Campus Police officers are sporting darker blue shirts and garrison-style hats this week as part of the first color and design changes in their uniform since the department was founded in 1957.
"The redesigned uniform is a nice change for the department," said Chief Anne P. Glavin. "It's a crisp new look. The majority of the officers like it and we hope the community likes it as well."
The uniforms bear new tomahawk-shaped patches depicting Killian Court, designed by Officer Paul F. Valentino. The new patches replace the mens et manus model, shaped like an ax-head. This is the fifth patch in the department's history.
The uniforms were designed by Officer Willard J. Boulter after a survey of his fellow officers. A Campus Police officer for two years, he volunteered for the design job even though he is not particularly fashion-conscious.
"I know what a police officer should look like," said Officer Boulter, who was a member of the Babson College Police Department before joining the MIT force.
The traditional eight-point police hat has been replaced by the garrison-style hat popularized by Gen. Douglas MacArthur during World War II and worn by many Massachusetts police departments, including the State Police. The new hat is decorated with a silver band.
The French blue outer shirt replaces the Flying Cross light blue shirt previously worn. A half-inch French blue stripe replaces the thin cord stripe down each leg on the multipocketed pants. Jackets and shirts now have matching patches on each arm, retiring the EMT patch that formerly occupied the right sleeve. Officers now wear an EMT pin beneath their nametag.
Silver MIT monograms have been added to the navy blue winter turtleneck undershirts worn by the 42 patrol officers. Captains, lieutenants and sergeants have gold monograms.
A version of this article appeared in MIT Tech Talk on December 6, 2000.
