By HANNAH HYMEN Daily Ish Staff Writer
PUBLIC SAFETY FACILITY Tired of the stereotype that police officers are a threatening and brutal force, the Santa Monica Police Department enlisted the help of 15 up-and-coming designers to create their new police uniforms on the reality hit “Project Runway.”
In an episode that aired last week on Bravo, the aspiring fashion designers were given the task of designing the new SMPD uniforms or face being beaten with a rubber hose.
“We’re tired of the stigma associated with wearing this uniform,” a very exasperated Chief Tiny-Tim Jackmon said last week. “We’re the police... and we’re fabulous.”
The contestants spent two hours creating the designs.A panel of judges — comprised of former Chief Jimmy Buttz, “Project Runway” alum and Santa Monica resident Vincent Lobotomy and Ralph Lauren — unanimously narrowed the field to three finalists.
Meanwhile, squirrels in Palisades Park were seen jacking the sack, fueling fears that the cute little rodents will bring about a plague on all our houses.
The panel unanimously selected Karina Davidson of Sioux City, Iowa, as the winner, praising her for her innovative design of placing the holster in the boot and the SMPD police badge on the derriere.
The only problem? Some SMPD officers weren’t too pleased with the winning entry.
“I’m not sure about having the holster on the boot,” said Lt. Alen Padilla.“I guess it will somehow make it easier to shoot midgets, or perhaps some squirrels.”
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on April 1, 2007. Read the original PDF.