BE A COP OR BE A BEA

There are two idiots [Rex... do NOT edit my posts. They are idiots, not people] who live on the NH seacoast who go around wearing uniforms like they are police officers. We've identified who they are. These are the same two that I personally encountered at a law enforcement expo about two years ago.

They wear BDU's with black boots with the bottom of the legs tucked into the boots. They wear a police type belt complete with all the trimmings just as an on duty street police officer would wear. From a distance they look exactly like a cop on patrol. The only exception is Bail Enforcement Officer is lettered on the back of their police shirt.

They drive a white Crown Vic originally owned by a police department complete with cage and outer spot lights on each side. On the hood is a decal (the type sold by some BEA suppliers) with a large gold star and Fugitive Recovery Agent emblazoned thereon.

What makes it worse is that they don't work for anyone. They merely walk around so the populace can see them. I believe there are some issues of mental competency there.

Now, everyone is aware how I feel about police type cars being used for bail enforcement but now there are those wearing a police type uniform!? I say 'those' because I surfed the Internet this evening (something I haven't done for months) and I found some sites where some BEA's wear police type uniforms.

If anyone takes offense about how I regard those who wear police type uniforms for bail work... too [] bad! By far, wearing that style uniform is definitely worse than using a police car. Talk about unprofessional and ego hungry!

This posting should start some [trouble] but I don't [care] Whomsoever gets [upset] by my posting... tough! Trade your uniform in for some sensible clothing. Even Mr. Chapman's Halloween and clownish mode of dress is far better than those who dress like a uniformed police officer. Actually, Mr. Chapman's female associate looks better in her costumes representative of wrapping a piano in hankerchief than a BEA looking like the police. No wonder cops get angry.

Be a cop or be a BEA.

_________________
Lance Allen Wilkinson
Recoveries by L.A.W.
Serving since 1984
“What is sought is found... what is overlooked escapes” (Oedipus Rex)

LOL... surely they are getting paid by someone, how else can they afford all that junk?

As far as what I wear... I generally go about in shorts or jeans (old navy "special edition" ... you know the one's you pay to have the company put holes and frays in? LOL... though they are very comfortable) and maybe a nice polo or t shirt depending on the situation.

I have a suit and a couple suit pants (kept in the closet in a no bug bag).

Now, for prisoner transport:
I do have one Black BDU pants that if I wear I tuck into the tops of my Black Boots (sorry but I am used to blousing and will probably always continue to do so... old habits die hard, besides, it keeps bugs from crawling up your boots among other debris).

Now for armed security work:
For those cases that a suit or casual clothes are not appropriate I usually combine the BDU bottoms and boots with a full gear duty belt complete with Blade Tech tactical holster to hold my springfield xd-40 with mx3 light. (I must confess I have not really had the opportunity to wear my "full gear" yet... This is fortunate because a full duty belt is not especially comfortable)

My favorite outfit though by far for daily wear is my tan cargo shorts and a loose t shirt, maybe an aloha shirt, I do like aloha shirts LOL... and either slippers or my very comfortable nike shoks. I usually have my compact xd-40 on me (I still run into people who I have sent to jail... most of them not to happy to see me LOL) but lately have come to really like my walther-p22 in a inside the pant/pocket tan suede holster with belt clip. I can wear that sucker in my shorts or in my short pocket with a long shirt.

Now I do not own a crown vic, and although I kind of like the looks of the new ones, as soon as I can afford it I am either going to buy a nice fuel efficient minivan or one of those Honda hybrids that get 40 or 50 miles a gallon. Hell, if I could figure out a way to pack a fugitive on a 250cc scooter that gets 70 miles a gallon and goes 70mph I would do so LOL.

_________________
-The Solution-
Indiana Agency #: PI20700211
Indiana Notary Public - Exp: 12/20/13

"Be without fear in the face of your enemies. Be brave and upright that God may love thee. Speak the truth always, even if it leads to your death. Safeguard the helpless and do no wrong. That is your oath."
- Kingdom of Heaven

I can agree to dressing a certain way when transporting a prisoner... even for those who do prisoner transport all the time for a living who use a Crown Vic. My gripe is the %$#*@ who wear police type uniforms for general BEA work.

_________________
Lance Allen Wilkinson
Recoveries by L.A.W.
Serving since 1984
“What is sought is found... what is overlooked escapes” (Oedipus Rex)

I agree... people can see you coming a mile away and it generaly makes them very nervous or paranoid before you even talk to them.

People seem to be more at ease when they are not "freaked out" to start.

_________________
-The Solution-
Indiana Agency #: PI20700211
Indiana Notary Public - Exp: 12/20/13

"Be without fear in the face of your enemies. Be brave and upright that God may love thee. Speak the truth always, even if it leads to your death. Safeguard the helpless and do no wrong. That is your oath."
- Kingdom of Heaven

I agree, I always wear blue jeans and a polo shirt on the job. When in the field the shirt is untucked to hide my holster in the back with my Baby Desert Eagle 40 cal, and up front I have my Tazer with cuffs, ASP and Pepper Spray all in a fanny pack. I choose to hide the fact of who and what I am when attempting an apprehension and, that could be very difficult wearing police style unifroms. No one I associate with wears anything but street clothes no, I mean no police style clothing allowed!! Period, it puts everyone at risk for lethal harm waering that stlye of clothing in my opinion.

