Uniforms and Badges

[sm]

This is as much for the criminals that might be lurking as it is for the law abiding.

Society has always used uniforms and badges either together or separately to identify persons.
Most common example is the beat cop, with a uniform, badge and night stick walking a beat in a downtown area.

His or her presence was a comfort for a person that had locked keys in a car, or some kid got lost downtown as he or she was messing with a stuck penny in a gum ball machine and "mom got lost" and the officer could fix that gumball machine and find a a lost mom.

Presence also was a deterrence, as that cop was liable to round a corner, or walk a beat, or be in a store saying hello, and folks did not shop lift, or get a package in the front seat of a car with the windows rolled down on a hot summer day - before cars had air conditioning.

Military was another symbol, and comforting too, especially when a tornado or some other disaster hit and Nat'l Guard units would come to assist those affected.

Then life got really stupid in my opinion and in observing.

Common sense and being resposnsible for one's self - got out of out fashion.

Somehow all these years parents parented and mentors mentored and all of a sudden governing persons said that they could better parent and mentor kids and society as a whole.

It does not take a rocket scientist to figure out a lady or gent with pants and shirt supplied by a uniform shop is a mechanic.
It never was.
It was just smarter to have a service to pick up clothes and return clean ones instead of a mechanic messing up the home washing machine with gas, oil, transmission fluid and whatever they get into everyday.

Same applies to plumbers, painters, and plant workers.


It was never a problem to notice a person was in the medical field, be they a doctor, nurse, radiology tech, dentist or anything.
These institutions had a professional courtesy that identified each other in settings.
Most often is the color of scrubs they wear.
One color for housekeeping (janitorial) another for nurses, and another for radiology for example.

Office workers.
Dress for business varied depending on work, still it was not difficult to figure out a lady or gent was dressed for work, that worked in a office building.
Retail stores had folks dress in nice clothes, and folks knew who worked at the store without a company uniform or wearing a name badge.

People were individual people that happened to work for others, or owned a business.
They were not just "employees" , or "employee IDs" , or "employee numbers".

Like I said, times change, governing folks from government, to corporations to small business to whomever...really bought (literally) a bill of goods.

Some of this is nothing more than control, and ego and pride added.

Someone needs to feed their ego and pride and the easiest way is to tear down and control others.
So they look down out of a window , and see all the employees dressed in uniforms, wearing badges , they control , have power over, can dictate, and one good "reason" , or "rationale" is to keep them safe.

In prison inmates dress in inmate clothes , these ids them to corrections folks, to keep correction officers, and other staff staff.
Inmates know each other, and do not need uniforms.
They can read people , places and things, they can spot a off duty cop out of uniform, a nurse in civilian clothes, a Preacher in jeans and oxford shirt and ...

Correction folks know the inmates know how to blend in , criminals are some of the ones that wrote the book on all this, having lost some freedoms due to being criminals, they need to be ID ed easier to keep the correction staff safe.


Uniforms and Badges guarantee nothing.

All these do is show a person is wearing a uniform and has a badge.

False sense of security , and actually lets down the guard of society, as they have chosen to allow themselves to be dumbed down, and not take personal responsibility for themselves.

Criminals know this, so I am not giving anything away, other than letting some criminals know I and others are aware, and letting wanna be criminals know some of us are aware of what some criminals do.

It was always easy to get a Postal Workers Uniform, or Nurses, or Mechanic, or Plant workers.
One could walk in and steal one, or a uniform store and buy one, even from a Thrift Store, or Yard Sale.

Catalogs have always allowed one to buy these too, as some folks shopped from catalogs as they still do.
J.C Penny for example has catalogs for Nursing and similar medical uniforms that nurses, dental assistants and even veterinarians buy and wear.
Work clothes is another special catalog, for ladies and gents as well.

Internet ...same deal, just easier to access more places that carry more mdse.
Legit businesses look to see what is offered.
Heck do a search and find out who does a uniform some company uses and maybe get a better price from another source.


