Rochester Police Chief OKs Patriots Hats For Super Bowl Run

Rochester Police Chief Michael Assad Jr. is announcing an official uniform change as New Englanders are counting down to Sunday night's Super Bowl kickoff in the Bay Area of California.

This week, Assad authorized officers to wear New England Patriots winter hats as part of the Rochester Police uniform. For now, the hat is the only swap allowed for sworn officers. Civilian staff have more flexibility, he said, including department employees who can wear Patriots shirts, hats, or other gear to show support.

Patriots Hats In Uniforms

Assad said the idea came from seeing another police chief try something similar. He reached out, asked if he could borrow the concept, and got the green light. The policy will run through the Monday morning after the Super Bowl, and Assad said he may even extend it through the full day if the Patriots win.

The response inside the department has been positive, he said. Some officers are still trying to buy hats because Patriots inventory has gotten a little scarce since the AFC Championship game.

A Friendly Challenge With Seattle

Assad has already reached out to the Seattle Chief of Police to make a friendly bet. If the Patriots win, the Seattle Chief will need to go on the department's social media platforms and announce that the Patriots are the best team in football, all while wearing head-to-tie Patriots gear. Vice versa if the Seahawks win, "but they WON'T win," insisted Assad.

Why The Department Leans Into Humor

Assad said the light-hearted tone is intentional. He has been in the role for nearly two years after coming from the Mashpee Police Department, and he is focused on community policing. The department’s Facebook posts are part of that effort, he said, because cases are often solved faster when residents feel connected and willing to help.

It's also part of an effort to show the community that the officers are just people. "We're all human beings," said Chief Assad. "We have a sense of humor, too. We're not robots."