Strawman. He said nothing about uniforms or squad cars. He very specifically mentioned department issue mobile data usage.
Personally, I don't have a problem with any of it. If they have exceedingly high data overage charges, then the problem is they have a craptastic carrier and should switch.
I also don't have a problem with cops using their squad car for personal use. Except when that personal use involves violating the law(running red lights, speeding, etc). I see that as just perks of the job.
Would you say the same thing, if you saw someone using a Ambulance, Fire truck, or forest fire 747 jet for their own personal use if they felt like it? would you just laugh and walk away if you saw someone using a S&R boat to fish and party on, as their perks of being a fire fighter/EMT/forest-fire-thing-dude? How about some soldiers using a M1A2 Abrams for their own personal use to go to the grocery store, or some a cruiser's captain using it to go on a vacation in gods-knows-where, jaimaca, because it was a personal use?
Would you have no problems with cops using city-funded guns and city-funded ammo to go hunting and for personal use? or how about EMT-Paras, or Intermediates using county-bought medications for personal use? Probably won't have a problem with it, since cops using cop cars for personal use get to take advantage of city/county/state-bought fuel and fluids for it, government-bought maintenance, tax-payer bought insurance and registration, to do whatever they want as 'personal use', right?
Myself, I have a big problem with any government agent using government resources, and tax-payer funded items, for their personal use. When I was an EMT-B for the county, county policy, and the Judge/Exec. forbade the Fire Dept. from using the engines, and amulances as personal transport. We'd get our butts chewed out if we used a bus [ambulance] to stop by a grocery store on the way back form a call, and pick up some stuff for home. But, the lazy County Constable who did nothing but use his badge, and family name to intimidate, got his gas, insurance, and registration paid for by tax-payers, for his personal car that he stuck a light on and called his duty vehicle; or the Sheriffs Dept officers using their cars to drive family and friends to state resort parks, and go on out-of-state vacations using a state gas card. That's all fine and dandy by your admission, because its just perks of the job, yea? I bet you enjoy paying taxes and knowing some zealous cop is using his patrol car to take his girlfriend/wife/boyfriend/husband to a romantic spot in an opposite part of the state!