Having a face tattoo and being a police officer is possible in some cases, but it depends on the specific police department’s policies. Many police departments have appearance standards that restrict visible tattoos, especially on the face, head and neck areas. However, attitudes are changing and some departments are relaxing these rules. Overall, face tattoos are still controversial for police.
Do police allow face tattoos?
In most police departments across the United States, visible face, neck and head tattoos are prohibited for officers. This is due to the professional image that police aim to portray to the public. Having a face tattoo is viewed as unprofessional and being associated with criminal gangs.
However, attitudes are gradually changing as tattoos become more mainstream. Some police departments are modernizing their tattoo policies to relax rules about visible tattoos, including on the face and neck in some cases. But policies vary widely between different departments.
Police departments banning face tattoos
Many major police departments still prohibit any visible tattoos on the face, head or neck, including:
- New York Police Department (NYPD)
- Chicago Police Department
- Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD)
- Philadelphia Police Department
For example, the LAPD employee guide states: “Tattoos or brands on the face, head, or neck are prohibited.” So in these large departments, recruits with pre-existing face tattoos would not be accepted.
Police departments allowing some flexibility
Some police departments are relaxing their stances and allowing exceptions for face, neck and head tattoos on a case-by-case basis. This includes departments such as:
- Orlando Police Department
- Denver Police Department
- Tucson Police Department
The Orlando Police Department modified its policy in 2019 to allow some tattoos on the neck and behind the ear, at the Chief’s discretion. Their policy states tattoos cannot be “discriminatory, gang-related, vulgar or offensive.”
Growing acceptance of police face tattoos
A few police departments are leading the way in accepting face, head and neck tattoos more widely. These more progressive departments include:
- San Antonio Police Department
- Portland Police Bureau
- Salt Lake City Police Department
For example, the Portland Police Bureau changed their policy in 2019 to allow tattoos on the neck, face and hands. This aims to “reflect the community it serves” as tattoos become more commonplace.
Covering up police face tattoos on duty
Even in departments that allow facial tattoos, there are often restrictions about covering them up while on duty interacting with the public. Reasons for this include:
- Projecting a professional appearance
- Avoiding negative public perceptions
- Preventing gang affiliations
So officers with facial tattoos may be required to cover them with makeup or skin-colored patches when in public-facing roles. But they may be allowed to display face tattoos when working inside police buildings for example.
Makeup and skin covers
Where facial tattoos are not completely banned but need covering, makeup and flesh-colored skin patches are options. Some examples include:
- Dermaflage – silicone-based scar and tattoo cover
- Cinema Secrets – professional tattoo cover makeup
- Skin Motion – prosthetic skin patches
Special effects makeup skills are also useful for camouflaging tattoos. But covering large facial tattoos daily can be impractical and uncomfortable.
Allowed to display off duty
Policies that restrict displaying tattoos on duty in public often allow off duty officers to show their tattoos. This helps balance professional restrictions with officers’ personal freedom and self-expression during their own time.
For example, the Salt Lake City PD policy states facial tattoos must be covered on duty but “may be displayed while off duty.” This is a practical compromise adopted by many departments with flexible policies.
Can you join the police with a face tattoo?
If you already have an existing facial tattoo, your ability to join the police will depend on each department’s policy. Some key considerations include:
- Tattoo size and visibility – large, visible tattoos have more impact
- Tattoo imagery and meaning – offensive or gang tattoos prohibited
- Departmental policy – stricter departments completely ban facial tattoos
Joining with pre-existing tattoos
If you already have a small, non-offensive face tattoo before applying to join the police, some departments may allow you to join if you meet their other criteria. More progressive departments with flexible policies are more likely to accept you.
But many departments would still disqualify you at the recruitment stage. Overall, visible facial tattoos will limit your options significantly.
Getting tattoos after joining
Getting a face tattoo once you are already a serving police officer is restricted in most departments. Serving officers wishing to get visible facial tattoos would need permission, which is unlikely to be granted in stricter departments banning them.
Some more flexible departments may allow exceptions depending on factors like tattoo size, meaning and ability to cover while on duty. But overall, getting a face tattoo once a police officer is not advisable in most departments currently.
Should police have face tattoos?
There are reasonable arguments on both sides of the debate about whether police officers should be allowed to have visible tattoos on their face or neck.
Arguments for allowing police face tattoos
Some key points in favor of police having visible facial tattoos include:
- Society is more accepting of tattoos – they should not be discriminated against
- Self-expression and personal freedom – choice to have tattoos
- May assist community relations with tattooed groups
- Helps recruitment by removing barriers to hire best candidates
With tattoo discrimination lessening and tattoos going mainstream, some argue police tattoo bans are outdated and should be relaxed.
Arguments against police having face tattoos
Reasons cited against police having visible facial tattoos include:
- Unprofessional appearance – undermines public respect
- Association with criminal gangs – intimidating to public
- Safety concerns – tattoos identify officers
- Public perceptions – large majority still oppose police face tattoos
Those against argue that facial tattoos damage the police image and are still not widely accepted by the general public as professional.
Police officer facial tattoo case studies
Looking at real-world examples of officers with facial tattoos helps illustrate how police departments are dealing with this issue. Here are some case studies of officers breaking the mold:
Mike Hartung – Thor tattoo
- Officer in Bellevue OH police department
- Has large tattoo of Thor’s hammer covering left side of neck and face
- Initially prohibited from displaying tattoo on duty
- Department relaxed rules in 2016 to allow Thor tattoo to be visible
Office Hartung’s police chief progressively amended the policy to accept Hartung’s unusual facial tattoo choice.
Caroline Shearer – flower tattoo
- Police constable in Greater Manchester police, England
- Has purple flower design tattooed covering left side of neck and face
- Joined the police in 2017 with tattoo fully visible
- Kept tattoo on display with consent when rules changed in 2021
PC Shearer was able to join and serve openly displaying her floral neck and face tattoo under the GMP’s policy at the time.
Randy Narramore – teardrop tattoo
- Deputy sheriff in Texas
- Has teardrop tattoo under his left eye
- Told to cover tattoo after complaints from fellow officers and public
- Sued in 2018 stating tattoo ban infringes his rights
Deputy Narramore’s facial tattoo caused controversy. Teardrop tattoos are sometimes associated with killings.
Conclusion
Police department policies on facial tattoos vary widely across the United States. Some still completely prohibit visible tattoos on the face, head and neck. But progressive departments are relaxing these rules to allow exceptions.
Overall, attitudes are gradually shifting to become more accepting of police having some types of facial tattoos. But concerns remain over the professional image of the police. Most members of the public likely still oppose the idea of officers having prominent facial tattoos.
As social norms evolve over time, strict prohibitions on facial tattoos for officers may loosen further. But total bans are unlikely to be removed in the near future due to remaining negative associations.
In summary, a limited number of police departments do allow exceptions for facial tattoos on a case-by-case basis currently. But most major departments still prohibit visible face, head and neck tattoos for officers – especially recruits seeking to join. So having a prominent facial tattoo remains a significant barrier to becoming or serving as a police officer in most jurisdictions.