Changes Coming to Bloomfield Township Police Uniforms

officers will have a new look soon as the department implements slight changes to their uniforms this month.


Chief Kirt Bowden said that the patches on every officer's uniform will change from the traditional white background to a navy blue background. There will also be significant changes to reflect a more accurate image of the state seal within the department logo.

The current image has additional trees and lacks the American Eagle. Bowden, a department veteran of 33 years, said it's the first change to the patch he can recall.

"It's always been that way and this does put us closer to a lot of other law enforcement agencies that we work with," Bowden said. "It's also a more modern look."

Also getting an upgrade are the officers' pants, which will go from light blue to navy blue.

"They're subtle changes that most people probably won't notice,"  said Leslie Helwig, the township's director of community relations.

But the officers will, Bowden insisted. In addition to the new color, the pants material will switch from traditional wool to a mesh of lighter and flexible fabric.

The proposed changes were tested by select officers over the past year and were well received, he added.

"Trust me, the wool pants get really hot in the summer and this is just so much more practical," Bowden said.

The changes will be phased in sometime this month.

Bowden noted the department has changed pant color multiple times but never matched them up with the shirt before.

He said the department's 67 sworn officers and command will pay for the changes through an annual uniform allowance.