Tattoos and Body Art

Section 1 - ADMINISTRATIVE

PURPOSE:

To establish a policy that governs all uniformed employees that will maintain the highest standards of professional appearance when interacting with the public and representing the Department.

PROCEDURE

• Prohibited markings for the purpose of this policy shall include but may not be limited to anybody art, tattoo(s), intentional scarring, mutilation, dental ornamentation, foreign objects inserted under the skin, pierced, split or forked tongues, and/or stretched out holes in ears, use of gold, platinum, silver, or other veneer caps for the purposes of ornamentation.
• All uniformed employees are prohibited from displaying body art, tattoo(s), intentional scarring, mutilation, dental ornamentation, while on duty, when representing the department in any official capacity or at any time when in uniform for any reason.
• Persons employed on the effective date of this policy in violation of the provisions of paragraph (a) above, have the following options:
  • Wearing issued uniform clothing, including the use of long sleeve shirts/blouses in such a manner as to keep covered all facets of body art and tattoos otherwise in violation of paragraph (a) above;
  • Cover the existing facets of body art and tattoos otherwise in violation of paragraph (a) above with skin tone patches or make up;
  • Have facets of body art and tattoos otherwise in violation of paragraph (a) above removed at the employee’s expense.
• Markings not able to be covered or concealed are prohibited. This includes but may not be limited to foreign objects inserted under the skin, pierced , split or forked tongues, and/or stretched out holes in ears.
• Persons not in violation of this policy on its effective date shall remain not in violation and the application of markings specified within this policy that constitute violations shall be grounds for disciplinary action up to and include dismissal. Any new visible body art must be approved by the Fire Chief prior to obtainment to ensure it can be kept concealed.