U.S. Law Enforcement in kilts

[SlackerDrummer]

So there is at least at some level some official capacity for kilts in some U.S. law enforcement units. I just came across these photos taken at the 2009 National Honor Guard Demonstration. Both U.S. Customs and U.S. Border Patrol wear Ike jackets that are unbuttoned. The USBP honor guard wears a different jacket, which would have been nice to alter into a patrol jacket, but the pipe band wears the Ike jacket instead (which requires no alteration). The piper(?) for Springettsbury Township in the last photo is wearing an altered version of their honor guard's jacket, which looks nice though I'd like it better outside the kilt with the belt worm more like on a Montrose doublet.


US Customs and Border Protection by rivarix


US Border Patrol by rivarix


Springettsbury Township Police Department by rivarix

[EagleJCS]

Kenneth,
Looking at that last photo, the kilted officer may be wearing the same jacket as the others, just hiding the skirts of the jacket under the kilt. There's a small dimple in the front apron of his kilt by the right side of his sporran (to your left when looking at the photo) that does not appear to be resulting from the weight of his sporran and/or the sporran chain.

As an aside, the Louisville Metro Police department is starting up a pipe band, open to any law enforcement/public service member in the area (the Louisville Pipe Band - LPB - is providing instruction). The Louisville Police Pipes and Drums (LPPD) will be wearing the Ancient Henderson tartan (as does the LPB), but I understand their uniform will be a little more para-military - horsehair sporrans, white spats, possibly feather bonnets, etc. Wearing the same tartan will allow for some cross-over between the bands. If an LPPD member wants to compete, they can play with the LPB at the various Games. Likewise, LPB members will be invited to perform at various events (parades, memrial services, etc.) with the LPPD, especially in the first year or two while the LPPD gets more comfoirtable with playing in public.

[ctbuchanan]

I took this when the Border Patrol played at the New Hampshire Highland Games

These are members of the Lincoln, New Hampshire P.D. at the New Hampshire Highland Games. Their Dress uniform is also the kilt BTW. The tartan is the New Hampshire State Tartan.

[okiwen]

CTbuchanan,

You have taken a picture of some of our drummers. In the BP the drummers have the dicing on the glengarry. Those three are great people. Very good and equally as funny.

There has been in the works (forever), a jacket in the more traditional style from 1924-ish with a stand up leatherneck collar and a cut away front. Unfortunately, the government lost their minds all of a sudden and decided to make it of the worst material available to us, little wool and lot of polyester. What a wasted opportunity. The tartan we wear is the Border Patrol tartan. It is surprisingly nice. Obviously, different people were making decisions than the jacket crew.

[Riverkilt]

I've collected about 30 pics of kilted cops. Here are two I took myself.


Arizona Department of Corrections Officers


Flagstaff, AZ Police Dept kilts up for the Highland Games in Flagstaff.

[FatherWilliam57]

OK, question: The officer on the right has no kilt belt. How is his dirk "levitating" in the air like that? Am I missing something here? Is it suspended from a belt under his jacket?

[EagleJCS]

OK, question: The officer on the right has no kilt belt. How is his dirk "levitating" in the air like that? Am I missing something here? Is it suspended from a belt under his jacket?

Could be he's got it attached to the kilt strap on his left side....

I notice he's also missing his spats, and the other two don't appear to be wearing dirks.

The guy in the middle appears to have different-sized tassles, he's wearing a cross-belt, and his Glengarry isn't diced. Given the hash marks on his left sleeve, maybe he's the Drum Major (and set his mace aside while walking about)?

[Riverkilt]

And who can forget Rocky's efforts to get the cast of Reno 911 kilted up...

[O'Callaghan]

The guy in the first pic is wearing the County Cork (House of Edgar) tartan.

So there is at least at some level some official capacity for kilts in some U.S. law enforcement units. I just came across these photos taken at the 2009 National Honor Guard Demonstration. Both U.S. Customs and U.S. Border Patrol wear Ike jackets that are unbuttoned. The USBP honor guard wears a different jacket, which would have been nice to alter into a patrol jacket, but the pipe band wears the Ike jacket instead (which requires no alteration). The piper(?) for Springettsbury Township in the last photo is wearing an altered version of their honor guard's jacket, which looks nice though I'd like it better outside the kilt with the belt worm more like on a Montrose doublet.


US Customs and Border Protection by rivarix


US Border Patrol by rivarix


Springettsbury Township Police Department by rivarix

[Chas]

I think that the different styles of uniform give a good insight into how the upper management of the different organisations view their kilted members. It goes all the way from parade formal to working dress and each have some good points.

Regards

Chas