Beginning tomorrow, police officers and other members of the Police Department will be able to purchase uniforms and other equipment over the Internet.

“This new service will make it more convenient for Department personnel to acquire equipment without having to travel to Police Headquarters, regardless of where they live or where they are assigned,” Police Commissioner Raymond W. Kelly said.

The new Equipment Section website, which is being activated tomorrow, was established as a result of a focus group meeting in which police officers told Commissioner Kelly it was inconvenient for many of them to travel to Police Headquarters to make purchases.

A similar focus group with Commissioner Kelly resulted in his approval of “patrol tactical trousers,” or cargo pants, which is now an authorized option for on-duty wear.

Access to the encrypted website is password protected, and requires Department members to submit an application which is vetted by Equipment Section personnel.

Approximately 350 articles of clothing and pieces of equipment, illustrated by photographs, are available on the site, including jackets, shirts, trousers, holsters and insignia. Firearms, batons and handcuffs must still be purchased in person.

Purchases may be made by credit card, and the site includes “shopping cart” and other standard features of website commerce.