03-1996094038-story.html

  • Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2021). 2016 Census QuickStats: Greater Brisbane. Accessed via https://quickstats.censusdata.abs.gov.au/census_services/getproduct/census/2016/quickstat/3GBRI

  • Australian Government Bureau of Meteorology. (2021). Climate data online: Brisbane. Accessed via http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/data/

  • Backes, C., Religi, A., Moccozet, L., Behar-Cohen, F., Vuilleumier, L., Bulliard, J. L., & Vernez, D. (2019). Sun exposure to the eyes: Predicted UV protection effectiveness of various sunglasses. Journal of Exposure Science & Environmental Epidemiology, 29, 753–764.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bell, D. J. (1982). Police uniforms, attitudes, and citizens. Journal of Criminal Justice, 10(1), 45–55.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bickman, L. (1974). The social power of a uniform. Journal of Applied Social Psychology, 4(1), 47–61.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Blaskovits, B., Bennell, C., Baldwin, S., Ewanation, L., Brown, A., & Korva, N. (2021). The thin blue line between cop and soldier: Examining public perceptions of the militarized appearance of police. Police Practice & Research. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1080/15614263.2021.1889378

  • Boyanowsky, E. O., & Griffiths, C. T. (1982). Weapons and eye contact as instigators or inhibitors of aggressive arousal in police-citizen interaction. Journal of Applied Social Psychology, 12(5), 398–407.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Broussard, K. A., & Harton, H. C. (2018). Tattoo or taboo? Tattoo stigma and negative attitudes toward tattooed individuals. The Journal of Social Psychology, 158(5), 521–540.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bushman, B. J. (1988). The effects of apparel on compliance: A field experiment with a female authority figure. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 14(3), 459–467.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Campoli, J. (2021, March 15). Is the hip or thigh holster the best option for police? PSP Corp. Accessed via https://pspcorp.ca/blogs/article/is-the-hip-or-thigh-holster-the-best-option-for-police

  • Durkin, K., & Jeffery, L. (2000). The salience of the uniform in young children’s perception of police status. Legal and Criminological Psychology, 5(1), 47–55.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Evans, T. (2021, June 28). OPP officers get their wish: Baseball caps now part of uniform. BarrieToday. Accessed via https://www.barrietoday.com/local-news/opp-officers-get-their-wish-baseball-caps-now-part-of-uniform-3911564

  • Gaub, J. E., Choate, D. E., Todak, N., Katz, C. M., & White, M. D. (2016). Officer perceptions of body-worn cameras before and after deployment: A study of three departments. Police Quarterly, 19(3), 275–302.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gervais, P., Baudin, P., Cruikshank, B., & Dahlstedt, D. L. (1998). Comparative analysis between police batons. Forensic Science International, 91(1), 7–17.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Headley, A. M., Guerette, R. T., & Shariati, A. (2017). A field experiment of the impact of body-worn cameras (BWCs) on police officer behavior and perceptions. Journal of Criminal Justice, 53, 102–109.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jenkins, B., Semple, T., Bennell, C., Carter, E., Baldwin, S., & Blaskovits, B. (2021). Examining the impact of uniform manipulations on perceptions of police officers among Canadian university students. Police Practice & Research. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1080/15614263.2021.1900849

