# Are there any red, yellow, or purple police uniforms? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [March 17, 2021, 8:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-red-yellow-or-purple-police-uniforms/938072 "2021-03-17T08:08:16Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Schnitte](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/schnitte/32/9033_2.png) [@Schnitte](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Schnitte)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2021, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-red-yellow-or-purple-police-uniforms/938072/21 "2021-03-17T16:45:23Z")
Seems to be greyish. I ran a [Google picture search](https://www.google.com/search?q=%22police+nationale+du+tchad%22&sxsrf=ALeKk00le6C4hK93tCK1DSjhsPUwFv4krw:1615999406743&source=lnms&tbm=isch&biw=2131&bih=1068) for “police nationale du Tchad”, and there’s a lot of photos of people wearing Chadian police uniforms. But I’ve never been there either. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2021, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-red-yellow-or-purple-police-uniforms/938072/22 "2021-03-17T17:20:48Z")
> [@MrDibble](#): > > [Las Vegas metro cops](https://www.reviewjournal.com/crime/las-vegas-strip-arrest-video-from-2013-resurfaces-goes-viral-1814254/) have a yellow uniform variant (I think only for the bicycle and transport divisions.) It’s obviously used in high-viz cycle wear, but it also includes dressier shirts, same as the ordinary beige ones, in that colour, as well. The Broward County Sheriff’s office (think Ft. Lauderdale Florida) also equips their bicycle officers with bright yellow polo shirts with embroidered chest badge & shoulder patches. The color scheme for their cars is white and dark green and the general duty uniform is a similar dark green. The polo shirts are actually **[green on the bottom half and yellow on the top half](https://images.app.goo.gl/SxaXFuHDAE8EtBnS8)**. The other day I was in the airport in Mexico City. The airport police wore black trousers, a white shirt, and a bright orange hat. The usual Latin American high-peaked army/police style billed hat, but the cover was that neon dayglow orange. Here’s an example of the color, if not the same shape hat I saw: [![](https://static.dw.com/image/16178766_303.jpg) ](https://static.dw.com/image/16178766_303.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Fish\_Cheer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fish_cheer/32/17179_2.png) [@Fish\_Cheer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fish_Cheer)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2021, 5:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-red-yellow-or-purple-police-uniforms/938072/23 "2021-03-18T05:37:28Z")
It’s not the base color, but the Italian _Polizia stradale_ (traffic police) [uniforms](https://www.interno.gov.it/it/notizie/operazione-ad-alto-impatto-polizia-stradale-contro-frodi-assicurative) have a wide purple stripe down each leg. I have never noticed that before, but it has a lighter colored line in the middle, so maybe it is meant to look like a road? ---
**Author:** ![Mijin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mijin/32/9369_2.png) [@Mijin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mijin)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2021, 6:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-red-yellow-or-purple-police-uniforms/938072/24 "2021-03-18T06:22:26Z")
In North Korea at least one of the [traffic police uniforms](https://www.picfair.com/pics/06234933-group-of-north-korean-traffic-security-officers-in-white-uniforms-in-the) is a white shirt, jacket, hat and socks, with medium blue trousers or skirt and some green detailing. Pretty fetching actually. ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2021, 1:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-red-yellow-or-purple-police-uniforms/938072/25 "2021-03-18T13:25:07Z")
They are a legit guard unit though. Perhaps not police but despite their flamboyant uniforms they are real guards and good ones at that. Don’t mess with them thinking they are just there for show. Maybe they will not arrest you but they will kick your ass if need be. ---
**Author:** ![SCAdian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scadian/32/3292_2.png) [@SCAdian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SCAdian)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2021, 1:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-red-yellow-or-purple-police-uniforms/938072/26 "2021-03-20T01:48:31Z")
> [@Schnitte](#): > > the police would get grey uniforms that were intentionally similar to the style of the Wehrmacht military uniforms, The army uniforms, to be precise. > [@Fish\_Cheer](#): > > I have never noticed that before, but it has a lighter colored line in the middle, so maybe it is meant to look like a road? [A bigger picture](https://www.corrieredicomo.it/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/NAS18191.jpg) shows what seem to be standard lampassen – two broad stripes, with the fabric of the trousers showing between them. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2021, 11:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-red-yellow-or-purple-police-uniforms/938072/27 "2021-03-22T23:22:02Z")
Evidently some state police in Mexico use a shade of violet. [![](https://www.gannett-cdn.com/media/USATODAY/USATODAY/2013/02/06/ap-mexico-spain-tourists-attacked-16_9.jpg?width=660&height=373&fit=crop&format=pjpg&auto=webp) ](https://www.gannett-cdn.com/media/USATODAY/USATODAY/2013/02/06/ap-mexico-spain-tourists-attacked-16_9.jpg?width=660&height=373&fit=crop&format=pjpg&auto=webp) ---
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2021, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-red-yellow-or-purple-police-uniforms/938072/28 "2021-03-22T23:28:54Z")
