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The long arm of the law has something new up its sleeve — incorporating military camo patterns into tactical apparel, including the newest ACU digital patterns and the even newer MultiCam camo pattern.
Still, law enforcement and tactical apparel is still mostly a matter of black and blue.
Since 9/11, the law enforcement community has grown substantially in size, and much attention has been given to improvements and enhancements to their uniform apparel, equipment, protective gear and footwear.
As law enforcement agencies add specialized task forces to their ranks, needs and requirements change depending on suitability to task, affecting the design and construction of tactical apparel.
The convergence of the military and law enforcement in apparel, equipment, weaponry and tactics has brought the army/navy store into play as a relevant supplier to law enforcement and security entities for many of the items needed by departments and individuals in the field.
The arrival of the law enforcement fulfillment market comes at a good time for the army/navy market, as genuine military surplus becomes harder to find and many stores are left wondering what to sell for an encore.
The specialized requirements of the law enforcement community are a double-edged sword for the army/navy retailer, though.
On one hand, there is more profitability and a growing marketplace. However, there is more technical expertise required and a well entrenched competitive base that has the advantage of operating in an environment in which longevity and reputation are key selling points.
Whether it's selling to the individual police officer or to an entire department, the army/navy retailer must establish his business as a committed purveyor of quality goods, competing on price and follow up service as well.
A legitimate SHOT
Over the past few years, suppliers firmly entrenched in the army/navy market have established a foothold in the law enforcement market partly through participation in the annual SHOT Show. The SHOT Show, although centered around shooting sports equipment, apparel and gear, has become an adopted home for law enforcement product suppliers, and the SHOT Show now features a dedicated law enforcement pavillion as a result.
Fortunately for the army/navy retailer, many of the most popular supplier firms that they have come to know and trust for military-related goods are now fully vested suppliers of law enforcement apparel and other goods.
Companies such as Atlanco and Propper have already made great inroads into the law enforcement market by developing, independently of their military lines, comprehensive and professional quality law enforcement product lines.
Atlanco, for example, has established a separate TRU-Spec line for retail and departmental sales. TRU stands for Tactical Response Uniform, and Atlanco has developed the product by drawing on its vast experience in the military field and by incorporating the advice and guidance provided by law enforcement professionals and representatives of the Department of Homeland Security.
The Atlanco TRU-Spec uniform line is now available in black, khaki, OD, navy, Woodland and desert camo, and now in the popular new multi-purpose MultiCam camo pattern.
The TRU-Spec line is marketed as the state of the art in law enforcement and tactical apparel.
Major Surplus offers its Mil-Spec Plus line of law enforcement apparel, with the specialized Voodoo Tactical Line an integral part of the Mil-Spec Plus category.
The Mil-Spec line is popular with army/navy retailers primarily for sale to individual law enforcement personnel and also for special tactical teams. It is marketed as a line that offers quality for a competitive price.
Rothco also offers a wide array of tactical apparel items. Their EMT pants are especially popular, as are their commando sweaters and logoed polo shirts, both of which are rapidly gaining favor in the law enforcement community.
Military Outdoor Clothing has done well with its proprietary tactical pant, marketed under The Diplomat name.
Tactical Gear Distributors represents many of the most familiar brands in the marketplace, and is a one-stop shopping source for most of the apparel and gear utilized by the law enforcement professional.
Uniform & Accessories Warehouse is another distributor of an extensive range of police and security apparel and supplies.
For the army/navy retailer, missing out on the law enforcement and tactical market oughta be a crime.
author: BY MARK HAWVER