HELEN - Helen police officers will have a new old look beginning in January.
Police Chief Brian Stephens gave members of the city commission a sneak preview of the midnight navy uniforms this week.
"After the first of the year, we're going to go back to a dark-colored uniform, what a lot of people and the other officers have been referring to as a traditional police uniform," Stephens says.
But the change wasn't a unilateral decision. Instead, it was selected by officers during a recent departmental meeting.
"This is the uniform they picked out, being the dark navy pants and dark navy shirt," Stephens says.
Stephens says no budget adjustment will be required to purchase the uniforms from Horace Small.
"I have money in the budget for the uniforms, and they're not as expensive as first thought," Stephens says. "That's why we're able to go ahead and change them during this budget."
Stephens says the uniforms selected give the option for both a dress uniform and an everyday uniform.
"We're going to have an Alpha dress uniform that will consist of the long-sleeve shirt along with the tie," Stephens says. "That will be used for special occasions, court, parades, things like that. Then the Bravo uniform will be everyday wear. It will be the short-sleeve shirt without the tie."
The long-term costs of the new uniforms is expected to be smaller as well.
"In future replacements of the uniforms, they're actually a little cheaper than what we're paying now for the uniforms we're in, so it will bring the budget down just a little bit more," Stephens says.
The current patches, badges and other adornments will work with the new uniforms, Stephens says. And the uniforms will be suitable for use on the departments four-wheelers and utility vehicles.
