Officers try shorts to cope with triple-digit heat

NORTH LAS VEGAS, Nev. - They're cooler, cheaper and how about those legs?

North Las Vegas police officers on Wednesday showed off the new shorts the department is considering using instead of wool pants in the hot summer months.

"I got a buck if you'll get on the table," Lt. Mike Blackwell called out, encouraging an officer to hop on the briefing table and dance during the fashion show.

While bicycle cops in the department and in other cities have been wearing shorts for years, patrol officers here have had to sweat through the triple-digit heat in wool pants. Now, four officers are wearing the cotton and polyester shorts until September to determine if they like them and if the public approves.

"I love them," said Officer Shane Allen, who's been wearing the shorts for several weeks. "They're a lot more comfortable."

Along with the police officers showing some leg comes the heckling and cat calls from fellow officers.

"They're just jealous," Officer Bill Max, 39, said, patting down his navy duds.

Allen recently found a picture of a woman with long legs pinned on his locker with the message: "When you get legs like these you can wear the shorts."

"They are cute," said Detective Calvin Koelher, who isn't wearing the shorts but says he will if they are approved.

All kidding aside, the shorts do make patrolling around the city much more bearable. Temperatures on Wednesday had already reached 107 by early afternoon. Plus, the shorts are only $50 as compared to $150 for the wool pants.

Some officers aren't too interested in change.

"They figure if I made it 25 years without shorts, then you can too," Allen, 33, said.

Officer Jesus Prieto puts it more simply: "I don't have the legs for it."

So, what does the public think?

"It's better with shorts," said Irin Guzman, 17, who was waiting on a curb Wednesday while his friend was cited for driving without a license and insurance.

"Why you not wear shorts?" Guzman asked another officer who arrived after the shorts-clad Allen pulled Guzman and his friend over.

Stephanie Hines, 29, who was parked at a 7-Eleven while Allen ran in to get a cold drink, said the shorts suit her just fine except for one minor problem.

"Tell him to get on the stairmaster," she said, surveying Allen's thin legs.

archive