Atlanta Police Department Standard Operating Policy Manual Procedure Effective Date APD.SOP.2130 December 30, 2020 Dress Code Applicable To: All Employees Review Due: 2024 Approval Authority: Chief Rodney Bryant Signature: Sign by RB Date Signed: 12/30/2020 Table of Content 4.3.20 Equipment and Leather Gear 23 1. PURPOSE 1 4.3.21 Traffic Vest 24 2. POLICY 2 4.3.22 Rain Gear 25 4.3.23 Gloves 25 3. RESPONSIBILITIES 2 4.3.24 SWAT 25 4.3.25 Explosive Ordinance Disposal (EOD) 25 4. ACTION 2 4.3.26 Mounted Patrol 26 4.1 General 2 4.3.27 APEX 26 4.2 General Appearance 3 4.3.28 Warrant Uniform 26 4.2.1 Tattoos and Brands 3 4.3.29 Bike Patrol / Bicycle Response Team (BRT) 26 4.2.2 Body Piercing 4 4.3.30 Aviation Unit 26 4.2.3 Hair 4 4.3.31 SOS Motors 27 4.2.4 Facial Hair 5 4.3.32 Auto Crimes Enforcement (ACE) 27 4.2.5 Make-up 5 4.3.33 Discretionary Units Assigned to the Zones 27 4.2.6 Fingernails 5 4.3.34 Training Section 27 4.2.7 Jewelry 5 4.3.35 Property Control Unit 28 4.2.8 Eyeglasses and Sunglasses 6 4.3.36 Police Athletic League (PAL) 28 4.2.9 General Uniform Guidelines 6 4.3.37 Honor Guard 28 4.3 Sworn Employees 6 4.3.38 Chaplains 28 4.3.1 Class A Uniform - Rank of Captain and Above 6 4.3.39 Temporary Assignments 28 4.3.2 Class A Uniform - Rank of Lieutenant and Below 7 4.3.40 Civil Disturbance Unit 28 4.3.3 Class B Uniform 8 4.3.41 Sworn Employees in Civilian Clothes 28 4.3.4 Class C Uniform - Rank of Lieutenant and Below 9 4.4 Non-sworn Employees 30 4.3.5 Badges 10 4.4.1 Recruits 30 4.3.6 Headgear 11 4.4.2 Traffic Control Inspectors 30 4.3.7 Metal Name Plate 12 4.4.3 Crime Prevention Inspectors 31 4.3.8 Rank Insignia 13 4.4.4 Property Management Technicians 31 4.3.9 Buttons 13 4.4.5 Vehicles for Hire Enforcement Officers 31 4.3.10 Collar Insignias 13 4.4.6 Inventory System Specialists 32 4.3.11 Shirt Accessories 14 4.4.7 Non-uniformed Civilian Employees 32 4.3.12 Specialized Assignment Patches 16 4.3.13 Shoes and Boots 17 5. DEFINITIONS 33 4.3.14 Undergarments 17 4.3.15 Sweater 18 6. CANCELLATIONS 34 4.3.16 Jacket 18 7. REFERENCES 34 4.3.17 Ballistic Vest 18 4.3.18 Tactical Body Armor 21 8. SIGNIFICANT CHANGES 34 4.3.19 Active Shooter Kit 22 1. PURPOSE To establish guidelines governing the uniform and equipment authorized for wear by all Atlanta Police Department employees. (CALEA 6th ed. Standard 26.1.1) Form APD-700, revised 01/25/2018 Atlanta Police Department Policy Manual APD.SOP.2130 Dress Code 2. POLICY Employees who are on duty or representing the Department in an official capacity shall wear only those articles of uniform, clothing, equipment, and accessories that are authorized by the Department. 3. RESPONSIBILITIES 3.1 All supervisors shall ensure that employees comply with the requirements of this directive. Any supervisor observing a uniform violation on any employee shall initiate immediate corrective action. 3.2 All employees shall abide by the requirements of this directive, shall maintain and care for all uniforms and equipment, and shall ensure that unauthorized persons are not allowed access to or use of Atlanta Police uniforms and equipment. 4. ACTION 4.1 General 4.1.1 Employees shall be clean and neatly groomed, to present a professional image, to instill a degree of personal discipline among employees, to assure easy recognition of officers in the field, and to ensure that clothing and appearance shall not deter from officer safety or job performance 4.1.2 While in uniform, other than the sole exceptions of a rain slicker or a traffic direction vest, employees shall at all times wear a conspicuously visible nametag. *This Section, 4.1.2, may not be deleted, revised, or amended pursuant to the November 29, 2018 Order in Calhoun, et al. v. Pennington, et al. 1:09-CV-3286-TCB. Consult the City of Atlanta Department of Law with any questions or concerns. * 4.1.3 Employees shall only wear Department uniforms under the following conditions: while on duty; during job-related court appearances; while working approved extra jobs; while attending or participating in Department approved activities; or while traveling to or from any of the aforementioned activities. 4.1.4 Employees shall not allow any person not otherwise authorized to use, wear, or possess any Department-issued or approved uniforms or equipment. 4.1.5 Only uniforms and equipment issued by the Department, matching Department standards, or approved by the Department, shall be worn as part of or with the uniform. (CALEA 6th ed. Standard 41.3.4) 4.1.6 Uniforms and equipment shall fit properly; be clean, neatly pressed or polished as appropriate and applicable, well maintained, and in good repair. 