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To project uniformity and neutrality toward the public and other members of the City of Spokane Police Department, employees shall maintain their hygiene and appearance in a manner that projects a professional image appropriate for the department and for their assignment.
Unless otherwise stated, and because deviations from these standards could present officer safety issues, the following appearance standards shall apply to all employees, except those whose current assignment would deem them not appropriate, and where the Chief of Police has granted exception.
HAIR
Hairstyles of all members shall be neat in appearance and if dyed, must be of a natural color of hair. This does not apply to non-commissioned employees who are not in public facing positions. For female commissioned members, hair must be pulled back away from face as not to obstruct vision. For male commissioned members, hair must not extend below the top edge of the uniform collar while assuming a normal stance.
MUSTACHES
Mustaches must be kept neatly trimmed and will not exceed the upper border of the lip or more
than ¼ inch beyond the corners of the mouth. Mustaches must follow the natural arch of the mouth. Handlebar mustaches are not allowed.
BEARDS
Beards or a growth of whiskers longer than ½ inch shall be permitted for medical or bona fide religious reasons, or when required by the nature of the assignment. Uniformed and non-uniformed officers may wear a neatly kept beard that presents a professional appearance and is no longer than ½ inch. The concerned commanding officer is responsible to ensure beards meet these guidelines. Goatees must follow the natural arch of the mouth and may not extend more than ½ inch below the bottom of the chin. The Chief of Police reserves the right to revert back to the original policy of not allowing beards for uniformed officers.
FINGERNAILS
Fingernails extending beyond the tip of the finger can pose a safety hazard to officers or others. For this reason, fingernails shall be trimmed so that no point of the nail extends beyond the tip of the finger. Uniformed female officers wearing nail polish shall use a conservative shade, without decals or ornamentation, and shall not detract from uniform appearance.
JEWELRY, BODY PIERCINGS/ALERATIONS, AND ACCESSORIES
No jewelry or personal ornaments shall be worn by officers on any part of the uniform or equipment, except those authorized within this manual. Jewelry, if worn around the neck, shall not be visible above the shirt collar. Visible body piercings shall not be worn by uniformed employees without permission of the Chief of Police or his/her designee. Only one ring set may be worn on each hand of the employee while on duty. Body alteration to any area of the body visible in any authorized uniform or attire that is a deviation from normal anatomical features and which is not medically required is prohibited except with prior authorization of the Chief of Police. Such body alteration includes, but is not limited to:
A. Tongue splitting or piercing.
B. The complete or transdermal implantation of any material other than hair replacement.
C. Abnormal shaping of the ears, eyes, nose or teeth.
D. Branding or scarification.
Tattoos below the wrist (hands), as well as tattoos on the neck and above are prohibited. Officers may have one ring tattoo on each hand, below the joint of the bottom segment (portion closest to the palm) of the finger. Anything other than a band tattoo will be considered on a case-by-case basis. While on duty or representing the department in an official capacity, (including when attending court proceedings – Policy 348.6 Courtroom Protocol), tattoos or body art shall not be visible:
• On the ankle or below (on the foot)
• On the legs
Special Events, including Community Outreach functions/events: Unless permission is granted otherwise by the Chief of Police or designee, the above tattoo restrictions will be in place for special events. If permission is granted, the ranking supervisor of the event will have the authority to prohibit the display of tattoos that in their judgment indicate a bias, are distasteful, or do not project the desired image of the Spokane Police Department. The decision shall be final. Majors and above will have the authority to prohibit the display of tattoos that in their judgment indicate a bias, are distasteful, or do not project the desired image of the Spokane Police Department. The decision shall be final. The Chief of Police reserves the right to revert back to the original policy minimizing the visibility of tattoos (date of 03/16/17). If that were to occur, those employees who purchased additional tattoos or body art under this policy would be under a “grandfather” clause. Employees who have purchased tattoos or body art in compliance with the previous tattoo policy but in violation of this policy will be under a “grandfather” clause. For those employees that are under the “grandfather” clause, regarding tattoos below the wrists (on the hands), these tattoos must not be visible while on duty or representing the department in an official capacity (including when attending court proceedings – Policy 348.6 Courtroom Protocol).
Female officers may wear earrings that do not present a safety hazard. Earrings must be a post with a safety back and shall be no larger than a 1/4 inch in diameter. Earrings shall not display graphic images, pictures, or slogans of an offensive nature or religious symbolism. Earrings shall be limited to one earring per ear.
