Sudbury

Sudbury police senior ranks switch white shirts to black

Sudbury's chief of police says officers in higher ranks are trading in their white shirts for black.

'Barriers between ranks' removed as police officers change uniforms, chief says

Starting this month all Sudbury police officers, regardless of rank, including Cst. Cheryl Kennelly. Staff Sgt. Karrie Burke, Inspector Mike Chapman and Cst. Nihad Hasanefendic, will wear black uniform shirts. (Greater Sudbury Police Service)

Sudbury's chief of police says officers in higher ranks are trading in their white shirts for black.

Constables and sergeants with the Greater Sudbury Police have always worn black, so now all officers wear the same colour.

Chief Paul Pedersen said it's a small way to show that all officers are working together.

"We really are all part of the same team," Pedersen said. "We build on each other much like an inukshuk that supports each other, where no one piece of the inukshuk is more important than the other."

Pedersen said even he wears a black shirt, the same as officers on the front line. 

"I really do see that wearing different clothes only puts up barriers between ranks in this organization and really just enhances 'us versus them' internally where truly I see us all together," he said.

The change in uniform was implemented March 1.