Yale Security sporting new uniforms

Since 2012, Yale Security Officers were easily identified by their high visibility greenish, yellow polo shirts. The idea behind that more traditional uniform was that security officers would be seen from a distance, and if someone needed assistance, they’d know who to approach for help. In the recent report by 21CP Solutions is a suggestion that Yale Public Safety “modify its uniform to ensure officers, conducting community engagement and problem-solving, might be perceived as approachable by a broader group of students and faculty.”

With that guidance but recognizing the need for security officers to remain readily identifiable, Ronnell Higgins, Chief of Yale Police and Director of Public Safety and Duane Lovello, Director of Security decided to soften the look and color of the security uniform. Before that could happen, the Public Safety patch was updated. The new uniform shirt is navy blue and white, complementing the patch’s color scheme. As part of the redesign, it was decided to abandon wearing the embroidered badge in favor of a simple ‘Yale Public Safety’ wordmark logo.  

Also new is a navy-blue mock turtleneck with the distinctive Yale’ Y’ logo. The embroidered badge on the uniform baseball cap is also being replaced by the ‘Yale Public Safety’ logo, giving the overall uniform a more collegiate look. “We’re going for a softer, less officious look and decreasing the likelihood that a Yale Security Officer may be mistaken for a police officer. Yet, we want our security officers to remain readily identifiable. We want students to easily know that that person patrolling their college or escorting them is a security officer,” said Duane Lovello. 

Over the Thanksgiving break, the new uniform will make its campus debut. Passersby will still recognize the existing bright yellow winter jackets that will continue to be used. More flattering for the officers, the new polos, hats, and mock turtlenecks provide a gentler contrast to the former one.