HomeMy WebLinkAbout1023 Personal Appearance StandardsIowa City Police Department
Policy Manual
Personal Appearance Standards
Effective Date: 09/26/2024
Revised Date:
Issuing Authority:
Chief Dustin Liston
1023.1 PURPOSE AND SCOPE
This policy provides guidelines for the personal appearance of members of the Iowa City Police
Department.
Requirements for department uniforms and civilian attire are addressed in the Uniforms and
Civilian Attire Policy.
1023.2 POLICY
Iowa City Police Department members shall maintain their personal hygiene and appearance to
project a professional image that is appropriate for this department and for their assignments.
Department personal appearance standards are primarily based on safety requirements and
appearance conformity, while considering matters important to members of the Department.
1023.3 GROOMING
Unless otherwise stated and because deviations from these standards may present officer safety
issues, the following appearance standards shall apply to all members, except those whose
current assignments would deem them not applicable, and where the Chief of Police has granted
an exception.
1023.3.1 PERSONAL HYGIENE
All members must maintain proper personal hygiene. Examples of improper personal hygiene
include, but are not limited to, dirty fingernails, bad breath, body odor and dirty or unkempt hair.
Any member who has a condition due to a protected category (e.g., physical disability) that affects
any aspect of personal hygiene covered by this policy may qualify for an accommodation and
should report any need for an accommodation to the Chief of Police.
1023.3.2 HAIR
Hair shall be clean, neatly trimmed or arranged, and of a natural hair color. Hairstyles with shaved
designs in the scalp are prohibited. Hair adornments shall be primarily for the purpose of securing
the hair and must present a professional image.
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Iowa City Police Department
Policy Manual
Personal Appearance Standards
When working a field assignment, hairstyles must not extend below the bottom edge of a uniform
or dress shirt collar while assuming a normal stance. Longer hair shall be worn pulled up and
away from the face.
1023.3.3 FACIAL HAIR
Facial hair shall be neat and trimmed..
1023.3.4 FINGERNAILS
Fingernails shall be clean and neatly trimmed to a length that will not present a safety concern.
The color of fingernail polish shall present a professional image.
1023.4 APPEARANCE
1023.4.1 JEWELRY
For the purpose of this policy, jewelry refers to rings, earrings, necklaces, bracelets, wristwatches,
and tie tacks or tie bars. Jewelry shall present a professional image and may not create a safety
concern for the department member or others. Jewelry that depicts racial, sexual, discriminatory,
gang -related, or obscene language is not allowed.
(a) Necklaces shall not be visible above the shirt collar.
(b) Earrings shall be small and worn only in or on the earlobe.
(c) One ring or ring set may be worn on each hand of the department member. No rings
should be of the type that would cut or pose an unreasonable safety risk to the member
or others during a physical altercation, if the member is assigned to a position where
that may occur.
(d) One small bracelet, including a bracelet identifying a medical condition, may be worn
on one arm.
(e) Wristwatches shall be conservative and present a professional image.
(f) Tie tacks or tie bars worn with civilian attire shall be conservative and present a
professional image.
1023.4.2 TATTOOS
At no time while the member is on -duty or representing the Department in any official capacity
shall any offensive tattoo or body art be visible. Examples of offensive tattoos include but are not
limited to those that exhibit or advocate discrimination; those that exhibit gang, supremacist, or
extremist group affiliation; and those that depict or promote drug use, sexually explicit acts, or
other obscene material.
1023.4.3 BODY PIERCING OR ALTERATION
Body piercing (other than earlobes) or alteration to any area of the body that is visible while
on -duty or while representing the Iowa City Police Department in any official capacity, that is a
deviation from normal anatomical features and that is not medically required, is prohibited. Such
body alteration includes, but is not limited to:
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Iowa City Police Department
Policy Manual
Personal Appearance Standards
(a) Tongue splitting or piercing.
(b) The complete or transdermal implantation of any material other than hair replacement
(i.e., foreign objects inserted under the skin to create a design or pattern).
(c) Abnormal shaping of the ears, eyes, nose or teeth (i.e., enlarged or stretched out holes
in the earlobes).
(d) Branding, scarification or burning to create a design or pattern.
1023.4.4 DENTAL ORNAMENTATION
Dental ornamentation that is for decorative purposes and that is not medically required is
prohibited while on -duty or while representing the Iowa City Police Department in any official
capacity. Such ornamentation includes, but is not limited to:
(a) Objects that are bonded to front teeth.
(b) Gold, platinum or other veneers or caps used for decorative purposes.
(c) Orthodontic appliances that are colored for decorative purposes.
1023.4.5 GLASSES AND CONTACT LENSES
Eyeglasses and sunglasses shall be conservative and present a professional image. Contact
lenses with designs that change the normal appearance of the eye and that are not medically
required are prohibited while on -duty or while representing the Iowa City Police Department in
any official capacity.
1023.4.6 COSMETICS AND FRAGRANCES
Cosmetics shall be conservative and present a professional image. Use of cologne, perfume,
aftershave lotion and other items used for body fragrance shall be kept to a minimum.
1023.5 RELIGIOUS ACCOMMODATION
The religious beliefs and needs of department members should be reasonably accommodated.
Requests for religious accommodation should generally be granted unless there is a compelling
security or safety reason and denying the request is the least restrictive means available to
ensure security or safety. The Chief of Police should be advised any time a request for religious
accommodation is denied.
Such examples include those who request to wear headscarves, simple head coverings, certain
hairstyles or facial hair for religious reasons.
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Published with permission by Iowa City Police Department