Frank Borelli
Editor-in-Chief
Officer.com
A quick look at my photo shows that I haven't had to worry about my
hair cut for quite some time. In fact, after I left uniformed police work in early 2000 I actually grew it out. That only lasted a few months as it drove me nuts and I was quite happy to return to my crew cut. Either way, I've never been a person who would put cornrows in my hair - on or off duty. We see news out of Philadelphia where a white police officer has been taken off of patrol duty because he did.
Now such an event brings many questions:
- Are there other officers - of any race - on that agency being permitted to patrol with the same hairstyle?
- Are there regulations in the Personnel Code or General Orders that prohibit such?
- Does this hairstyle permit proper wear of uniform items such as the issued hat(s)?
- Does this hairstyle permit proper wear and use of personal protective equipment such as gas masks or helmets?
The question I didn't list and one that I'm old enough (and narrow minded enough) to believe matters is this:
Does the hairstyle in question reflect a professional image; one of maturity, experience, good judgment and service?
Yeah; that's a mouthful, but think about it. Law enforcement agencies are para-military in structure and operation. While our police / deputies
protect and serve our military
protects and defends. The difference is one is INSIDE the borders of our country; the other is OUTSIDE.
So for those who protect and serve, a
professional image is required. Given that law enforcement professionals are tasked daily with making potential life and death decisions, a high level of maturity and judgment is required. For us to maintain a positive image with the public we serve, that maturity and judgment isn't just required: it must also be
perceived.
Who was it that said, "You never get a second chance to make a first impression"?
How that officer - and any other officer wearing such a hairstyle - is perceived is going to be a function of his total overall appearance, behavior, statements, actions, etc. What we often forget is that he's
not just being
perceived by the younger generation sometimes referred to as "the MTV crowd". He is also being perceived by folks like me (sometimes called middle-aged although I debate that), and folks like my in-laws in their... well, a generation older than I am; and folks another generation older than them as well.
So, I find myself with mixed emotions about this young officer and his chosen hairstyle.
While on the one hand I believe it's entirely prejudicial for him to be criticized
if there are other officers of any race being permitted to wear their hair this way, I also wonder about his judgment and maturity if he believes such a hairstyle is conducive to a professional image.
Uniform is
uniform for a reason. A paramilitary organization requires some semblance of military bearing and appearance. Professional control at any incident scene - even if only by presence - requires an appearance and bearing that commands respect from citizens in every age category.
In the end, I have decided that the larger problem is not potential prejudicial treatment of one white officer due to his "black hairstyle". I have concluded that the bigger problem is the relaxed standards of appearance that have been placed in our agencies nationwide today.
If you're going to wear a uniform and do a job, do it in such a way as to always increase the level of respect the public bestows upon us; do it in a way that increases the public perception of professionalism on our part.
Military standard haircuts have never failed us. And since I've been out of the service for about six years now, can anyone tell me if cornrows are an accepted hairstyle for a soldier? airman? seaman? marine? coastie? (didn't want to leave them out) I know I'm old school and narrow minded, but what's wrong with "high and tight"? Crew cuts work. Heck... off your ears, over your eyebrows and not touching your collar is good. But in the end, most uniform codes also have something prohibiting "extremes" in hairstyle, make up, jewelry, etc.
In today's day and age of debates about whether or not
uniform can be applied across cultures and religions I submit to you that
uniform is what it is. If your cultural heritage or religious faith prohibits you from wearing the uniform within the specific guidelines, perhaps you should have chosen a different profession? One that was more in line with your culture, heritage or faith? Being a law enforcement professional is a way of life and the job dictates certain controls that aren't up for debate or negotiation.
Then again, that's just the thought of a middle-aged white guy who would never consider (or have enough hair to) putting his hair in cornrows.
What do you think?