> [@Mijin](#): > > In North Korea at least one of the [traffic police uniforms](https://www.picfair.com/pics/06234933-group-of-north-korean-traffic-security-officers-in-white-uniforms-in-the) is a white shirt, jacket, hat and socks, with medium blue trousers or skirt and some green detailing. Pretty fetching actually. But that’s not red, purple or yellow…which is what the OP was asking about. (except for tiny flags or badges on the uniforms, which probably doesn’t count) ---
**Author:** ![Mijin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mijin/32/9369_2.png) [@Mijin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mijin)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2021, 11:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-red-yellow-or-purple-police-uniforms/938072/29 "2021-03-22T23:57:21Z")
Take a look again ---
**Author:** ![Peter\_Morris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peter_morris/32/359_2.png) [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2021, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-red-yellow-or-purple-police-uniforms/938072/30 "2021-03-23T20:50:38Z")
A quick search found a few. Albania ([source](https://thealbanianmythology.blogspot.com/2018/11/history-of-albanian-police.html)) [![](https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Dy5ygt5c4Ww/W-_T2pC0FRI/AAAAAAAAAIM/HlDmQzBUNY0lWGpwYvvz8mfWHxNaW1hCwCEwYBhgL/s640/policia-rresht-696x331.jpg) ](https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Dy5ygt5c4Ww/W-_T2pC0FRI/AAAAAAAAAIM/HlDmQzBUNY0lWGpwYvvz8mfWHxNaW1hCwCEwYBhgL/s640/policia-rresht-696x331.jpg) [![](https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iaYKgBlhSO4/W-_T2Vk47TI/AAAAAAAAAIc/4jatPoip0AYUAIj4C4oEtATUswjvN7jSwCEwYBhgL/s640/Policia-11.JPG) ](https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iaYKgBlhSO4/W-_T2Vk47TI/AAAAAAAAAIc/4jatPoip0AYUAIj4C4oEtATUswjvN7jSwCEwYBhgL/s640/Policia-11.JPG) Sri Lanka mounted police (ceremonial dress) ([source](https://www.police.lk/index.php/library/item/43-mounted-police-uniforms)) [https://www.police.lk/images/mounted\_police/2018/uniform/uniforms-1.gif](https://www.police.lk/images/mounted_police/2018/uniform/uniforms-1.gif) Pamplona, Spain. (not sure if this is regional or national) ([source](https://www.pamplonafiesta.com/who-should-you-contact-when-in-need-for-help/)) [![](https://www.pamplonafiesta.com/wp-content/uploads/1forales.png) ](https://www.pamplonafiesta.com/wp-content/uploads/1forales.png) Turkey ([source](https://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/two-police-officers-arrested-over-alleged-rape-in-turkeys-kocaeli-122581)) [![](https://i.hurimg.com/i/hdn/75/0x0/5a0eba2618c7731ce87b801d.jpg) ](https://i.hurimg.com/i/hdn/75/0x0/5a0eba2618c7731ce87b801d.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Peter\_Morris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peter_morris/32/359_2.png) [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2021, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-red-yellow-or-purple-police-uniforms/938072/31 "2021-03-23T20:58:46Z")
And Australian police in a once-per-year event. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/yX_mnObSp04/hqdefault.jpg "Sydney police in a purple patch") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yX_mnObSp04) > **[NSW Police Celebrate Diversity, Change Up Uniforms For Wear It Purple Day](https://www.pedestrian.tv/news/nsw-police-celebrate-diversity-change-up-uniforms-for-wear-it-purple-day/)** > > Today, the nation will be awash with yellow and purple: the former for the Cancer Council’s Daffodil Day, and the latter for Wear It Purple Day – an initiative established to promote acceptance and diversity among young people, aiming to... ---
**Author:** ![pkbites](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pkbites/32/204_2.png) [@pkbites](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pkbites)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2021, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-red-yellow-or-purple-police-uniforms/938072/32 "2021-03-23T21:43:31Z")
When the show “True Stories of the Highway Patrol” was on back in the 90’s I could swear I remember them wearing an olive drab uniform jacket. Then there is white. I have seen officers in the Caribbean wearing white. Around here the rank of Lieutenant and above wore white uniform shirts with the same color trousers as regular officers. That trend has been faded out over the past decade. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2021, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-red-yellow-or-purple-police-uniforms/938072/33 "2021-03-23T23:03:06Z")
This is the **[History page from the California Highway Patrol](https://www.chp.ca.gov/home/about-us/the-history-of-the-california-highway-patrol)**. Historically their uniforms were tan pants with a blue and gold side stripe and an olive drab shirt/jacket. At least some of their uniforms are still those colors today. ---
**Author:** ![Schnitte](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/schnitte/32/9033_2.png) [@Schnitte](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Schnitte)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2021, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-red-yellow-or-purple-police-uniforms/938072/34 "2021-03-26T18:26:40Z")
> [@Peter\_Morris](#): > > Pamplona, Spain. (not sure if this is regional or national) ([source](https://www.pamplonafiesta.com/who-should-you-contact-when-in-need-for-help/)) It says “policía foral” on the uniforms, which indicates it’s regional. The term _foro_ in Spain refers to the autonomous communities, which are regions with far-reaching self-administrative autonomy. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-red-yellow-or-purple-police-uniforms/938072.md?page=1)