Is that person wearing a "meter reader" uniform and that badge around neck are real meter reader, or is that someone casing your neighborhood to see who has what and who comes and goes when?

Is that cell phone really a Meter Reader issued , or did he /she just call their buddies that the homeowner down the way just left and in conversation they are going shopping and will not be back until late?


Is that guy or gal in Polo shirt, with a non-descript badge really a delivery person for a Office Supply store, or are they just wandering the halls, checking out everything?

It is my contention uniforms and badges have contributed to complacency of common sense, personal responsibility and awareness of society.

I have real examples of this to share...

 

[sm]

Don't ask me my background and where I got some lessons , as I will not share for my personal reasons.
Staff if contacted will only affirm, and they will not say anymore, at my request, for my personal safety and security.

I was asked to check out a warehouse setting owned by a family.
Some mdse was coming up missing.

This was after one of the family insisted the company go to uniforms and badges.

When asked by other family my thoughts, I disagreed, instead had other suggestions.
Family politics being as they can be, meant uniforms and badges were implemented.

So I was asked if I wanted to have some fun, and steps taken to make sure myself was covered, as I was asked to see if I could breech security and figure out what was going on.
Basically I needed it documented in case I got caught that it was known what I was doing and not a real criminal.

My rules, my way, with a green light.
So it was not known when I might do what I might choose to do.
I will not share some things...some things one does share on public forum.


I got me a pair of pants, polo shirt, and ball cap like what the company had for employees.
I got mine at a Thrift Shop.
Office Supply had various badge things, so I got one similar and made a fake badge with a cartoon character for my picture.
I have no idea who this cartoon character is, I just saw it in a magazine and cut it out.
I know about old cartoons...not the new ones.

I just walked onto the property, it looked like I had been around the corner smoking and come back around.

I just hopped up the steps near the loading dock, with my uniform and badge, I looked like the others, and never looked toward a camera, or anyone, just carried myself like I owned the joint, and did the busy employee, "head nod and go on".
Any words were one or two words only and non -descritp.
i.e.
"Going to rain?" - employee right after I bee bopped up the steps from being outside"
"Might" - is all I replied as I looked like I had things to do and places to be.

I wandered around, listening, got a clipboard, piddled, and had a good time taking all this in.
I was not sure when one gal went to lunch, as I did not know if she took a set lunch hour, or just went whenever she was able to break loose.

Attractive lady, and being a guy, if one listens long enough, guys will share about pretty girls in the workplace.
So I listened, and I got the time she was going to lunch from guys that had to see her about job stuff and said it out loud.

I eased in to that office, passing other folks, still looking as anyone else did, that went to see that girl.

I helped myself to a set of keys, they had numbers on them and I had read what was already loaded in one vehicle.
Almost $300,000 worth of mdse.

I just eased out, got into the vehicle and drove down to a place and made my pay phone call to those it was arranged I would call.

It was not hard to take that vehicle and mdse at all.
Cameras, uniforms and badges did not impeded me one bit.

Watching the tape ( this is always odd to see one's self on tape) , I was not seen at first, folks were so busy watching the tape, they could not see for looking.
Other employees were pegged as being me, not me being me.

It was actually difficult to see anything that did not belong, as everyone had this uniform , badge and all.

See, I changed clothes before the folks came to meet me.
There are different polio shirts, and folks can wear gray, dark blue, and kahki...meaning there are uniforms, still some variety...

Nobody knew how I looked when I did this...
At first they looked for how I looked when they met me...
Right off the bat the tape did not show anyone dressed like me...

So then looking at folks and uniforms and how they carried themselves...

I had to finally show them on a layout of the place where I had been...then I showed them what I wore.
My "uniform" was not official, but close enough and especially on camera.

Security has been changed up, and uniforms and badges...are not the security means.

Changes were made...
Things are better, and we figured out where and how some stuff come up missing.
That was my other gut feeling we played with and ...we will just say a member of the family is no longer a part of the family business.

