A. POLICY
(1) The Connecticut State Police recognizes the personal appearance of its sworn uniform personnel, when in the public eye, has a direct impact on public confidence and thereby on the ability of individual personnel to perform their official duties. It is the policy of the Connecticut State Police that sworn uniform members maintain a professional appearance that will encourage public confidence in the members of this Department. As such, the following policy will apply to sworn members of the Connecticut State Police.
B. DEFINITIONS
(1) Body Modification — Means, but is not limited to: tongue splitting or bifurcation, the complete or trans-dermal implantation of any object(s) (other than hair replacement), abnormal shaping of the ears, eyes, nose, abnormal filing of teeth, branding or scarification.
(a) The above definition includes facial piercings to include, but not limited to tongue piercings, lip piercings, nose piercings and brow piercings.
(b) Body modification shall not include those procedures medically necessitated by deformity or injury, or generally accepted
C. BODY MODIFICATIONS AND TATTOOS
(1) Body modification, with the exception of branding and scarification to the arms, that is visible while on-duty in any authorized uniform or attire is prohibited.
(2) The use of gold, platinum or other dental veneers or caps for the purpose of ornamentation while on-duty is prohibited. Teeth, whether natural, capped, or veneer shall not be ornamented with designs, jewels, initials, etc.
(3) Body piercing jewelry not concealed by any authorized uniform or approved attire while on-duty is prohibited with the exception of earrings worn in compliance with A&O manual § 14.01.01.
(a) The wearing of any facial jewelry to include, but not limited to tongue piercings, lip piercings, nose piercing.
(4) No sworn member of the department shall have any tattoo, scarification or brand that is prejudicial to
good order, discipline, and morale of the Connecticut State Police, or is of a nature to bring discredit
upon the Connecticut State Police, or is considered extremist.
(a) Extremist tattoos, scarifications or brands are those affiliated with, depicting, or symbolizing
extremist philosophies, organizations, or activities. Extremist philosophies, organizations,
and activities are those which advocate racial, gender or ethnic hatred or intolerance;
advocate, create, or engage in illegal discrimination based on race, color, gender, ethnicity,
religion, or national origin; or advocate violence or other unlawful means of depriving
individual rights under the U.S. Constitution, Federal, or State law. For purposes of this
policy, extremist shall also refer to indecent, sexist and racist.
1. Indecent tattoos, scarifications or brands are those that are grossly offensive to
modesty, decency, or propriety; shock the moral sense because of their vulgar, filthy,
or disgusting nature or tendency to incite lustful thought; or tend reasonably to corrupt
morals or incite libidinous thoughts.
2. Sexist tattoos, scarifications or brands are those that advocate a philosophy that
degrades or demeans a person based on gender, but that may not meet the same
definition of “indecent.”
3. Racist tattoos, scarifications or brands are those that advocate a philosophy that
degrades or demeans a person based on race, ethnicity, or national origin.
5) No sworn member shall have any tattoo, scarification or branding that is visible while on-duty in the
Class “B” summer uniform, except:
(a) Arms
Tattoos, scarifications and branding on the arms are authorized, subject to the provision of
subsection C(4) of this policy above.
(b) Hands
A single tattoo on one hand only, no larger than one inch by one inch, is authorized on the
hand between the wrist and the first knuckle (closest to the wrist). Tattoos on the palm of the
hand are not authorized.
(c) Fingers
A single tattoo in the form of a commitment-style ring/band is also authorized on the wearer’s
finger. The width of such tattoo shall not exceed three-quarters of an inch (¾“). One such
tattoo is permissible on each hand.
(d) Neck
One tattoo is authorized on the neck and shall not exceed one inch by one inch. Tattoos
meeting these requirements are acceptable only on the portion of the neck that is behind the
front of each ear. No tattoos are permitted on the head, face (to include the ear), throat and
scalp.
[a] The collar of the class “B” summer uniform shirt shall serve as the reference
point for the back and sides of the neck. In the case of a tattoo near the
collarbone, the responsible authority shall make a final evaluation to ensure
that any tattoo that is visible above the collar is within the one inch by one
inch allowance.
(e) Under no circumstances shall any incumbent sworn member, after March 1, 2019, be allowed
to have any additional tattoo, scarification or brand on his or her head, face (to include the
ear), throat and scalp.
(f) Incumbent sworn personnel shall not be required to remove or cover existing tattoos, branding, or body art that existed prior to March 1, 2019, so long as such tattoos, brandings, or body art were otherwise compliant with department policy at the time the tattoo, branding, or body art was obtained, and was properly documented and made part of the employee’s Official Personnel File, if so required.
(g) Any such tattoo or other marking for which an exception or allowance or authorization is made is still subject to the provisions of subsection C(4) above.
(6) Ultra-violet (UV) Tattoos: Any tattoo visible or apparent only with the use of ultra-violet light must still adhere to the requirements set forth in this policy, and are not considered to allow any additional tattoos than would otherwise be permitted, allowed, or excepted under any other provisions of this policy.
(7) Applicants wishing for sworn appointment to the department shall be screened during applicant processing at which time a determination shall be made as to whether an applicant is in violation of the policy. Those applicants who have tattoos on their neck or hands will undergo additional screening regarding the suitability of such markings, and a determination will be made on a case by case basis by the Commanding Officer of the State Police, or his or her designee, as to the suitability of such markings.
(a) If an applicant is found to be in violation, then the applicant may, at his or her sole discretion, have the tattoo, branding, or body art, or visible portion thereof, removed at his or her own expense. If an applicant expresses a willingness to have this done, then his or her application will be placed on hold until the removal process is completed.
1. Removal of such markings will not per se absolve the applicant of being deemed as having such affiliation or adherence to said philosophies, organizations or activities that may be apparent in any phase of the selection process.