The department must supply division employees with needed uniforms and equipment, keep uniforms and equipment distinctive, and avoid allowing police-like uniforms or badges that could be confused with state police. Some similar uniforms may be used only with written consent from the deputy secretary for public safety services.
§1376. Uniforms, equipment, and badges A. The department shall provide the employees of the division, within the amount of appropriations therefor, with the uniforms and equipment necessary to the performance of their respective duties, but all such uniforms and equipment shall remain the property of the state. B. The uniform to be used and worn by the police employees of the division shall be distinctive in color, design, material, markings, and insignia so as to be readily and easily identifiable from a reasonable distance as the uniform worn by the police employees of the division of state police of this state. C.(1) No department, division, or agency of the state or of any municipality, parish, or other political subdivision of the state charged with law enforcement or the apprehension of violators of any state, municipal, or parochial laws or ordinances shall provide, furnish to, or permit their employees to wear a uniform of the same color, design, or markings as that worn by state policemen or which is so similar in appearance as to confuse, tend to confuse, or not be clearly distinguishable from the uniforms used and worn by the police employees of the office of state police. (2) It shall be unlawful for any person to utilize or wear a uniform of the same color, design, or markings as that worn by state policemen or to utilize or wear a uniform which is so similar in appearance as to confuse, tend to confuse, or not be clearly distinguishable from the uniform used and worn by the police employees of the office of state police. This Paragraph does not apply to a person who first obtains the express, written consent of the deputy secretary for public safety services. D. The department may sell equipment which becomes unfit for use. All money received therefor shall be paid into the state treasury and credited to the general fund. E. The department shall keep an inventory and shall charge against each employee of the division the value of all property of the department issued to him and if it determines that any loss or destruction of such property was due to the carelessness or neglect of the employee, it shall cause the value of the property to be deducted from the pay of the employee. F. No department, office, or agency of the state or of any municipality, parish, or other political subdivision of the state charged with law enforcement or the apprehension of violators of any state laws or any municipal or parochial ordinances shall provide, furnish, sell, or permit its employees to wear a badge of the same design or markings as that worn by a law enforcement officer employed by the Department of Public Safety and Corrections, an employee of the Department of Justice, an enforcement officer of the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, an employee of the Department of Agriculture and Forestry who is commissioned by the office of state police, an employee of the Department of Environmental Quality who is commissioned by the office of state police, or the sergeant at arms or assistant sergeants at arms of the Senate or House of Representatives who are commissioned by the office of state police, or which is so similar in appearance as to confuse, tend to confuse, or not be clearly distinguishable from the badge used and worn by such officer or employee. Amended by Acts 1964, No. 476, §1; Acts 1992, No. 892, §1, eff. July 8, 1992; Acts 1997, No. 1080, §1; Acts 2004, No. 73, §1.