true blue in wake county: blog 
true blue in wake county's blog
tattoos and body art in the workplace
Published Feb. 7, 2009Views: 2279
Its topic that sits on a fence. Do tattoos and body art make the person? to some - yes, to others its a form of expression and one that should be a "free" form.
As police officers and public safety officials and state/city/county Government employee's we are expected to live up to a certain image. But who decides what that image should be? What may be considered unprofessional to one, may be admired by another.
Most of our agencies and work environments have a standing policy - no visible body art or piercings while in-uniform and engage in duties with the public. Same goes for smoking, profanity, drinking soda pops, and being seen with your hands in your pockets.
Kinda extreme huh? well not really. There is a reason for it. There are some pretty prestigious agencies within the state that do not have a tattoo or body art policy and officers are free to display that beautiful art all they wish.
Others, not so misgiving. But, it's a necessary requirement.
I know many LEO's and EMT's from numerous agencies that are HEAVILY decorated and it shows everyday and yes, in court. Some people scowl but a whole lot more seem to admire. I've been to several mass public events (4th of july, etc) whereas members of the public actually walked up to the officer and stated "man, those are some awesome tattoos, hey officer, check these out." So it does have its benefits in certain aspects. In certain circumstances some members of the public seem to trust a little more and open up a little easier during the course of investigations. I will not get into the covert benefits that it has for obvious safety reasons.
Some have not been so admirable - "I can't believe they let you have those and a badge too, I mean you dont LOOK like a police officer" hmmmm I'm confused, just what is a police officer "supposed" to look like??? Same goes for the response we get when we stop people on the street at 2.am wearing long dark coats in a business district and its July..."Well, do I LOOK like a criminal" hmmm not sure son, whats a criminal supposed to look like??
Now, does that mean that we should be out wearing ear rings (as males), goatee's and van dykes, and walk up to your car meeting all of the requirements except the red laces in our boots? not at all. Although I do know of one very large department and a very prestigious department in Cumberland county that I have observed uniformed officers with goatee's though.
Does this mean that they are any less of professional officers because they have some pretty colorful and intricate tribal style art? Not sure, again, tattoos dont make the person. However, I draw that line at a police officer with tattoos that either directly or subliminally depict an allegiance to drugs, sexism, racism, and what could be considered extremeism.
Case in point, I once watched a defense attorney in Wake get publicly admonished to almost tears when she used "the officer got out of his car with tattoos and black gloves and resembled that of a storm trooper." The judge rolled up his robe and stated "I have this and several others, does that make me a storm trooper too" among some pretty colorful other facts that he proceeded to point out. Defendant was found guilty.
Tattoos in the work place? well, it not only applys to public safety officials but I seem to be seeing alot of business establishments starting to institute the "no visible body art" policy...
How are things on your job????
The pic attached to the BLOG is Corporal Paul Orinthal, San Francisco PD, CA.
TRU
Filed under: Government
close![[no avatar]](http://wwwcache.wral.com/presentation/v1/images/golo/noavatar.gif){kind=avatar}
Welcome to GOLO, where WRAL.com visitors can comment on stories and create profile pages, blogs and photo galleries.
You must be a registered WRAL.com user to use these tools. Click here to register or log in.
GOLO member since August 1, 2008
February 7, 2009 11:41 a.m.
GOLO member since August 22, 2008
February 7, 2009 11:43 a.m.
The bottom line to me is that I can express my individuality all that I want outside the office. When I come to work, I am there to do a job and that company is paying me a salary. When I accept employment from a company then I am agreeing to follow their rules and regulations. If my company has a dress code then I adhere to it or if I don't agree look for another job.
GOLO member since January 17, 2008
February 7, 2009 11:45 a.m.
GOLO member since February 12, 2008
February 7, 2009 11:47 a.m.
GOLO member since August 22, 2008
February 7, 2009 11:49 a.m.
I wish I had a picture of my Grandfathers tattoo on his back. It was a black and white depiction of the resurrection of Christ. He refuse to have it colored in because the outline was so elaborate he was sore for three weeks.
GOLO member since November 3, 2008
February 7, 2009 11:58 a.m.
GOLO member since April 18, 2008
February 7, 2009 12:11 p.m.
Tattoos and piercings are somewhat of a threshold issue in that they are OK, but at some point become not ok.
This reasoning is a bottomless pit. IF one little but*erfly on the but is OK, but a swastika on the forehead isn't, where in between is the line to be drawn? What tattoo is OK? What is too big, little enough, does location matter? Is it content? What does it say when someone permanently marks their body? Should others listen to what it says?
Take pierced ears. When I was young, they were unheard of, almost, and only the uneducated, poorly raised, or problematic people had pierced ears. We used to point at and laugh at the pictures of natives in the National Geographic. Today, they might be pointing at pictures of us.
There's no constitutional right to say we can't ban or require tattoos and piercings in our workplace.
GOLO member since January 20, 2008
February 7, 2009 12:12 p.m.
I work for municipality and I have visible tattoos, including a full sleeve. It's never been an issue.
GOLO member since September 30, 2008
February 7, 2009 12:15 p.m.
I advise anyone and everyone NOT to get either piercings or tattoos, but if you do, they're there, so I say get no more, but if you do, that's you.
I once would not hire cashiers who had them visible. Why hire them, if all things equal, I could get someone without them?
That goes for a lot of attributes, contrived and natural.
GOLO member since January 20, 2008
February 7, 2009 12:19 p.m.
Please log in to add comment.