Physical Appearance and Grooming

PERSONNEL 309.00 (217.00)

PHYSICAL APPEARANCE AND GROOMING

ISSUED: EFFECTIVE: REVISED: REVIEWED: PAGES: 04-01-1998 04-11-1998 11-03-2020 09-19-2018 7

CONTENTS

This procedure consists of the following numbered sections:

I. GROOMING AND HAIR STYLES II. PHYSICAL APPEARANCE AND FITNESS

PURPOSE

The purpose of this standard operating procedure is to establish guidelines for proper grooming, personal appearance, and physical fitness.

SCOPE

This procedure shall apply to all Punta Gorda Police Department personnel.

DISCUSSION

It is essential that Police personnel present a neat and well-groomed image that inspires and maintains a high level of community trust and confidence. Maintenance of correct personal body weight will aid physical appearance and fitness.

DEFINITIONS

1. Appropriate Authority: A member of the Command Staff..

2. Plain Clothed Officers: Shall include non-uniformed officers (detectives, staff officers, etc.) of the Police Department.

3. Police Department Non-Sworn Employees: Personnel of the Police Department (uniformed and non-uniformed) who are not commissioned as a Police Officer.

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4. Uniformed Employees: Full-time employees and Reserve Officers who wear an official Police Department uniform while on duty or in official performance of duties with the Police Department.

PROCEDURE

I. GROOMING AND HAIR STYLES: The requirement for hair and fingernail grooming standards is necessary to maintain a professional appearance. Many hairstyles are acceptable, as long as they are neat and conservative. It is not possible to address every acceptable hairstyle, or what constitutes eccentric or conservative grooming. Therefore, it is the responsibility of supervisors at all levels to exercise good judgment in the enforcement of this policy. All members will comply with the hair, fingernail, and grooming policies while in any department uniform or while in civilian clothes on duty.

A. Hairstyles: These general guidelines apply to all members, sworn or non-sworn.

1. Extreme, eccentric, or trendy haircuts or hairstyles are not authorized.

2. If members use dyes, tints, or bleaches, they must choose those that result in natural hair colors. Colors that detract from a professional appearance are prohibited. Therefore, members should avoid using colors that result in an extreme appearance. Applied hair colors that are prohibited include, but are not limited to, purple, blue, pink, green, orange, bright (fire-engine) red, and fluorescent or neon colors. It is the responsibility of supervisors to use good judgment in determining if applied colors are acceptable, based upon the overall effect on the member’s appearance.

B. Cosmetics

1. As with hairstyles, the requirement for standards regarding cosmetics is necessary to maintain uniformity and to avoid an extreme or unprofessional appearance. Males are prohibited from wearing cosmetics, to include nail polish. Females are authorized to wear cosmetics with all uniforms, provided they are applied conservatively and in good taste and complement the uniform. Supervisors at all levels must exercise good judgment in the enforcement of this policy.

a. Females may not wear cosmetics which are eccentric, exaggerated, or trendy cosmetic styles and colors, to include makeup designed to cover tattoos, are inappropriate with the uniform and are prohibited. Permanent makeup, such as eyebrow or eyeliner, is authorized as long as the makeup conforms to the standards outlined above.

b. Females will not wear shades of lipstick and nail polish that distinctly contrast with their complexion, that detract from the uniform, or that are extreme. Some examples of extreme colors include, but are not limited to, purple, gold, blue, black, white, bright (fire-engine) red, khaki, camouflage colors, and fluorescent colors. All cosmetics should be of colors that are considered neutral or natural.

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C. Fingernails: All personnel will keep fingernails clean and neatly trimmed. Males will keep nails trimmed so as not to extend beyond the fingertip. Uniformed females will not exceed a nail length of 1⁄4 inch, as measured from the tip of the finger. Females will trim nails shorter if the supervisor determines that the longer length detracts from a professional image, presents a safety concern, or interferes with the performance of duties.

D. Uniformed Male Employees

1. Hair Styles - Hair styles shall be conservative and evenly trimmed. Hair shall be tapered proportionately along the sides and the back of the head. The hair shall not be extended downward at any point more than one half inch (1/2”) beyond the hairline at the shirt collar at the back of the neck; or protrude over the ears. Hair shall be cut and trimmed in a manner that allows proper wearing of the uniform hat.

2. Sideburns - Sideburns shall be uniform from top to bottom, neatly trimmed to not exceed one inch (1”) in width, and not be excessively heavy or bushy. Sideburns shall be cut horizontally along the side of the face and no longer than approximately one-half inch (1/2”) above the bottom of the lower ear lobe.

3. Facial Hair

a. Mustaches shall be neatly trimmed and not extend laterally more than ½ in below the corners of the mouth.

b. Beards will be neatly groomed and no longer than ½ inch. Beards shall be neatly trimmed on the neckline and shall not extend more than 2 inches below the jawline. It is not acceptable for the officer to report for duty with stubble. Beards are required to be of equal length in all areas. Officers who choose to grow a beard must also have a mustache. Beards shall not be an excuse for officers who report for duty in an unshaven fashion or who are attempting to grow a beard. Beards must be completely grown in before reporting to work.

c. Goatees may be worn as long as the goatee is kept at the proper length trimmed on a regular basis and has a clean-shaven edge all around the goatee. The neck will be clean shaven.

d. The growing of variations of the above i.e. chin curtain, soul patch, handlebar mustache, mutton chops, thin beard lines, odd designs, and other similar styles is prohibited. Facial hair cannot be dyed or worn any color different from the hair.

e. Officers not electing to grow facial hair under the provisions of this policy must be clean shaven at all times, as specified in SOP 217.00 – Physical Appearance and Grooming, when in uniform or serving as a representative of the department.

f. The Chief of Police will have the final decision as to whether an individual’s facial hair meets the standard.

