The New Taipei City Police Department on Monday defended its decision to ask some officers at a “New Taipei City Christmasland” event over the weekend to wear Santa hats, after receiving online criticism which denounced the costumes as harming the “dignity of the police.”
In a post made in the “kaobei police” Facebook group late Saturday, a user shared a photo of police officers wearing Santa hats directing traffic at the Superstar Christmas Concert in Banqiao District earlier that evening.
After questioning whether officers could be ordered to wear such hats under the Police Uniforms Act, the poster went on to express “complete aversion” to such costumes, lamenting that “we are police officers, not clowns.”
In comments and subsequent posts, some users backed the sentiment, arguing that the gimmick harmed “the dignity of the police” and treated them as if they were “backup performers” in the Christmasland concert.
Others, however, dismissed the notion that a choice of headwear could harm the dignity of a profession, while noting that the Santa caps were a big hit with concertgoers, many of whom asked to take photos with the officers.
Responding on Monday, the New Taipei City Police Department defended the move, saying it increased the officers’ visibility and was well-received by the public.
Of the roughly 570 officers deployed to maintain security at the two-night event, only 100 officers — all reassigned from desk jobs and helping to direct traffic — were asked to wear Santa hats, the department said.
New Taipei City Mayor Hou Yu-ih (???) — a former head of the National Police Agency — also brushed off the criticism, saying the hats helped the officers blend into their surroundings and added “a touch of warmth” as they went about their duties.
According to Hou, this year’s Christmasland events in Banqiao has already attracted about 5.8 million visitors since it opened on Nov. 11.
Source: Focus Taiwan News Channel