Years ago, I watched a documentary about underwater SCUBA cave diving. The filmmakers stressed the importance of divers knowing the risks as they ventured into the unfamiliar mass network of caves. Signs in the underwater caves warn divers about the “point of no return” and how they need to make sure they have enough air in the tank so they can get back to the caves’ entry points.
I believe we may be reaching the “point of no return” concerning certain aspects of policing, uniform and grooming standards among them.
In November 2014, I authored an article for Police1 titled “10 things that fuel negative police image among the public.” I identified what I considered as factors that fuel negative perceptions about law enforcement thus undermining overall effectiveness. Numbers 8 and 9 on the list read as follows:
8. Unsightly personal appearance: Beards, long mustaches, offensive tattoos, morbid obesity and any other element of unprofessional appearance create negative images. There’s a reason the police academy stresses clean appearances and good hygiene. Does the term “command presence” ring any bells?
9. Non-uniform uniforms: The word “uniform” loses meaning when departments allow officers to wear several variations of attire. Since when did baseball caps, BDUs, polo shirts, and drop-down leg-strapped holsters become acceptable uniforms?
When the article was published, I received some negative feedback from members of the profession. The criticisms said (paraphrased in my own words) that retired cops have no business telling active-duty cops what to wear and how to look. In essence, it was the “dinosaur” perspective.
Fast forward to the modern day. Over the past 10 years, the appearance and standards in many agencies across the country have deteriorated even far beyond what they were in 2014 when I wrote the article. But my attention was piqued last week when I saw that NYPD leadership was trying to “unring the bell” on the agency’s liberal uniform and grooming standards.
This article from the New York Daily News caught my attention: “NYPD to crack down on ‘sloppy’ cops with ban on shorts, white turtlenecks, cargo pants.” NYPD Inspector Paul Saraceno is quoted in this article as saying: “I believe that in every profession, if you take it seriously and you act professionally, you dress professionally, you present yourself the same way, it revolves around everything you do. If you’re not squared away, if you’re sloppy, it speaks to who you are. We expect professionalism in every aspect.” As you can well imagine, his words resonated with me as it was precisely the message I was trying to convey all those years ago.
I initiated a post with the article on the social media platform LinkedIn and started a discussion thread. The feedback was robust and, to my surprise, most who commented indicated they agreed that the uniform and grooming standards of the profession needed to be reined in. Some pushed back and said they felt there were more important issues to consider besides uniforms and appearance.
Here are a few excerpted comments:
- “Command presence should still be a priority. Your people need to be fully supported while at the same time setting high standards in all areas.”
- “Yes, it is called a uniform for a reason.”
- “The number one thing is to always look professional.”
- “These days it looks like anything goes with no real policy or enforcement of policy. