Why don't cops wear tennis shoes?

Factual Questions
21

Here are some police shoes.

http://www.jgearusa.com/men/boots/topcop.html

http://www.jgearusa.com/men/shoes/index.html

Now, running shoes have some benefits, but a sturdy shoe or shoe/boot is better fitted to the needs of general officers.

As I mentioned previously, cops wear sneakers on certain types of patrols, including beach patrol, bike patrol and other events.

When the SWAT team shows up, they ain’t wearing tennis shoes, and they ain’t wearing patrolman shoes. They lean towards a more rugged military type boot, and cops on the beat lean towards a walking shoe.

Now, I know that in this area (Pennsylvania, Deleware and NJ), most State Troopers go with a more boot type of shoe, maybe even military boots.

So, while the steretypical “Adam-12” patrol sports the commone patrolman shoe, other police beats make use of tennis type shoes, black boots, or full military type footwear.

22

I’m surprised no one has mentioned that another footwear option, the half boot, has been discarded ever since Andy Griffith demonstrated the tendency for one pant leg to get hung up on them.

I’ve never understood why some cop uniforms require ties. Seem superfluous at best and (if not clipon) dangerous at worst.

23

Read an answer to this in “Why Things Are” by Joel Achenbach.
Essentially,as Dale the Bold said, they’re not supposed to be running. Their uniform is such as to put forth the appearance of authority. Hence the ties as well, though I imagine those are clip-ons for the sake of safety.
I still don’t understand the wide brim ranger hats though.

24

Damn! Just what I need. Another example of how I apparently must think differently than the “target audience,” whoever the heck that is.

I think ties are really stupid and a pain in the ass. And in my mind, inappropriate and unnecessary for a cops’ regular duties. Sure, they could be part of a dress uniform if you feel that is really necessary. But a nice open shirt uniform shirt looks plenty fine to this taxpayer. Personally, I am most impressed by someone who is dressed appropriately and comfortably for their duties - whether they are a construction worker, cop, or doctor. And I think a cop should optimally exude a sense of “physicalness” - that he/she is capable of doing whatever might be required at any moment. Ties imply inactivity, leisure, sedentary-ness, needless upper-class formality…

And that gun on his hip sure gives him plenty of “appearance of authority” in my mind!