 

[2Lman]

It seems that what you are saying is that we should never take anything for granted... that police officer's uniform just might not be one... or it could be...?

Always be aware of what is going on around you. Lesson well taken.

 

[Pat-inCO]

And all of this tells us what?

 

[MakAttak]

For those who can't read SM, he is sharing both the theory and an example to back it up, in his inimitable way.

Good points, especially in offices, such blind spots are sure to exist.

 

[The Tourist]

Several years ago I sold automatic knives to police (authorized to carry them by their departments) and soldiers. Granted, badges meant nothing.

But they all carry ID cards. No card, no knife.

I figured, at that time, that I was performing a service in getting superior equipment to frontline guys.

It was such a hassle, I quit doing it. For me to prove I was who I said I was, I too had to carry my license and a copy of the 1958 knife act--which clearly excludes "common carriers."

On two occasions I thought I was going to be arrested. For doing my job.

Edit: My business cards clearly say "Licensed Wisconsin Reseller" in the hope that an over-active LEO checks my resellers license number.

 

[hso]

Steve's point is that we don't see people when we're used to seeing "uniforms". We're so programmed to associate a certain way of dress and manner with a specific authority that we react to them without thinking. UPS guy going truck to door with packages can become BG in kinda UPS truck/uniform going from door to truck instead. Same as his work "uniform" and clipboard and "I work here" manner or suite and tie and briefcase in an office. We just see the image in our mind and do a quick match without checking details.

It's not just employees of a businesses that will let a stranger wander around the premises if they're dressed "right" either.

I had the front gate of a secure government facility thrown open to me and I was waved in because I walked up wearing a close enough match to the facility fire department casual "uniform" in a purposeful manner. The guard with the sidearm was pretty startled when I asked if I wasn't supposed to go through the visitor control point instead.

 

[sixgunner455]

Complacency. It's not just for breakfast anymore!

 

[ilbob]

I used to work for a security guard outfit. It was very common for guards to look more at the clothing and mannerisms rather than the ID card they were supposed to be showing.

One lady I stopped one morning was irate because she had lost her ID card several YEARS before and had not been stopped, She would come up and wave her DL at the guard and no one had ever actually looked at it in all that time. Except me, since I was there covering for a guard who had called in sick. It actually made a little bit of trouble as the company made an issue of it and a fair number of other employees turned out they either had no ID at all or ones that had been expired for years.

At my regular post, I once took a close look at the ID of the president of the (Fortune 100) company. It was expired by several weeks. I mentioned it to him, and put it in my report. He actually called the Loss Prevention department and told them how much he appreciated the attention the security guard was paying. (I did let him in, expired or not he was still the president of the company).

 

[gp911]

Similar story:

A place I worked for a few years always left the loading dock door up in the summertime, as the A/C did nothing to cool the warehouse portion of the building. Even with this the warehouse was a hot, miserable place to be. Those of us who had to retrieve merchandise from the warehouse were in and out of there quickly, looking for our items and little else, maybe shooting the breeze for a minute. There were a couple staffers who stayed in the warehouse doing other work at a pair of desks. Occasionally someone unfamiliar would be in the warehouse, but we never questioned it as there were several persons we did not know involved in the company and it was not our job to know them.

Long story short, in the middle of a busy day a large laser printer disappeared, no doubt walked out the door by someone who simply acted like they belonged there. They did not show up on camera, so they probably dropped in beforehand and cased the joint, waited a couple weeks to make sure there was no heat, then came in and walked out with what they wanted.

Trust half of what you see and less of what people say.


gp911

 

[Titan6]

Retinal scans and other biometrics work great. They have their weaknesses, but staying a step ahead is the name of the game.

 

[WayneConrad]

I worked at a place, thought they would keep their "top secrets" from being stolen by the competition by having their formidibly cute 18-year-old high-school receptionist watch the front door from her desk. I asked a friend to stop by to visit. "Should I ask for you at the front desk?"

