TOPEKA, KS - The Topeka City Council has given the Chief of Police permission to let officers in the department wear their uniform while off-duty.
The new ordinance only applies to officers who are working security assignments on other jobs, KSNT reported. The Topeka Police Department (TPD) believes that communities will be safer if law enforcement, while working for private companies, are able to show the public that they are trained officers with the department.
However, some city councilmembers are worried about where the liability will fall, according to KSNT. City Manager Robert Perez was the one to introduce the new ordinance. Police Chief Chris Vallego weighed in on the issue during an October 14 city meeting.
He said the department will take accountability.
"Modifying this ordinance, which gives the chief of police full authority to speak to who can be in a uniform and who cannot be in a uniform in this city," the police chief said. "So that gives me an immediate oversight there. Also, our police officers are trained to follow state law and our internal policies that are superior to any kind of house rules or things like that. They're already doing their job. I'm just putting them in uniform."
Vallejo said it is common in other states for officers to wear their uniforms while working elsewhere. Prior to the city council vote, the chief said he was committed to advocating for the policy change.
The new ordinance only applies to officers who are working security assignments on other jobs, KSNT reported. The Topeka Police Department (TPD) believes that communities will be safer if law enforcement, while working for private companies, are able to show the public that they are trained officers with the department.
However, some city councilmembers are worried about where the liability will fall, according to KSNT. City Manager Robert Perez was the one to introduce the new ordinance. Police Chief Chris Vallego weighed in on the issue during an October 14 city meeting.
He said the department will take accountability.
"Modifying this ordinance, which gives the chief of police full authority to speak to who can be in a uniform and who cannot be in a uniform in this city," the police chief said. "So that gives me an immediate oversight there. Also, our police officers are trained to follow state law and our internal policies that are superior to any kind of house rules or things like that. They're already doing their job. I'm just putting them in uniform."
Vallejo said it is common in other states for officers to wear their uniforms while working elsewhere. Prior to the city council vote, the chief said he was committed to advocating for the policy change.
While Topeka officers are now able to wear their uniforms off-duty for certain security work, departments across the country, like Philadelphia, are also rethinking their on-duty attire to project authority, professionalism, and community confidence.
Earlier in the year, Law Enforcement Today reported that uniforms in the City of Brotherly Love will shift to “midnight blue,” a color that hearkens back to the department’s traditional style used for over a century before the 1970s change, according to WPST.
Police Sergeant Eric Gripp revealed that the move is meant to strike a balance between honoring the past and preparing for the future.
According to officials, academic studies suggest that darker uniforms send a stronger message.
Officials hope that those new uniforms will project the confidence, professionalism, and authority that officers need more than ever in today’s tense political climate.
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Comments
2025-10-24T12:19-0400 | Comment by: Clint
This is standard practice in Oklahoma. Even retired officers can wear their departments' uniforms when working off duty. In the past, we wore our uniforms for part-time jobs such as the State Fair in Hutchinson. Legally, my understanding, whom ever gives the officer their police powers are liable on duty or off duty service.