Policewear

SMART EISENHOWER JACKETS add 1951 stylings to uniforms of the Ft. Lauderdale Police force. Modeling the new policewear are left to right, Patrolman Doris Thompkins, Traffic Lieutenant Francis May and Patrolman Edward G. Elmer.

He has policewear from just about everywhere — the Spanish Civil Guard, French riot police, Canadian Mounties, airport police, dock police, shore patrols, military police . . .

During the holiday season, while everyone else is ignoring work, the cadets will be getting physicals and shopping for policewear — breathing a sigh of relief after having tip-toed through the recruiters’ minefield of questionnaires, written tests, agility tests, oral exams and background investigations.

But unfortunately the fashion credo holds for policewear just like everything else: Chic is not cheap. Ask a policeman.

The first sign of rot was the widespread adoption of fluorescent safety-style policewear. This gives the impression the personal safety of police officers is more important than pursuing the miscreant in a westerly direction and apprehending Mad Frankie in the act of doing over a pawnbrokers.

Polly’s dressing-up box was full of good disguises. Quite a few had an erotic slant – for instance, nursewear, policewear, full bondage gear – but I wanted to hide from Mr Death, not be chased by him like a malnourished Benny Hill.