University of Toledo police have debuted a new uniform, and a more unique, updated badge is on its way.

The 35-member university police department recently swapped out light blue shirts for a dark shirt that blends in with the department’s dark pants and vests.

Chief Jeff Newton said the change cost the department an additional $8,000 beyond its normal uniform replacement budget, but he expects officers will be able to wear the new shirts longer because they won’t show the wear and tear as much as the discontinued, lighter colored ones.

The dark color also creates a more monochromatic head- to-toe uniform when worn with outer vest carriers, which hold equipment and lessen back strain from carrying the weight of items on a belt.

“It seems like the officers like the look a little better,” the chief said.

The new uniforms garnered a thumbs up when the department posted a photo on social media.

Toledo Police Chief George Kral said they are “very sharp.”

The UT department also is creating a new police badge that will replace its current, more generic design with one that prominently features University Hall, the towering architectural icon at the center of main campus.

Chief Newton said the old design did little to signify that the officer worked for the university.

“It was a bit of a morale booster with the badge design,” he said.

The new badge, like the old one, also includes the seal of the state of Ohio.

The badges were designed in coordination with SymbolArts, a company that specializes in custom badges, along with officer input. The UT police department plans to have a pinning ceremony once the new badges arrive, likely in late spring.

Contact Vanessa McCray at: vmccray@theblade.com or 419-724-6065, or on Twitter @vanmccray.

First Published March 15, 2017, 4:00 a.m.