I am not a cop, but I ride with some motorcops as friends. I also work in my community with local cops on various task forces and community events. Recently, I served as one of about 40 judges for a police motorcycle riding competition held in the hot days of August.

A friend emailed me to say that he was sorry that “American cops do not wear leather… even in winter.” He is right. There are some reasons why…

…First, most cops see leather as a relic of the past. I must admit, high-tech advanced synthetic fabrics are warmer in winter, cooler in summer, have built-in protection in shoulders, elbows, back, and even the knees.

While I personally enjoy wearing full leather when I ride my Harley, I cannot wear leather when it is warmer than 75F (24C) because it makes me so hot that I am much too uncomfortable.

Earlier this year, I bought one of those hi-tech, high-visibility jackets (made in The Netherlands), and while I get some ribbing from buddies that I look like “Big Bird,” this jacket is indeed easier to wear even in warm-ish (not hot) weather. It is well ventilated and also provides protection should I be struck and go down.

In the past, thin leather that I may have selected to wear on cool but not cold days would not provide the same level of protection as this new high-tech jacket provides to me. So I have reluctantly been converted to be a fan of this product for my comfort as well as for my safety. And that is how cops think, too.

Leather breeches? Again, relics of the past. Don’t get me wrong: I love my leathers and choose to wear them on cool riding days. But cops do not. Why?

Several reasons: all-leather breeches are damn hard to pull on and take off. Cops want “simple.”

Also, leather breeches are expensive. Most law enforcement outfits in the U.S. purchase the uniforms for their employees. The buyers in these cities, counties, states, and other agencies will choose what meets the requirement without breaking the budget. That is, US$100 for good quality cloth breeches over US$500 for leather? The math is simple.

Further, most cops are not required to ride all year long, especially if they work in an area with cold winters. Most cops are assigned both a motorcycle and a cruiser and are given the choice of which vehicle to drive on any given day. When it rains, is cold/wet/icy, or when a cop has to go to court, he (or she) will drive a cruiser. The uniform remains the same: cloth breeches, tall black boots, and a cloth uniform shirt (short sleeve in summer/long sleeve in winter.)

Most of us who are not cops do not understand these things. I was among those who thought for a long time that a motorcop always rode his police motorcycle all year through. My friend JB (a local motorcop) educated me about that many years ago. So long ago, in fact, that I had forgotten that I also had this misunderstanding.

Sure, the images made popular in the movies of leather-clad cops riding motorcycles with authority are steadfast in our minds. But that is not today’s world — and hasn’t been for at least two decades.

Personally, I am glad at least that most motorcycle police uniforms have retained breeches with tall black boots. I see more and more often that some outfits are switching boots to short tactical boots instead of the tall boots. Again, tactical boots have benefits over tall boots. Much easier to put on and take off, easier to stand in for hours while on traffic duty, easier to run in (should running be necessary), and easier to maintain.

I have vouched for the comfort of my Chippewa Firefighters as the best boot out there for casual, every-day motorcycling. I would not be surprised if more police outfits also made that change.

I hope they don’t! Just don’t be surprised if they do. (You heard it here first.)

Life is short: roll along with technology, but were tall black boots while doing it!