New duds for patrol officers

The Daily Inter Lake

Montana Highway Patrol officers have new looks inside and outside of their patrol cars.

Capt. Clancy King of the patrol's district based in Kalispell said changes were made mainly "to reflect changes in availability of equipment and enhance pride and morale within the force."

Officers' uniform shirts are now green, instead of the old khaki color, which became difficult to find from vendors.

The department used to have dark green shirts in the 1960s and 1970s, so the "new" color is really more retro.

Smaller, more aerodynamic light bars now top most patrol cars.

The improved equipment has less wind resistance, is more visible, and has amber directional bars that help direct drivers around hazards.

The word "Trooper" is now emblazoned on the front fenders of patrol cars.

In many states, highway patrol officers are referred to as troopers, although Montana hung on to the gender-based term "patrolman" for years.

King said the patrol's attitude toward the people it serves hasn't changed. Its motto, Servitum Cum Humilitae, or service with humility, is stressed daily.

"We apply the latest in technology and training to our investigations while treating people with courtesy and respect. Those are things you won't see us changing," King said.