Policy Text
CONCORD POLICE DEPARTMENT
STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURE
PERSONAL APPEARANCE STANDARDS AND EQUIPMENT
GENERAL ORDER : 06.01 CREATED: October 25, 2006 ISSUE DATE : April 17, 2023
CALEA STANDARD: 17.5.2 , 22.1.8 , 22.1.9, 22.2.2 EFFECTIVE DATE: April 23, 2023
ACTION : Amends general order dated October 1, 2022.
06.01 .0 PURPOSE
The purpose of this general order is to establish policies and procedures for department
uniforms, equipment, and appearance.
06.01 .1 POLICY
It shall be the policy of the Concord Police Department t hat coworkers conform to the
uniform, equipment, and appearance regulations as herein prescribed unless expressly
authorized by the Chief of Police when their duties or other necessity requires a departure
from this policy.
06.01 .2 UNIFORM REQUIREMENTS
A. Coworkers whose assignment or position requires the wearing of a uniform shall be
in proper uniform while on duty. All uniforms , equipment, and accessories shall
conform to the specifications as herein prescribed.
B. Notwithstanding (A) above, coworkers whose assignme nt or position requires the
wearing of a uniform, but who are assigned in an administrative capacity (e.g.
command staff) and working within a secure environment, may use their discretion
in terms of wearing their Sam Browne duty belt. Such coworkers, if accessible to the
public, shall at minimum carry their department issued firearm. If such coworkers
so assigned to an administrative role perform in a patrol capacity –even temporarily -
they shall wear the full complement of duty gear as prescribed in thi s policy and (A)
above while on patrol (e.g. responding to an d answering calls for service, policing
special events, etc.).
C. Coworkers shall keep their uniforms, issued or assigned equipment, and accessories
clean, serviceable, and professional in appearance.
D. Coworkers shall not wear on any part of their uniform any unauthorized badge, patch,
button, insignia, or decoration.
E. Coworkers are prohibited from wearing the department uniform or any identifying
insignia related to the department or the City of Concord while participating in a
public demonstration.
F. Coworkers shall not mix civilian attire with their uniform in public.
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06.01 .3 OFFICERS NOT REQUIRED TO WEAR A UNIFORM
A. Officers , who by their position or duty assignment are not required to wear a uniform
(e.g., detectives assigned to investigations), shall, while on-duty, dress in
professional business attire (e.g., for males - a business suit or jacket, trousers, shirt
and tie; for females - a business suit, or blazer with slacks or skirt, or a dress) unless
otherwise prescribed within this policy.
B. Supervisors assigned to investigations may wear a department uniform or dress in
professional business attire.
C. Officers and supervisors not required to wear a uniform shall wear professional
business attire when appearing in court.
06.01 .4 UNIFORM REGULATIONS
A. UNIFORM HAT / BASEBALL CAP / UNIFORM KNIT CAP / HEADBAND
1. The Class A hat shall be kept neat and clean, and readily accessible to uniformed
officers while on -duty. Officers assigned to motorcycle or bicycle patrol shall have
their required safety headgear readily accessible.
2. The badge shall be fastened appropriately to t he front of the hat and centered
vertically.
3. The Class A hat shall be worn during inspections, funeral services, formal
ceremonies, or as otherwise directed by the Chief of Police.
4. Department issued baseball caps may be worn, provided they are worn in a
professional manner, level on the head, with the department emblem facing
forward and centered.
5. Department issued knit caps and headbands may be worn, provided the
department emblem, if applicable, is facing forward and centered, but shall only
be worn o utdoors.
B. NECKTIE
1. The uniform necktie shall be black , four -in-hand style slipknot, with a clip -on
fastener for safety. Officers not assigned to patrol duties have the option of
wearing a conventional tie without a clip -on fastener.
2. The uniform necktie shall not be worn with the short sleeve uniform shirt.
3. Except as otherwise prescribed in this policy, the uniform necktie is not required
to be worn with the long sleeve uniform shirt. However, when not wearing the
necktie, officers shall only have the t op shirt button unfastened, and they shall
wear the required undershirt.
4. The uniform necktie is required to be worn with the long sleeve Class A uniform
shirt during funeral services, formal ceremonies, federal and superior court
appearances, or as otherw ise directed by the Chief of Police.
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5. A solid black uniform necktie is required to be worn with the white long sleeve
Class A uniform shirt issued to majors, the deputy chief, and the Chief of Police.
6. Officers wearing the uniform necktie may wear a single tie bar or tie tack that is
professional in appearance.
C. CLASS A UNIFORM SHIRTS