June 13–20, 1996

hit and run

Fashion Police

Councilwoman Jannie Blackwell wants to ban security guards and everyone else from wearing uniforms similar to Philadelphia Police Department uniforms.

"Specifically prohibited is the wearing of black or navy blue trousers accented with a contrasting blue stripe running down the outside trouser leg seam and black or navy blue jackets configured to approximate the appearance of the regulation Philadelphia police officer's jacket," reads Blackwell's proposed ordinance.

Blackwell says it's a safety issue. She cites incidents where people posing as police officers stopped cars in order to rob the people inside, and says it's also a matter of public expectations of performance by the police, who are far more highly trained than security guards.

"Some people said it was better to have the appearance of more police," says Blackwell. "But when I brought up the safety issue, they understood. The FOP, the police commissioner and the administration support the bill."

The bill also provides that any guard with an orange armband at least 4 1/4 inches wide with the word GUARD in contrasting color at least three inches high would make any uniform acceptable.

City Paper's attitude is "Why stop there?"

In the interests of protecting the safety of Philadelphia's citizens, and, likewise, in bringing a new aesthetic to the secure shops and buildings of our town, CP asked designer/boutique owner Raymond Ercoli of Ercoli, 1116 Pine Street, to propose highly distinct security fashions that no one could possibly mistake for policewear.

— Daisy Fried