  • Jennings, W. G., Fridell, L. A., & Lynch, M. D. (2014). Cops and cameras: Officer perceptions of the use of body-worn cameras in law enforcement. Journal of Criminal Justice, 42(6), 549–556.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Johnson, R. R. (2005). Police uniform color and citizen impression formation. Journal of Police and Criminal Psychology, 20(2), 58–66.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Johnson, R. R., Plecas, D., Anderson, S., & Dolan, H. (2015). No hat or tie required: Examining minor changes to the police uniform. Journal of Police and Criminal Psychology, 30(3), 158–165.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Joseph, N., & Alex, N. (1972). The uniform: A sociological perspective. American Journal of Sociology, 77(4), 719–730.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kim, M., & Song, C. S. (2021). Understanding police officers’ usage of high-visibility safety apparel: The role of safety ethics and professional appearance. Safety, 7(1), 1–16.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Larsen, L. B., Tranberg, R., & Ramstrand, N. (2016). Effects of thigh holster use on kinematics and kinetics of active duty police officers. Clinical Biomechanics, 37, 77–82.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lin, T., Luiselli, J. K., Gilligan, K., & Dacosta, S. (2012). Preventing injury from child aggression: A single-case evaluation of the effects of staff-worn protective equipment. Developmental Neurorehabilitation, 15(4), 298–303.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lum, C., Stoltz, M., Koper, C. S., & Scherer, J. A. (2019). Research on body-worn cameras: What we know, what we need to know. Criminology & Public Policy, 18(1), 93–118.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mauro, R. (1984). The constable’s new clothes: Effects of uniforms on perceptions and problems of police officers. Journal of Applied Social Psychology, 14(1), 42–56.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • McMullen, S. M., & Gibbs, J. (2019). Tattoos in policing: A survey of state police policies. Policing: An International Journal, 42(3), 408–420.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mitchell, R. J., & Huey, L. (Eds.). (2019). Evidence based policing: An introduction. Policy Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Monteiro, L. (2020, May 20). Waterloo Regional Police officers to wear ball caps starting in June. The Record. Accessed via https://www.therecord.com/news/waterloo-region/2020/05/20/waterloo-regional-police-officers-to-wear-ball-caps-starting-in-june.html

  • Nickels, E. (2008). Good guys wear black: Uniform color and citizen impressions of police. Policing: An International Journal, 31(1), 77–92.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nisenson, A., Kubu, B., & Carney, A. (2011). Evaluation of reflective vest options. Institute for Police Research.

    Google Scholar 

  • O’Connor, C. D., Koziarski, J., Frederick, T., Kosarolo, K., & Baker, V. (2021). Presenting a uniformed self: Symbols of safety in police auxiliary members’ perceptions. International Journal of Police Science & Management. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1177/14613557211032614.

  • O’Neill, J., Swenson, S. A., Stark, E., O’Neill, D. A., & Lewinski, W. J. (2018). Protective vests in law enforcement: A pilot survey of public perceptions. Journal of Police and Criminal Psychology, 33(2), 100–108.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ramstrand, N., Zugner, R., Larsen, L. B., & Tranberg, R. (2016). Evaluation of load carriage systems used by active duty police officers: Relative effects on walking patterns and perceived comfort. Applied Ergonomics, 53(A), 36–43.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sandrin, R., & Simpson, R. (2022). Public assessments of police during the COVID-19 pandemic: The effects of procedural justice and personal protective equipment. Policing: An International Journal, 45(1), 154–168.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sierra-Arevalo, M. (2021). American policing and the danger imperative. Law & Society Review, 55(1), 70–103.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Simpson, R. (2017). The Police Officer Perception Project (POPP): An experimental evaluation of factors that impact perceptions of the police. Journal of Experimental Criminology, 13(3), 393–415.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Simpson, R. (2019a). Officer appearance and perceptions of police: Beyond an instrumental function, toward a signaling framework (ID: Simpson_uci_0030D_15782) [Doctoral dissertation, University of California, Irvine]. ProQuest Dissertations Publishing. Accessed via https://escholarship.org/uc/item/3n04m9cv

  • Simpson, R. (2019b). Police vehicles as symbols of legitimacy. Journal of Experimental Criminology, 15(1), 87–101.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Simpson, R. (2020). Officer appearance and perceptions of police: Accoutrements as signals of intent. Policing: A Journal of Policy and Practice, 14(1), 243–257.

    Google Scholar 

  • Simpson, R., & Sandrin, R. (2022). The use of personal protective equipment (PPE) by police during a public health crisis: An experimental test of public perception. Journal of Experimental Criminology, 18(2), 297–319.

