Did you know that a Minneapolis policeman or policewoman owns his or her uniforms but not the insignia?  Or that wearing body armor while committing a crime is illegal?  Or owing teargas is legal in Minnesota and any civilian can buy it?  Those factoids are just a portion of the wealth of information Julie Deshler doled out during her presentation for the Twin Cities chapter of the Sisters in Crime at its November meeting.

As manager of Uniforms Unlimited, Ms. Deshler and her 20 employees outfit firefighters, city bus drivers, and health care workers throughout the Twin Cities Metro region.  Their operation supplies everything except firearms for 60% of the law enforcement personnel in the region as well.  Members of the Hennepin County sheriff’s department wear brown uniforms, state law enforcement officials wear tan or burgundy, and DNR officials sport green uniforms.  Minneapolis police sport blue or light blue uniforms which they must wear while on patrol since the City grants each of their police officers an $800 allowance for that purpose.

As a result of this practice, police officers do not own the identifying insignia worn on behalf of their employers, either.  Years ago, hobbyists used to collect the identifying patches worn by police and other city officials; now, Uniforms Unlimited employs three full-time tailors to sew the patches on each uniform.  Once an officer quits or retires from the force, he or she must remove the patches or donate them to the police officers union.

Body armor constitutes a portion of a police officer’s clothing allowance and can cost anywhere from $700 to $1100.  The cost of armor for SWAT members roughly doubles that amount, about $2500.  Nearly 80% of police officers wear some kind of body armor, depending upon the amount of hazards they encounter on the job. A small Kevlar vest weighs as little as four pounds, but one ceramic plate in a SWAT vest weighs three times that much.  And full Battle Dress Uniforms (BDUs) weigh twice that amount, but the protection is worth it.  Standard body armor can withstand bullet penetration from most kinds of street weapons.

Regarding local police weaponry, Uniforms Unlimited does not supply firearms due to the insurance expense involved.  However, the company does supply police officers with tear gas and Mace, the latter which costs between $10-$50. Uniforms Unlimited also supplies three different kinds of holsters and is the only authorized taser dealer in the state of Minnesota.  As the latest non-lethal weapon in the police arsenal, the business of selling tasers runs to $2 million a year in Minnesota alone.

Yet, human nature remains constant whatever the danger or profession. Despite all the changes in business practices over the years, the increased requirements of city, county, and state governments, and the variety of fabrics and weapons at police officers’ disposal, Ms. Deshler identifies this common thread throughout. ”People always think they are smaller or taller than they really are.”