Detention Center Honored for Sharpest Uniforms

Showing off the uniforms that won the spartanburg county Detention Center its 2nd North American association of Uniform Manufacturers and Distributors award for best Special agency uniform, detention center officers Sgt. Greg Leonard, Cpl. J.L. Nichols, Omayra Sanchez, and Capt. Allen Freeman pose with their award at BMW's Zentrum last week.

The detention center won the North American Association of Uniform Manufacturers and Distributors (NAUMD) public safety award for top uniforms for a law enforcement special agency April 25 but were presented with the honor last Thursday at BMW's Zentryum visitor's center.

Jim Tewmey of VF Imagewear, the manufacturer of the SCDC uniforms, and Steve Moller of Design Labs, the local supplier, were on hand to present the award.

Detention Center Capt. Allen Freeman said that the agency's uniforms are an integral part of establishing and maintaining a professional environment where the officers can take pride in the work they do and that winning the award for the second year in a row was a welcome surprise.

"It was truly an honor to win it for the second time," Freeman said. He went on to say that the uniform makes an important statement that the officers are professionals who take pride not only in their appearance but in the professionalism with which they do their jobs.

As an 11 year veteran at the detention center and with more than 20 years in the military, Cpl. William Brobson said he understood and appreciated the value of wearing sharp uniforms.

"The better you look, the easier your job is," he said.

Both Brobson and Freeman said that a well-designed and cared-for uniform immediately sends the signal that the wearers are professionals and it thereby engenders more respect from the people they have to deal with on a day-to-day basis at the detention center.

Freeman said the competition evaluated the department's dress uniform, honor guard uniform, SWAT uniform and short- and long-sleeved duty shirts.

Freeman said the department views officers' uniforms with an exactitude similar to the military, and this is helped in no small measure by Marine Corps veteran Sgt. J.L. Nichols. Freeman said that as a member of the agency's honor guard, Nichols upholds high standards and is also teaching the unit how to use the taps on their shoes to convey non-verbal instructions while performing their duties.

Freeman said that this award recognizes the importance of a law enforcement officer's uniform because that is usually the very first thing members of the public see when they meet an officer.

"The uniform speaks for itself," he said.