    Google Scholar 

  • Singer, M. S., & Singer, A. E. (1985). The effect of police uniform on interpersonal perception. The Journal of Psychology, 119(2), 157–161.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Smith, J. J. (2019). To adopt or not to adopt: Contextualizing police body-worn cameras through structural contingency and institutional theoretical perspectives. Criminal Justice Review, 44(3), 369–385.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Stoughton, S. W. (2015). Law enforcement’s “warrior” problem. Harvard Law Review Forum, 128, 225–234.

    Google Scholar 

  • Stoughton, S. W. (2016). Principled policing: Warrior cops and guardian officers. Wake Forest Law Review, 51, 611–676.

    Google Scholar 

  • Thielgen, M., Schade, S., & Rohr, J. (2020). How criminal offenders perceive police officers’ appearance: Effects of uniforms and tattoos on inmates’ attitudes. Journal of Forensic Psychology Research and Practice, 20(3), 214–240.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Thomson, C. (2008, September 4). WA police defend Lara Croft-style thigh holsters. WA Today. Accessed via https://www.watoday.com.au/national/western-australia/wa-police-defend-lara-croftstyle-thigh-holsters-20080903-48kq.html

  • Ulibarri, A. (2021). This load-bearing vest offers body armor protection in a uniform look. Police1. Accessed via https://www.police1.com/police-products/duty-gear/articles/this-load-bearing-vest-offers-body-armor-protection-in-a-uniform-look-BGmKgXGKFkLXJDCq/

  • Volpp, J. M., & Lennon, S. J. (1988). Perceived police authority as a function of uniform hat and sex. Perceptual and Motor Skills, 67(3), 815–824.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • World Health Organization. (2020, July 9). Q&A: How is COVID-19 transmitted? https://www.who.int/news-room/q-a-detail/q-a-how-is-covid-19-transmitted

  • World Health Organization. (n.d.). Glove use information leaflet. https://www.who.int/gpsc/5may/Glove_Use_Information_Leaflet.pdf

  • Yesberg, J. A., Bradford, B., & Dawson, P. (2021). An experimental study of responses to armed police in Great Britain. Journal of Experimental Criminology, 17(1), 1–13.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank Sergeant Amber Muscat, the Performance Inspector Brisbane Region, and our anonymous photography models from the Queensland Police Service for their invaluable assistance with this project. The authors also wish to acknowledge the support and assistance from the Queensland Police Service in undertaking this research. The views expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of the Queensland Police Service and any errors of omission or commission are the responsibility of the authors.

Funding Statement

This research was funded by a Griffith University Arts, Education, and Law Strategic Grant and the Griffith Criminology Institute.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Criminology, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC, Canada

    Rylan Simpson

  2. School of Criminology and Criminal Justice, Griffith University, Mount Gravatt, QLD, Australia

    Elise Sargeant

Authors
  1. Rylan Simpson
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Elise Sargeant
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Rylan Simpson .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Deakin University, Geelong, VIC, Australia

    Clare Farmer

  2. Deakin University, Geelong, VIC, Australia

    Richard Evans

Appendix A. Sample images of female and male police officers in different aesthetic capacities, including when wearing the standard uniform, hip firearm holster, forage cap, and civilian attire

Appendix A. Sample images of female and male police officers in different aesthetic capacities, including when wearing the standard uniform, hip firearm holster, forage cap, and civilian attire

Description

Image

Image

Standard uniform

Hip firearm holster

Forage cap

Civilian attire

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2023 The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG

About this chapter

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this chapter

Simpson, R., Sargeant, E. (2023). Connecting Officer Appearance with Officer Safety: A Survey of Police Officers’ Perceptions of Uniforms and Accoutrements. In: Farmer, C., Evans, R. (eds) Policing & Firearms. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-13013-7_17

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-13013-7_17

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-031-13012-0

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-031-13013-7

  • eBook Packages: Law and CriminologyLaw and Criminology (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation