Police officers in central Iowa get new dress uniform caps

FORT DODGE, Iowa (AP) - Police officers in central Iowa are getting new dress uniform caps.

A Christian group called Serving Our Servants has raised more than $5,000 to supply Fort Dodge Police Department officers with new eight-point caps and matching badges, The Messenger (https://bit.ly/2sAcxOH ) reported.

Roger Porter, the current assistant police chief and incoming police chief, said the new caps aren’t for daily wear, but are to be used during formal occasions such as funerals, presentations or public appearances.

The caps were once standard issue with the daily uniform, but uniform design changes later left out the caps, Porter said.

He said he was honored to help hand out the new caps to the officers.

“We want to recognize them,” Porter said. “They do a lot behind the scenes. This is a very small token of our appreciation.”

Officer Keaton Lunn was one of the first to receive a new hat Tuesday.

“These kind of help unify our department,” he said. “Especially at funerals or in other professional atmospheres.”

Serving Our Servants Founder the Rev. Al Henderson said the money was raised in four weeks, twice as fast as they’d expected. The project saw a lot of support in the community from individuals, businesses and the Frontier Friends of the National Rifle Association, he said.

The initial purchase provides hats for all the officers currently on the force. As new officers come in, they will also be provided hats, Henderson said.

___

Information from: The Messenger, https://www.messengernews.net