# LEO uniforms

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leo-uniforms/738231>\
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion\
**Created:** [November 21, 2015, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leo-uniforms/738231 "2015-11-21T22:03:58Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\
**Post date:** [November 21, 2015, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leo-uniforms/738231/1 "2015-11-21T22:03:58Z")

</div>

It just occurred to me that the uniforms sheriff’s deputies wear tend to be [green](http://www.osceolasheriff.org/Files/Websites/SheriffsOffice/00000000_Imported/DSC_0045.JPG) or [khaki](http://www.tazewellcounty.org/images/SO/uniform.jpg) or [brown](http://www.elkharttruth.com/image/2014/01/08/800x800_b0/eva-elkdata-Inqueue-Saxotech-Output-EH-20140108-NEWS01-140109949-jpg.jpg) (usually with one of those as a contrasting colour), and the ones police and highway patrol wear tend to be [blue](http://www.uppermac.org/wp-content/gallery/police-station-dedication-january-15-2013/img_0573.jpg) or [black](https://tribktla.files.wordpress.com/2014/08/capture1.jpeg). Of course this is not always true (e.g., CHP wear [khaki](http://www.sruniform.com/UMSS/graphics/SANTAROSA/CHP%20BREECHES.jpg)); it’s just what I’ve noticed IRL in California, Washington, and in images from around the country. I’m talking about what I perceive as a general trend.

1. While the majority of uniforms I’ve seen follow the perceived trend, is it true? What percentage of uniforms follow the pattern of blue = police and green/brown = County?

2. If the pattern is true, is there a formal agreement between agencies? Or is it just that one LEO department in an area chose one colour, and the other one chose another so as not to avoid confusion?