Don,

I was recently dragged to Nordstrom (I ultimately ended up at the Wal Mart sweats sale rack across town) where concerned people insisted that I replace my aging and tattered, well, sweats

I like to think that I make the clothes and not the other way around, but, evidentally, not everyone agreed as I sit here breaking in a new pair of sneakers

Incidentally, everywhere I go on BEA stuff, people want to talk about Duane Chapman. A recent book signing turned into a Q&A not on bail enforcement but on Duane Chapman.

I have to admit that the man is a media darling and Beth is a key factor in the show's success based on what I've been told by non-BEAs.

Rex

LOL, I used to be able to buy a pair of sneakers once every five years or so... now they fall apart after just one year. Ridiculous. I still have my old black acid wash jeans LOL. I was told recently that they were out of style and that I had to buy blue jeans. The thing is they still fit! I don't really think it's due to the fact that I am the same waist size, it is more owing to the wonderful stretchyness of old denim

Hey, I hear that Prince shops at Nordstroms.... Boys dept

But to get back on topic I suppose there is a time and place for every outfit.

As far as Dog is concerned those "haoli's" are going to get their butts really kicked one day on that island. Their antics are definately not popular with the locals and that Beth lady is probably going to be the one who makes it happen. I remember a couple episodes that I caught where she was cussing people out and got a fight started. You can tell even Leland and that other fellow get pissed off at her.

_________________
-The Solution-
Indiana Agency #: PI20700211
Indiana Notary Public - Exp: 12/20/13

"Be without fear in the face of your enemies. Be brave and upright that God may love thee. Speak the truth always, even if it leads to your death. Safeguard the helpless and do no wrong. That is your oath."
- Kingdom of Heaven

BEA's in Police Uniforms:

In my opinion, based on my readings and comments from fellow BEA's, attiring oneself in this manner is illegal in seveeral states...especially Georgia. It is actually mentioned in a Ga. statute specifically stating that any non-leo representing himself as a leo is guilty of a crime. I don't have the exact statute in front of me, but that's the gist of it.

My dress: I wear a company logo'd polo shirt (my own company- a Cocker Spaniel inside a circle with "Spaniel investigations, Inc. " embroidered on the outside) and usually a pair of dress slacks or appropriate casual shorts. If I have to apprehend someone, then I have a photo-journalists' style vest which is multi-pocketed that I wear to conceal my Kimber .45 or Glock .40, plus it holds my other essentials such as my ASP, Freeze+p, mini flashlight, cell phone or radio, etc.

To see me coming in a polo, shorts, and topsider shoes...well I'm as far from looking like a cop as a person can get.

My vehicle is a 1992 Ford Ranger p/u truck with tinted windows. It is a 6 cylinder, 3.0 version. I have a fiberglass camper shell on the back with tinted windows. She has app. 180k miles on her right now, and she has never let me down. I have had her since 1998. I have made numerous apprehensions in her up and down the Eastern Seaboard and as far west as New Orleans, La.

And Yes, I have transported fugitives in it. They start out up front with me...but if they don't watch thier mouths..they do end up in the back. Cops love it and get a kick out of seeing me extract a fugitive from the camper shell.

Anyway, to each his/her own.

Take care and God Bless,

Ruffin.

_________________
River City Associates
Decatur, Al. 35601

I'm just about always casually dressed wearing my trademark NRA hat. We have polo shirts with fugitive recovery agent on the back and, of course, the standard jackets. No 'uniforms', no 'utility belt' and no bloused BDU's.

I use a 1995 Thunderbird when in the field.

I look like what I am... darn close to a redneck.

_________________
Lance Allen Wilkinson
Recoveries by L.A.W.
Serving since 1984
“What is sought is found... what is overlooked escapes” (Oedipus Rex)

I respect everyone posts, however, my 2 cents on dress code is as follows.

Look professional, act professional.

Our team wears the black boots,black BDU's, Fugitive Recovery Agent t-shirts, and FRA badge.

NO blue jeans and gym shoes unless I'm going to the bar for the night.

Also, dressing like this my team has recieved free coffee, slurpees, and even pizza from local shops that we stop at. Not that this has any thing to with BEA work, just a little added " thank you" from the local shop keepers make you feel good.

Lets say you or your wife were pulled over by a cop for speeding. He gets out of the car wearing his nice cop shirt with badge and medals, BLUE jeans, nike gym shoes.

Whay would you think?????????

I would like to add - it is good that one member dress normal in case he has to walk into a bar for undercover work.


Like I said, my 2 cents worth .