"No. Here's what I want you to do. When you go through the front door, take two steps, smile and nod at the receptionist, immediately turn to the right like you own the place--you must act as though you have been there a dozen times before--go through the hallway, into the lab, turn left, 20 feet, past the minicomputers, and you'll find me past the tape drives working at the color screens. See you after lunch."

Worked perfectly. Blondie never stood a chance. My friend walked past her, the manager and my boss on the way to the desk. Smiled and nodded to all three. They all thought he belonged there. He acted like he did.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

Got a letter from my power company that they'd be sending a crew to dig in my front yard. I didn't call the number on the card to check. I called the power company's main switchboard, and asked them for the number I should call to verify who was going to be digging in my yard and when. The numbers matched. Then I called the number.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

Authenticate.

What does this have to do with uniforms? Uniforms do not constitute authentication, whether they are worn or painted on the truck. People also wear the "attitude of belonging there" as a sort of uniform.

 

[cassandrasdaddy]

so true i was a chef for a caterer in alexandria va. we did a party at dea head quarters. 1 week after the oklahoma city bombing. we allowed extra time for security. we didn't need to. we rolled up in an unmarkeed panel truck. got waved into underground parking. unloaded 20 6 foot high metal carts full of food and rolled em into building. there was security being paid. they just didn't check us out at all. you get what you pay for

 

[mccook8]

People see what they EXPECT to see.

I learned that, in the Army, you could go virtually anywhere if you were carrying a clipboard or a manila folder and walking purposefully. Except in the highest security areas, no one would question your presence or purpose as long as you LOOKED like you knew what you were doing.

 

[atk]

Titan6,

Some biometrics devices are better than others. Some fingerprint scanners have been fooled with gummy bears or play doh, some retina scanners can be fooled with photographs, voice recognition systems can be fooled by tape recorders, etc. Biometrics are good as an additional security measure, but there are enough problems with them that they're probably not good for the primary authentication mechanism.

 

[Wheeler44]

Great topic. A hardhat, a tool belt and a set of blueprints and I can get almost anywhere I would ever want to go. Sometimes I don't even need the tool belt.

Wheeler44

 

[rainbowbob]

Is that person wearing a "meter reader" uniform and that badge around neck are real meter reader, or is that someone casing your neighborhood to see who has what and who comes and goes when?

This morning I was alerted by my dog tied up on the front porch that we had a visitor. A scruffy looking older gent I'd never seen before, with no uniform, no obvious ID or markings of any kind walked up my driveway and approached my back door.

"Are you reading the meter?"

"Yeah"

"OK"

I let him know, and my dog let him know, that we were paying attention. He read the meter. But my wife and I wondered why he was not wearing some kind of uniform or ID.

After reading this thread, I realize that only would have given me a false sense of security.

 

[sm]

Thanks folks.

I appreciate the sharing and the great replies.

Again-

We all know some that read public forums are not law abiding, and we that are law abiding can let these folks know we are aware, and do practice awareness in our lives.

New folks cycle into THR as well, and for whatever reason, have not been exposed to some of the ways of the world.
I personally am not going to admonish them, instead welcome them to THR and sincerely hope they ask questions and participate to learn about personal safety.

Governing bodies, from Fed, State, City, County , including schools and others need to also be aware, that many of the suggestions for being safe they promote and support - are misleading.

They may mean well, then again much of it has to do with money, votes, and insurance , and not the well being of citizens being safe.


Personal Responsibility is just that, one has to take a personal active role in being safe.

Complacency was brought up, excellent point.

Do not buy into uniforms, and badges as being safe tools, no more than one should surveillance cameras or signs stating the area is a gun free, weapon free zone.


Kids.

One real important thing I want to mention is kids.
Pay attention to them and what they say and how they act.

Kids see and interpret different than adults.

i.e Magician.

A kid will watch the magician do his trick and have a good time watching the show.
Adults instead of actually seeing the show, are trying to figure out how the magician did a trick.

"How did he do that?" -parents
"Oh,mom, dad, when his left arm went that-a-way, he reached with his other hand and got that card from inside his vest ..." kids

Never overlook the obvious.

