To the casual observer they look like the real thing: Uniformed Los Angeles police officers on motorcycles controlling traffic around action-packed chase scenes and sprawling film sets on the streets of L.A.
Gawkers and paparazzi who get up close, however, might realize something is a bit off. The stripes signifying the officers' rank are gone, the motorcycles are without emergency lights and their badges read "Retired" across the top.
They are part of the aging, but proud and stubborn cadre of former LAPD cops whom Hollywood has relied on for decades to keep real-world Los Angeles at bay while it creates its fantasies.
On Tuesday, however, after a year of failed negotiations and building tensions, top LAPD officials announced their decision to ban ex-cops from wearing police uniforms and badges. It is a move that people in the industry warned would hinder their ability to make movies and TV shows and undermine attempts to stem the exodus of film productions to other cities.
At a meeting of the Police Commission packed with angry, sometimes rowdy retired officers and film location managers, Assistant Chief Jim McDonnell unveiled the new uniform that retired officers will be required to wear.
Gone are the iconic dark blues of the LAPD, replaced by black pants, a white shirt and a fluorescent yellow reflective vest. In place of badges are patches that read, "Film Detail."
The city's municipal code gives Police Chief William J. Bratton the authority to decide who is permitted to conduct traffic control and security on film sets and what they are required to wear. McDonnell said he planned to formally notify the association that represents the retired officers of the changes in the next day or two and that the rules would go into effect in three months.
The commission -- the civilian panel that oversees the LAPD and typically votes on departmental policy issues -- has no say in the matter and was only listening to an update on the topic.
McDonnell said the department is concerned about liability and image issues that arise from having the contingent of about 100 retired cops who regularly man sets -- many of them in their 60s or older -- looking like active officers.
"We are trying to legitimize the system so when someone from the community approaches a person in an LAPD uniform it is actually an LAPD officer whose training is current and not someone who has been retired possibly for a few decades," he said.
