NYPD cops may be proud to wear blue, but now they can’t wear any merchandise emblazoned with the NYPD logo, according to a new directive by Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly.
The interim order, issued Jan. 19 and “effective immediately,” prohibits the city’s 35,000 cops from wearing any hats or T-shirts that sport the department’s insignia that weren’t issued by the NYPD.
“Wearing any item of apparel which contains a Department logo or shield or in any way identifies its wearer with the New York City Police Department unless approved by the Uniform and Equipment Review Committee prior to being worn by a member of the service, uniformed or civilian, on or off duty,” the order states.
The order also “extends to the use of the Department logo or shield in artistic or mural forms, in caricature or cartoon-like representation,” according to the paperwork.
So, if a cop wishes to purchase any NYPD-stamped merchandise — which is sold at hundreds of souvenir shops around the city — the officer must have written permission to do so.
One police source confirmed that the new restrictions came on the heels of Kelly spotting an officer wearing a T-shirt with the NYPD logo and a controversial quote.
Although the order was recently issued, another police source said that the restrictions follow a long history of cops wearing controversial merchandise bearing the NYPD logo.
“This is nothing new,” the source said. “I remember years ago some Brooklyn homicide guys got in trouble doing the same thing.”
The source said the officers donned T-shirts with a picture of NYPD detectives standing over a dead body. Emblazoned on the shirts was the expression: “Brooklyn Homicide — Our Day Begins When Yours Ends.”
Neither the Patrolmen’s Benevolent Association nor the NYPD had an immediate comment.
Mayor Bloomberg weighed in, however, saying it was Kelly’s call.
"He should set the standards. You can't have it both ways. PD, we say that they're on 24/7. When they're not officially at work ... they're still police officers and that's one of the things that enhances the safety in our city,” he said. “And so they're not totally independent even when they're not on duty. ... I'll leave it to Ray."
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