Kate Murphy

kmurphy@enquirer.com

Strutting down a fashion runway is one way for cops to change their image.

That was the thinking as University of Cincinnati Police Chief Tony Carter, Assistant Chief Maris Harold and seven other officers showed off what could be their new uniforms at the annual College of Design, Architecture, Art, and Planning Fashion Show on Friday. They sported 14 different looks down the region's longest catwalk, dressed in Bearcat-inspired athletic police jackets, bowties and blazers for formal events and slim bulletproof vests.

"As we change our vision and our mission for our UCPD officers we're thinking about the image that we want to send and how we want to relate to our community," said Vice President for Safety and Reform Robin Engel, who also modeled down the runway. "We want to provide the officers with the best resources, training equipment and uniforms."

Last August, the public safety department asked students and faculty in UC's DAAP program to help improve their image – an ongoing effort after a UCPD officer shot and killed an unarmed black man in 2015.

DAAP designers learned about the delicate balance UCPD needs to stroke between being a symbol of authority and having an officer seem approachable and willing to help.

UC design student Christine Hoy, 22, said past police uniform trends in the United States had a bulky, military look, which they wanted to change.

"A tactical look isn't ideal," she said. "It makes them seem like they aren't part of the community and don't represent the community."

Hoy cut out the officers' clunky cargo pockets, added colorful accessories to their outerwear and integrated sleek performance fabrics to make them more friendly-looking.

Injoo Kim, a UC fashion design program coordinator and professor, said the goal was to give an impression of service rather than power. She organized the effort with fashion design professor Brooke Brandewie.

Nearly 50 design students shadowed UC cops last fall, riding along with them during their morning and night shifts to get insight into their jobs. They interviewed cops about their current uniforms, asking about the durability, colors and fabrics. Faculty also surveyed officers about the physical and psychological aspects of their work, analyzed the data and presented the research to inform the designs.

This spring, six design students collaborated with Under Armour and Fechheimer Brothers Co., a Cincinnati-based industry leader in manufacturing uniforms for public safety, to develop prototypes that were put on display at the fashion show.

They designed a variety of uniforms, featuring new colors, logos, patches and hats.

The designs aren't final, but the process will likely result in the purchase of new uniforms next January. DAAP students and faculty plan to conduct a pilot study and gather a focus group to see what people think of the new designs.

Engel said this collaboration between students and police officers is part of UCPD's effort to rebuild its relationship with the community after the fatal shooting of Sam DuBose. Former UCPD Officer Ray Tensing will be retried on murder charges in late May.