Tattoo Fans Forums - View Single Post - "Excuse me officer, is that a half sleeve?"

07-25-2007, 12:57 AM

"Excuse me officer, is that a half sleeve? I'm afraid I'm going to
have to give you a ticket. Don't make me pepper spray you. This is a
citizen's arrest!"

Louie Mercer, director of the police and fire academy at Daytona Beach
Community College and a retired Daytona Beach Police commander,
described a tattoo he saw on one of his students with the following
words.

"It was an entire storyline, from her neck all the way down her arm.
It had a motorcycle, a reaper and, like, a cave or something." /quote

heh :o)

That's "and, like, a cave or something." I wonder if Mercer was a
detective during his career. Those powers of observation or mighty
impressive.

Police draw line on tattoos

More follow military's lead, set restrictions

By Matt Reed
Florida Today

Tattoos are becoming increasingly taboo for police and military
personnel.

A growing list of police agencies across the nation have adopted or
drafted stricter policies on how much "body art" officers can show and
still look uniform and professional. Many require officers to cover
tattoos with long sleeves and pants, even in the summer heat.

The Brevard County Sheriff's Office is among those drafting a policy,
Chief Deputy Mike Lewis said. But it's still in the brainstorming
phase, as the drafters study policies from other departments and the
military, he said.

In March, the Marine Corps began prohibiting tattoos that would be
visible when Marines wear their exercise uniforms. The Air Force has
strict rules banning "excessive" tattoos.

"What we're seeing is a trend, with younger people coming out of the
military and they're getting more tattoos," said Capt. Mark Strobridge
of the Orange County Sheriff's Office, which expects to finalize a new
tattoo policy after August. "We find highly qualified individuals, but
their appearance is not in keeping with grooming standards for law
enforcement."

The policies follow a 2006 U.S. appeals court ruling that found
Hartford, Conn., police officers' tattoos do not enjoy First Amendment
protection and can be subject to department uniform rules.

They also coincide with moves by the military to limit "excessive"
tattoos on members of the armed services.

Some police agencies consider any visible tattoo excessive, while
others address marks covering more than one-fourth or one-third of an
officer's arm or leg.

Tattooed officers in warmer regions have complained about orders to
wear long sleeves and pants in places such as Central Florida, where
mid-day temperatures last week hovered at 90 degrees with 75 percent
humidity.

"We fought long and hard to get a summer uniform here in the
sweltering heat, and they want people to cover up to their wrists and
ankles in hot polyester while directing traffic and wearing a 25-pound
gun belt?" said Cpl. John Park, a violent-crime unit member and
president of the Central Florida Police Benevolent Association.

"This has been one of the more controversial issues we've dealt with."

About 36 percent of Americans between the ages of 18 and 29 have at
least one tattoo, according to survey published last year in the
Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology.

Writing a fair policy has been difficult because while tattoos have
important personal meanings to officers, the citizens they serve may
be intimidated or offended by them, Strobridge said.

"It's a matter of professionalism," said Toni Brandenburger, who lives
in suburban Orange County east of Orlando. "I wouldn't be intimidated.
But I might think twice about asking directions from someone with a
big grim reaper on their arm."

"I have noticed more tattoos," added Louie Mercer, director of the
police and fire academy at Daytona Beach Community College.

Mercer, a retired Daytona Beach Police commander, described an ornate
tattoo he spotted recently on one of his students: "It was an entire
storyline, from her neck all the way down her arm. It had a
motorcycle, a reaper and, like, a cave or something."

Mercer thinks tattoos are merely a sign of diversity -- that police
agencies run best when they reflect the communities they serve.

Police vary across the U.S.:

In Southern California, Los Angeles Police Chief William Bratton in
2005 ordered the city's force of more than 9,000 officers to cover any
visible tattoos with clothing or skin-colored patches. In San Diego,
police officers must conceal any markings that cover 30 percent or
more of exposed body parts.

Houston police must wear winter clothes year-round to cover tattoos -
or have them removed.

In Maryland, Baltimore and Baltimore County forbid any visible tattoos
on officers.

The Kentucky State Police turn away applicants who have visible
tattoos or have markings that could be considered offensive.

At a Marine Corps symposium last year, sergeants major complained that
tattoos covering entire limbs did not reflect traditional Marine
values - even for a service with a centuries-old custom among members
of proudly wearing tattoos.

Marines who already have tattoos must document them to commanders.

Army recruits now may have tattoos on their hands and back of the neck
as long as the markings aren't racist, sexist or otherwise offensive.
The move enacted in February 2006 was meant to bolster recruiting.

The Air Force, however, has not loosened up. It prohibits tattoos that
cover more than 25 percent of exposed body parts and any above the
collarbone.

