State Labor Department investigators who raided a clothing manufacturer in the garment district Tuesday night say sweatshop workers had been toiling to make dress uniforms for the NYPD. According to NY1, the department doesn't have a contract with the raided company, Forest Uniform Corp., but had been recommending officers privately buy their uniforms from them. Labor Department Commissioner Patricia Smith told reporters yesterday that the company has been cheating its 16 employees out of nearly $500,000 in overtime pay: "While the fake timecards show employees working 35 or 40 hours in a given workweek, the real ones told a much different story. Employees were found to be working 70 to 80 hours a week, sometimes without a day of rest." Investigators also accused a contractor that works with Forest Uniform of violating labor laws. In a statement released yesterday, a combative Smith said other sweatshop owners should take notice: "For too long, this employer and its contractor have flagrantly thumbed their noses at our investigators. Enough is enough. Our patience in this matter is over. Either pay your workers and get in compliance, or we’ll confiscate or tag every last shirt, jacket and sock you produce."