4.1.7 Employees may carry a briefcase, attaché case or a similar bag to facilitate the carrying of police-related equipment. Cases shall be professional in appearance and must not detract from the uniform. Handbags and purses shall not be carried while in uniform. Page 2 of 34 Atlanta Police Department Policy Manual APD.SOP.2130 Dress Code 4.1.8 Employees appearing in court shall wear the required uniform or conform to the dress code requirements for business professional attire. Employees in plainclothes or undercover assignments may deviate from this requirement as necessary and appropriate. 4.1.9 The Chief of Police or his or her designee may grant exceptions to dress code requirements. Requests shall be forwarded in writing through the employee’s chain of command to the Chief of Police. 4.1.10 Employees shall not use any tobacco or tobacco products while interacting with or in the view of the general public, per APD.SOP.2011 “General Conduct” Section 4.2. 4.2 General Appearance 4.2.1 Tattoos and Brands 1. Employees on duty are prohibited from exposing tattoos or brands anywhere on the body that are obscene, inappropriate for law enforcement, indecent, or that advocate sexual, racial, or religious discrimination. 2. Excessive tattoos or brands shall not be exposed or visible through the clothing while on duty with the exception of officers in undercover assignments. “Excessive” is defined as any tattoo or brand that exceeds one third of the exposed body part and those that are above the collarbone and visible when wearing open collar clothing. 3. An option to the permanent removal of tattoos that are in violation of this policy is for the officer to wear a flesh-tone arm sleeves that covers the tattoos or wear an appropriately colored make-up concealer for those areas on the neck that need covering; thereby, making his or her appearance in compliance with Department directives (See below photo). Flesh-tone sleeve Page 3 of 34 Atlanta Police Department Policy Manual APD.SOP.2130 Dress Code 4.2.2 Body Piercing Employees are prohibited from attaching, affixing, or displaying objects, articles, jewelry or ornamentation on or through the ear, nose, tongue, or any other exposed body part, including that which is visible through clothing, while on duty. Exceptions to this policy are limited to the following: 1. Uniformed female employees may wear earrings through the ears that present a professional image and do not constitute a potential safety hazard. Female employees are authorized a single piercing in each ear lobe. Female employees are authorized to wear one small (approx. 6 mm or ¼ inch), spherical, conservative, diamond, gold, white pearl, or silver pierced or clip earring per ear. Earrings must be matching and cannot extend below the earlobe. 2. Non-uniformed female employees may wear earrings that are consistent with a professional image. 3. Non-uniformed male employees working undercover assignments may wear earrings through the ears upon approval of the section commander. At no other time may male employees wear earrings, whether in a non-uniformed or uniformed assignment. 4.2.3 Hair 1. Hair shall at all times be clean, neatly combed, and trimmed to present a neat appearance. If employees choose to color their hair, natural colors shall be used. Hair coloring in hues not found in the natural spectrum of human hair is prohibited. Dreadlocks, twists and braids shall conform to uniform standards and shall be kept clean, neat and off the collar while in uniform. Beaded braids are expressly prohibited. 2. All male employees’ hair shall be no longer than the top of the shirt collar at the back of the neck and the top of the ear on the sides when the employee is standing with head in a normal posture. Hair shall not extend more than two inches from the scalp, regardless of length. 3. Uniformed female employee’s hair shall not extend beyond an invisible line drawn parallel to the ground at the bottom of the shirt collar at the back of the neck. Hair shall not extend three inches from the scalp, regardless of length. Uniformed female employees who wish to have their hair longer shall secure their hair in a safe and neat manner above the collar in a conservative fashion. Plain and conservative pins, combs, headbands, elastic bands, and barrettes may be used to keep hair in place.