Moosic Borough Police Department Personal Appearance Procedure PDF

MOOSIC BOROUGH POLICE DEPARTMENT Moosic, Pennsylvania Section 3.17.3 Subject: Distribution: Personal Appearance Procedure All Police Personnel Date of Issue: Expiration Date: 01/01/2021 Until Rescinded By Authority of: Chief of Police PURPOSE The purpose of this directive is to establish the rules a...

MOOSIC BOROUGH POLICE DEPARTMENT Moosic, Pennsylvania Section 3.17.3 Subject: Distribution: Personal Appearance Procedure All Police Personnel Date of Issue: Expiration Date: 01/01/2021 Until Rescinded By Authority of: Chief of Police PURPOSE The purpose of this directive is to establish the rules and guidelines for all on-duty officers, whether in official police uniform or in civilian dress. This following directive shall be adhered to at all times. PERSONAL GROOMING STANDARD(S) A. Officers shall bathe regularly and shall not appear for duty in an unclean condition. All officers shall practice personal hygiene so that their bodies do not present an offensive odor or appearance. Officers shall be conservative in the use of cologne, perfumes, grooming aids, etc. B. Men hair standards: 1. For uniformed male officers, the bulk or length of the hair shall be neatly trimmed and will not interfere with the normal wearing of the standard police uniform cap or helmet. 2. Sideburns shall be cut or trimmed and shall not extend below the bottom of the ear. 3. The face will be clean shaven, except that mustaches will be permitted. If a mustache is worn, it shall be kept neatly trimmed and tidy. 4. Beards and goatees are prohibited, except as authorized by the Chief of Police. C. Female hair standards: 1. For uniformed female officers, hairstyles shall be worn so that no part of the hair extends over the uniform shirt collar. The bulk or length of the hair must not interfere with the wearing of the uniform hat or helmet. 2. Long hair shall be worn up, be neatly and securely pinned (i.e. French braid, bun, twist, etc.). 3. Ponytails or other hairstyles that allow the hair to hang free are not authorized. This is for officer safety reasons. D. All member’s hair shall be of a natural color (i.e. blond, black, brown, red or grey) and not such that would diminish the professional uniform appearance. Fluorescent or similar dyed hair colors are prohibited. Non-visible substances are permitted. E. Assignments Requiring Non-Regulation Hair Standards shall be approved by the Chief of Police. F. Hair accessories may be worn by uniformed female employees. 1. Hair accessories shall be black in color. 2. No bows, head bands, beaded decorations or other decorative items may be worn unless otherwise approved by the Chief of Police. G. Facial makeup 1. If worn, cosmetics shall be conservative and professional in appearance, understated rather than overwhelming in application and shall blend in with the natural color of the skin. 2. Facial makeup products, which substantially alter the natural skin tone, are prohibited. 3. Artificial eyelashes are prohibited, unless for medical purposes. H. Tattoos /Body Art are at the discretion of the Chief of Police. I. Fingernails 1. Shall be clean and neatly groomed. 2. Fingernail polish, if worn shall be clear or shall be a color that does not take away from the professional appearance of the officer. J. Jewelry 1. Officers may wear items of jewelry on their person provided the items are discreet and do not expose the officer to undue risk or hazard. 2. Officers will not wear any visible necklaces or bracelets. Officers may wear no more than one ring per hand while in uniform and rings must meet the conditions of # l above. 3. Officers may wear earrings provided the earrings are limited to 3 mm in size and are in the lower lobe of the ear. Only one earring per ear may be worn. 4. Any accessory or other decorative hardware, anywhere on their face or tongue while on duty or at any formal Department function is prohibited. K. Assignments requiring exemption from jewelry regulations shall be approved by the Chief of Police. L. Eyewear 1. If eyeglasses are worn, they shall be maintained in good condition and shall be conventional and professional in nature. 2. Members may only wear eyeglasses and sunglasses with gold, silver, black, brown, or gray colored frames. The eyewear shall be of professional type. No faddish or multi­ colored eyewear shall be worn. 3. Contact lenses of an unnatural color are prohibited. UNIFORM(S) A. Uniforms and civilian clothing shall be clean and pressed. Shoes, boots, leather and metal equipment shall be regularly polished and sidearm shall be clean and serviceable. B. Wearing the Prescribed Uniform While on Duty. 1. Unless otherwise ordered, officers of the Moosic Borough Police Department, while on duty, shall only wear such uniforms, badges and equipment as prescribed by the Chief of Police. No item, badge, pin, emblem or decoration shall be worn on the uniform without the approval of the Chief. C. The Uniform of the Day 1. For the various seasons of the year or the officer(s) assignment, the uniform of the day shall be designated by the Chief of Police. D. Badges and Identification Cards 1. Every officer of the Department shall have on his/her person, at all times, while off duty, his badge and MPOETC identification card. No officer of the Department shall allow any other officer or person to use his badge or other means of identification. E. Wearing the Uniform While Off Duty 1. Officers shall not wear the official police uniform or any part of the official police uniform while off duty either before or after their assigned tours of duty except: a. to commute to and from their assigned detail, b. while performing an approved detail before and after the assigned tour of duty, c. for the purpose of testifying in court before or after their assigned tour of duty, or d. when so ordered by the Chief of Police or a Supervisor. B. Civilian Clothes – Court and Training Attire 1. Unless assigned otherwise, on-duty personnel and personnel attending Criminal Court or Magisterial District Court proceedings shall wear a business suit/dress, or sport coat and slacks, with necktie and shall maintain a professional, well-groomed, neat, and conservative appearance at all times so as to reflect credit to the Department. 2. Personnel attending training sessions shall attend the training session in attire suitable for the type of training being offered. The four (4) types of dress for training are generally; uniform, business, business casual and physical training. a. Uniform and Business are defined above. b. Business Casual refers to dress or casual (i.e., khaki) type pants, skirts or dresses, button down or collared polo shirt, and dress or casual shoes. At no time are jeans or collar-less shirts acceptable. c. Physical training attire refers to clothing suitable for physical activities such as running, defensive combat drills, firearms and tactical training. Sweat clothes, jeans and fatigues and BDU’s are appropriate clothing for this activity. COMPLIANCE A. Any officer who, when reporting for duty, needs a shave or haircut, uniform is soiled or wrinkled, or whose shoes, boots, leather or metal equipment is not shined, or not in compliance with this directive shall be given a verbal warning. B. A continuation or repetition of the unsatisfactory act may result in disciplinary action.