NEWPORT NEWS, Va. — A Virginia fire department is changing its uniforms to better distinguish firefighters from police officers.
In the wake of recent police shootings, the Newport News Fire Department has decided to switch out their dark blue uniforms for t-shirts so that their firefighters won’t be mistaken for law enforcement.
“We wanted there to be a readily identifiable uniform that separates us as firefighters and the EMS,” Newport News Battalion Fire Chief Steve Pincus told WKTR.
Fire officials had reportedly discussed changing the uniforms prior to the Dallas shootings that left five officers dead and nine injured; the tragedy reinforced the decision.