So if a kid says they feel creepy or something does not feel right, listen to them and pay attention and view from a child's perspective.

Sometimes not being so tall, allows a kid a better view.

 

[Bob F.]

Funny, been busy, just found this thread. Opened it when I saw sm was originator.

Just today: I work in a hospital. At lunch maintenance man working on ice machine, carries "walkie-talkie" (showing my age?!). "Maintenance: one of the lab girls just saw a guy with a blue ladder and tool belt get on the back elevator, wants to know if he's legitimate!" 1100 employees, she didn't know him and had sense enough to report it. He was a contractor working on CCTV. We've got a pretty good one. Pat that girl on the aahhh back! Good situational awareness!

Few years ago told my son: "Gotta go someplace you're really not supposed to be, act like you own the place, dare anybody to challenge you!"

Stay safe (get your head out of the sand!)
Bob

 

[qwert65]

I agree it's amazing how if you act like you belong there security just lets you pass. I worked a summer at a racetrack(throughbreds) The first day I stopped at the gate and asked where I was suppossed to go. I was told I needed a track id or an owners decal/trainer liscence.

For the rest of the summer I would just drive by wave say good morning and drive again before they asked me for id. I was never stopped

 

[sm]

Anyone familiar with Race Tracks, Casino's or any similar gambling settings?

I know some are and respect your privacy and needing to remain private.

I have some experience with this environment.

Now settings like this attract all sorts of elements.
Pick-Pockets that work in teams are one element that are really good and one can learn a lot from them in regard to blending in and how to read people.

I mention them as there exists in life, this good and bad, or for ever action an equal reaction.
i.e Nuclear. Nuclear can be medicine or bombs, it just depends on how nuclear is used and the intent of user. (sound familiar?)

Security at gambling places have a really tough job with all elements, still just staying with Pick-Pockets if you will...

Pick-Pockets read folks so well, seriously, and they can pick up on security, as well as victims.
Security has to really pay attention as they have an element (Pick-Pockets) that are so good at reading folks and surroundings they (Pick-Pockets) are hard to spot.

Uniforms and Badges are a "game" to both parties in a setting like this.
I will not reveal what I know, just to say I admire some criminals for the talents they have and one can learn a lot from them.

There is a "glitch in the get-a-along" with folks learning things.
Law abiding only see from a law abiding point of view.

i.e. One of the hardest things for a Cop to do is not be a cop when doing Undercover work.
Let the hair grow out, grow a beard and a cop is still a cop.
Blending in is the problem.

Supports the notion Software Not Hardware in getting a UC cop to blend in.
Long hair, beard, clothes, a different gun than issued, even a gun the bad guys choose to use, and - still it is the mindset and skill sets that makes that Cop a good Undercover Cop, not the "hardware".

Uniforms and Badges...are often tools for the wrong reasons many issue them, and those issuing - just don't get "it".

Seriously, if you have a gambling place near, go with the intent of watching the folks, not to gamble, just watching folks.
You can glean stuff there putting a quarter in a slot machine you will not get from any training class.

Oh, don't buy a sandwich, or soft drink, just quarters in the slot and the cute gal in that short outfit will bring you one free, after a bit.
I mean some "uniforms and badges" a guy can't help but notice and admire!

Gals, that stud puppy will bring you a soft drink and sandwich too, just hold your horses and quit trying to trip the guy when he walks by.
*snicker*

-

True.
Fella and wife went to Vegas on Vacation to see the shows.
Neither was gamblers, just went to see the shows and have a neat anniversary.
Wife was having a good time playing slots, not much money, but having a good time.
Fella sat down to play Blackjack, just a easy table for new folks to learn the game.

No clocks in Casinos...
Fella has actually won a few dollars at this beginner table, casino had areas so no folks could learn a and sorta assisted them.

Two good looking honey's come up and get seated on either side.
I mean scantily dressed and good looking and flirting...
Fella don't know what is going on, so one of the casino folks whispers "prostitutes"...
Explains it about time for the prostitutes to come in, see who is drunk and making money and make some moves.

