3 months ago
Captain Tony Winborn says some of the 19 officers of the Dodge County Sheriff's Office had just one uniform to wear, working 12 hour shifts for multiple days.
Years of wear and tear had taken it's toll, not just on the uniforms, but on the officers' confidence too.
"We're in it everyday and we try to look our best," Deputy Joel Hanson said, "but when you have old uniforms that the patches are peeling off of and strings coming out and everything."
So when the officers put aside their old brown uniforms and donned new black and gray ones, Winborn says he noticed a difference right away.
"A professional appearing law enforcement officer will calm a scene in some instances," Winborn said.
Some officers say they appreciate not only the new uniforms, but the new look as well. Winborn says the officers submitted designs and voted on a new patch, and they incorporated the high school colors, red and black, to honor the community.
"That makes it even more special knowing one of our guys designed this patch," Officer Mark Sheffield said.
"That was kind of empowering that he would come and ask us, the first line of officers, what we would like to have, not just what the sheriff would like to have," Hanson said.
Winborn says the response from the public has been encouraging.
"People love the new look, the ties, the long sleeve shirts, the patent leather shoes," Winborn said.
Winborn says he hopes the new professional look helps build respect within the community and inspire confidence.
He says it cost the department about $85 for each new uniform. He says so far, they've spent about $200,000 less than they did last year, and plan to return the leftover money to the county at the end of the year.
