New Police Uniforms Approved by Town Council Will Help Officers 'Chase Bad Guys'

Cops love their new uniforms, ok’d by the Town Council Monday night. Officers can chase suspects; jump fences if need be. They’re comfortable and easy to clean. No frills, bells or whistles, but that’s okay, too. That’s what they wanted.

 But not what everyone wanted including Lt. Leonard Bunnell who appeared before the Council two weeks ago to say the then-proposed uniform was not appropriate for Montville police officers. He compared them to those worn by “a militia,” and said officers wearing them “looked disheveled.”  He said existing the uniform was better because “you know  that’s a police officer.” 

Bunnell pointed to the trousers with a red stripe, gray shirt with epilates as being “a police officer’s uniform, not those.”

But other police officers also addressed the council, and one, Officer Matt Orr, modeled the look.

“It’s okay to look pretty, but it’s not functional,” said officer robin Salvatore, who s head of the police union local.

“We’re not asking for more money; it’s already n the budget. We need to be able to chase bad guys…and not pay $12 each time (an officer needs) to dry clean (the old uniform).

And so after being discussed in open session and then returned to the Council’s administration committee, the council voted to bless the new uniform.

“Thank you, thank you,” Salvatore said.

So expect to see Montville Police officers dressed in a dark uniform sans the stripes.