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309.00 E. Uniformed Female Employees

1. Hair Styles: Uniformed female officers will style their hair in such a manner as to ensure any hair that falls below the bottom edge of the shirt collar will be secured in a bun or pony tail. The style shall not interfere with the normal wearing of departmental headgear.

2. Hair Fasteners - Hair clasps, barrettes, or fasteners worn while in uniform shall correspond with hair color and be unobtrusive.

F. Plain-Clothed Officers and Non-Sworn Employees

1. Hair Styles - Non-sworn employees and plain-clothed officers shall maintain a neat and well-groomed appearance when on duty or representing the Police Department. Contemporary hair styles may be worn if the general appearance serves to maintain a moderately conservative and professional image.

2. Facial Hair - Sideburns and mustaches worn by male plain-clothed officers and male non-sworn employees shall be neatly trimmed and shall not be excessively heavy or bushy. Mustaches shall not extend onto or over the upper lip, or extend more than 1/2" beyond or below the corners of the mouth. Beards and goatees are permissible and must follow the guidelines as stated in Section D.3 of this policy.

G. Personal Hygiene: Attention to personal hygiene is a requisite for all Police Officers and personnel while on duty, in uniform, or in official performance of duties. Employees exhibiting poor grooming may be relieved from duty until the personal hygiene problem is corrected.

H. Tattoos, Body Piercings and Body Ornamentation

1. No Employee shall have tattoos in a visible location on their torso, face, head, scalp, or any portion of their neck not concealed by wearing their hair consistent with policy.

a. Tattoos shall not be offensive.

b. Whether or not a tattoo is considered offensive shall be determined the Chief of Police or Designee.

c. Employees suspecting that a desired body ornamentation may be prohibited by policy are encouraged to submit the item to the Chief of Police for prior approval.

2. With the exception of one standard solid wedding band tattoo, visible tattoos are prohibited on member’s hands.

3. Employees, who must conceal visible tattoos on their arms may:

a. Wear issued long sleeve uniform shirts.

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b. At the members own expense, wear either one of the following with the issued short sleeve uniform shirt:

1) Athletic style arm sleeves

2) Long sleeve compression style shirt.

c. No printing shall be visible on the sleeve portion of the athletic sleeves or compression style shirt.

4. Tattoos shall not display any wording or depict any conduct that may be considered extremist, indecent, sexist, racist, offensive, anti-governmental, or obscene. Prohibited (offensive) tattoos refers to visible tattoos that are prejudicial to professional image, good order and discipline, or that are of a nature that tends to bring discredit upon the Punta Gorda Police Department. Examples are outlined as follows:

a. Extremist: Defined as a permanent or temporary design on the human skin, or body ornaments depicting hate, extreme or radical philosophies, organizations or activities. Among the tattoos considered as extremist are tattoos that discriminate against:

1) Race.

2) Color.

3) Religion.

4) Sex (including gender identity and sexual orientation).

5) National origin.

6) Age.

7) Disability or genetic information.

8) Tattoos depicting death, violence, firearms, firearm related items, ammunition, weapons, human remains (bones, skulls), or images or verbiage related to death, violence, or any other unlawful means of depriving individual rights.

b. Indecent: Defined as permanent or temporary design on the human skin which are offensive or shocking to the moral sense of decency just by their vulgar nature.

c. Sexist: Defined as permanent or temporary design on the human skin depicting favor for a philosophy that degrades or demeans a person based on gender or sexual orientation, but may not meet the same definition of “indecent”. Any

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309.00 tattoo that depicts sexual conduct, acts, organs, or preferences fall into this category.

d. Racist: Defined as permanent or temporary design on the human skin that depicts or advocates a philosophy that degrades or demeans a person based on race, ethnicity, or national origin.

e. Any tattoo commonly associated with any gang affiliation or that within the art itself, shows or advocates illegal activity or practice is strictly prohibited.

5. Members are prohibited from wearing any body piercing jewelry, including but not limited to rings, studs or posts in or on any visible or exposed body part (i.e. lips, eyebrows, nose, or tongue, etc.), with the exception of female members’ earrings as described in 309.01 - Personnel Attire/Dress while in uniform or while participating in any department sanctioned event.

6. Members are prohibited from the use of gold, platinum, or other veneers or caps for the purposes of ornamentation. Teeth; whether natural, capped or veneer, will not be ornamented with designs, jewels, initials, etc. and will not be worn while in uniform or while participating in any department sanctioned event.

I. Exception: Officers assigned to undercover or other such special assignments shall be exempt from the physical appearance and grooming provisions of this Standard Operating Procedure. Appearance and grooming standards for undercover officers shall be established by Executive Staff in accordance with needs and circumstances of the special duties to be performed.

II. PHYSICAL APPEARANCE AND FITNESS: Officers shall be responsible for the maintenance of their individual physical fitness and shall not allow themselves to become physically unfit and unable to perform official duties by reason of personal neglect or lack of self-discipline.

APPROVED

PAMELA R. DAVIS, CHIEF OF POLICE

STAFF REVIEW DATES: 03-23-1998, 06-22-2000, 12-18-2000, 12-13-2002, 01-20-2005, 07-11-2006, 05-07-2008, 10-27-2008, 04-21-2010, 04-23-2012, 04-21-2014, 09-16-2016, 09-19-2018

REVISION DATES: 03-23-1998, 06-22-2000, 12-18-2000, 12-13-2002, 01-20-2005,

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309.00 07-11-2006, 05-07-2008, 10-27-2008, 04-21-2010, 04-23-2012, 04-21-2014, 09-16-2016, 09-19-2018, 07-23-2020, 11-04-2020

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