Traffic cops may soon wear cow boy hats

There may be nothing cow boyish about city traffic police personnel, but if plans of the police bosses is anything to go by, the traffic police may soon do away with their helmets and get to wear smart cowboy hats, just like their counterparts in Bengaluru do.

After a few retired IPS officers pointed out that traffic police look ‘shabby’ — the colour of their uniform and type of head gear, the state police has now constituted a committee to look into the ‘dress code’ of the traffic personnel.

Sources told that more than the uniform, senior IPS officers are deliberating whether they can do away with the helmets and replace them with swanky cowboy hats, which is presently worn by the Bengaluru traffic police.

“The helmets are heavy and there is no ventilation for the head and therefore, you see several traffic personnel holding their helmets rather than wearing it.

In harsh summers, due to heat, the helmets get hotter and this is distressful for those putting it on. Therefore, they choose to hold it, than put it on,” a police official said.

He said that with hats on, the cops would be comfortable as it is light in weight and will have holes for ventilation. “We are still working out the details but replacing helmets with hats is a top priority, than making changes to the uniform,” he said.
With regard to the change in the uniform, discussions are on whether to change the colour of the shirt or the trouser. The committee that has been formed to look into the dress code is also looking at the uniform of Kolkata traffic police, which is all white.

The committee is expected to give its recommendations in the next few days and also work out the costs of providing hats to all the cops in the state. Last year, the traffic personnel were also provided with sunglasses.