Ken Warren, spokesman for Patrick Air Force Base and the 45th Space
Wing explained in an e-mail to FLORIDA TODAY:

"It is a clearly defined rule for anyone entering the Air Force or
already on duty in the Air Force that 'excessive' tattoos/brandings
cannot be visible while in uniform. In addition, any distasteful or
inappropriate tattoos/brandings must be removed and any members
failing to remove or alter unauthorized tattoos in a timely manner may
be subject to disciplinary action or involuntary separation." /copy
and paste from http://www.floridatoday.com/apps/pbc...707240342/1006
aka http://tinyurl.com/2pg96x

--
Curt

07-25-2007, 12:57 AM	#1 (permalink)
Curt Posts: n/a	"Excuse me officer, is that a half sleeve?" "Excuse me officer, is that a half sleeve? I'm afraid I'm going to have to give you a ticket. Don't make me pepper spray you. This is a citizen's arrest!" Louie Mercer, director of the police and fire academy at Daytona Beach Community College and a retired Daytona Beach Police commander, described a tattoo he saw on one of his students with the following words. "It was an entire storyline, from her neck all the way down her arm. It had a motorcycle, a reaper and, like, a cave or something." /quote heh :o) That's "and, like, a cave or something." I wonder if Mercer was a detective during his career. Those powers of observation or mighty impressive. Police draw line on tattoos More follow military's lead, set restrictions By Matt Reed Florida Today Tattoos are becoming increasingly taboo for police and military personnel. A growing list of police agencies across the nation have adopted or drafted stricter policies on how much "body art" officers can show and still look uniform and professional. Many require officers to cover tattoos with long sleeves and pants, even in the summer heat. The Brevard County Sheriff's Office is among those drafting a policy, Chief Deputy Mike Lewis said. But it's still in the brainstorming phase, as the drafters study policies from other departments and the military, he said. In March, the Marine Corps began prohibiting tattoos that would be visible when Marines wear their exercise uniforms. The Air Force has strict rules banning "excessive" tattoos. "What we're seeing is a trend, with younger people coming out of the military and they're getting more tattoos," said Capt. Mark Strobridge of the Orange County Sheriff's Office, which expects to finalize a new tattoo policy after August. "We find highly qualified individuals, but their appearance is not in keeping with grooming standards for law enforcement." The policies follow a 2006 U.S. appeals court ruling that found Hartford, Conn., police officers' tattoos do not enjoy First Amendment protection and can be subject to department uniform rules. They also coincide with moves by the military to limit "excessive" tattoos on members of the armed services. Some police agencies consider any visible tattoo excessive, while others address marks covering more than one-fourth or one-third of an officer's arm or leg. Tattooed officers in warmer regions have complained about orders to wear long sleeves and pants in places such as Central Florida, where mid-day temperatures last week hovered at 90 degrees with 75 percent humidity. "We fought long and hard to get a summer uniform here in the sweltering heat, and they want people to cover up to their wrists and ankles in hot polyester while directing traffic and wearing a 25-pound gun belt?" said Cpl. John Park, a violent-crime unit member and president of the Central Florida Police Benevolent Association. "This has been one of the more controversial issues we've dealt with." About 36 percent of Americans between the ages of 18 and 29 have at least one tattoo, according to survey published last year in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology. Writing a fair policy has been difficult because while tattoos have important personal meanings to officers, the citizens they serve may be intimidated or offended by them, Strobridge said. "It's a matter of professionalism," said Toni Brandenburger, who lives in suburban Orange County east of Orlando. "I wouldn't be intimidated. But I might think twice about asking directions from someone with a big grim reaper on their arm." "I have noticed more tattoos," added Louie Mercer, director of the police and fire academy at Daytona Beach Community College. Mercer, a retired Daytona Beach Police commander, described an ornate tattoo he spotted recently on one of his students: "It was an entire storyline, from her neck all the way down her arm. It had a motorcycle, a reaper and, like, a cave or something." Mercer thinks tattoos are merely a sign of diversity -- that police agencies run best when they reflect the communities they serve. Police vary across the U.S.: In Southern California, Los Angeles Police Chief William Bratton in 2005 ordered the city's force of more than 9,000 officers to cover any visible tattoos with clothing or skin-colored patches. In San Diego, police officers must conceal any markings that cover 30 percent or more of exposed body parts. Houston police must wear winter clothes year-round to cover tattoos - or have them removed. In Maryland, Baltimore and Baltimore County forbid any visible tattoos on officers. The Kentucky State Police turn away applicants who have visible tattoos or have markings that could be considered offensive. At a Marine Corps symposium last year, sergeants major complained that tattoos covering entire limbs did not reflect traditional Marine values - even for a service with a centuries-old custom among members of proudly wearing tattoos. Marines who already have tattoos must document them to commanders. Army recruits now may have tattoos on their hands and back of the neck as long as the markings aren't racist, sexist or otherwise offensive. The move enacted in February 2006 was meant to bolster recruiting. The Air Force, however, has not loosened up. It prohibits tattoos that cover more than 25 percent of exposed body parts and any above the collarbone. Ken Warren, spokesman for Patrick Air Force Base and the 45th Space Wing explained in an e-mail to FLORIDA TODAY: "It is a clearly defined rule for anyone entering the Air Force or already on duty in the Air Force that 'excessive' tattoos/brandings cannot be visible while in uniform. In addition, any distasteful or inappropriate tattoos/brandings must be removed and any members failing to remove or alter unauthorized tattoos in a timely manner may be subject to disciplinary action or involuntary separation." /copy and paste from http://www.floridatoday.com/apps/pbc...707240342/1006 aka http://tinyurl.com/2pg96x -- Curt