Fella looks for his wife , he sees her heading to cash in about $10 she won, he waves , she waves back and goes on.

He was waving to have his wife come join him, as he was getting hit on by prostitutes.
Casino folks, real nice, still laughed.
Later fella, his wife and casino folks had a really big laugh about all this...

Just not wise to the ways of Vegas and what all goes on in another environment.

"Well sir them gals don't wear badges saying they are prostitutes, and the way some dress...not enough material to be called a uniform..."

*lol*

 

[Wheeler44]

On the other hand; I worked for the USFS in the Gifford Pinchot Nat'l Forest during the spring of 1980. The district that I worked for is next to Mt. St. Helens. Every morning at 4:30 I would approach the road block , get out of my vehicle, show my I.D. and get passed onto the Forest. Every morning. At the same time.

I asked the 180 day wonder that manned the checkpoint " How many folks come through here at 4:30 in the morning?" He replied "just you" I asked "Have you ever seen me drive any other vehicle?" he replied "no just that beat up old Volvo" I asked "have you ever seen anyone else ever drive that beat up old Volvo?" he replied "no, just you" I then asked very politely, " When you see that beat up old Volvo with the big hippy lookin' dude come around the corner at 4:30 in the morning could you just open the gate?" He replied "no"

bummer

Wheeler44

 

[qwert65]

As far as casinos and racetracks keeping your wallet/money/chips in your front pocket precludes pickpockets. women have it a little harder but the smart ones put their purse on the table in front of them or in their lap with a hand on it(or they don't carry a purse put thats rare)

As for prostitutes just say NO!

To me the dangerous part about AC is outside the casino(if you're too cheap to park in the casino, I am) thats where being aware/ not looking like a target comes into it's own.

BTW women going out alone or in pairs have the worst trouble, in NJ you're not allowed, gun/knife(actually small are allowed but in a dress it would have to be in purse) or pepper spray) so they usually need more training/awareness

As for racetracks it really depends on the track. Monmouth you're pretty safe, Freehold is real dangerous and the meadowlands are in btw. Course my expiernce ends at these(cept for philly but philly is philly)

 

[Old Guy]

It's easy

Two Police Officers, both Deputy Chiefs, friends of mine, one new, female, told me how secure H/Q was, "Sure" said I, see you at your desk, 1-30PM.

Arrived in suit, big smile, really clean black shoes. Medium sized box, 6 roses peeking out the top, "Is Deputy....... on seven"? Thank you, big smile, command voice, he let me in. Off elevator, walked through key card entry door, with a group, I heard her voice, leaned on door jam while she finished her phone call!!X^&% was what she said! Congratulation's is what I said. 1.31PM.

Same building friend of a few years was the Deputy, told him I could drop the building with 2000Lbs of Semtex (No Semtex! present!) drove up to basement entrance on main road, noisy Rd. My ride, a dark blue Chev Caprice, that years model, tint an all, spoke in to speaker "Ho and yo tod Deputy ..." beep door rises, I am in, park alongside the main support column, take friend for a ride on the elevator.

He blew up (but his building did not)

I was asked to circumvent security in high cash content office (Rental payment building) as has been mentioned, coveralls, not clean, ball cap, local team, not clean, red tool box, with mask and toy water pistol in it, plus some rattling wrenches! Carrying coffee cup (Had coffee in it as well) sat down on desk, as lady was counting twenty's! had a business card from her boss, on the back it said, "He works for me"

It costs a lot for even reasonable protection/security, the door normally closes when the horse has gone.

You really want to feel secure? fly El Al!

 

[armoredman]

sm is absolutely right about certain professions marking you. My Dept just authorized facial hair, and now I have a grey streaked goatee, which very very few law enforcement agencies authorize. I have been correctly ID'd twice off duty recently with the fur and in civvies. Scary stuff!
We don't look at uniforms and badges - we do face to ID checks, period.