Under Armour Could Provide Baltimore City Police Uniforms
BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- Dozens of Baltimore City police officers could soon be outfitted with some new gear, thanks to Under Armour---but the city says, not so fast.
Rochelle Ritchie has more on why the plans are on hold.
The city's spending panel must first endorse an ethics waiver that would allow the police department to seek the uniforms as a gift from the Baltimore-based company.
Under Armour is looking to expand its apparel clientele to the men and women in blue. Baltimore City police say they do not know what the new uniforms would look like and cannot comment any further on the issue until the city makes a decision.
"About a year and a half ago, Under Armour approached us about the idea of designing the next generation of police uniforms," said a police official.
But the gift from Under Armour comes with some concerns from Baltimore City Comptroller Joan Pratt, who tells our media partners at the Baltimore Sun, "I would have some concerns if the Under Armour product became the standard for uniforms. No other vendor would have the same advantage. It might limit others from responding to future request for bids."
But this wouldn't be the first time Under Armour has given generously to the city. According to our media partners at the Baltimore Sun, Under Armour joined with the Baltimore City police department and the Baltimore Community Foundation in 2011 in donating $300,000 for the Southern District to buy equipment, including tasers and police bicycles.
And in 2014, Under Armour partnered with the Ravens to design and fund new uniforms for Baltimore city school football and girls' basketball teams.
"They're really expensive and we have no money in the city so this helps us tremendously," said a Baltimore coach.
Officials with Baltimore police say they were unable to discuss the proposal from Under Armour last year but may be able to move the conversation forward now.
"With a proposal before the Board of Estimates, we can start to have those conversations," said the police official.
Experts say it's not unusual for civic-minded companies to make charitable contributions to the cities where they are based.