There’s a black out this spring at the Armstrong County Sheriff’s Department.
Gone are the longstanding brown and tan uniforms.
The eight members of the department this week started sporting all black attire when they come to work.
“Historically, brown has always been the color of the sheriff’s departments in Pennsylvania – it made us stand out,” said Sheriff Bill Rupert. “But more and more departments are going with black. We thought it was time to switch.”
The decision came late last year when the department found that the brown uniforms were becoming scarce. Armstrong was one of only four departments in the state sticking with the traditional look, so supply has dwindled to meet demand.
A jacket for a deputy had to be special ordered last year and took weeks to arrive.
Hats needed for all of the deputies were nowhere to be found.
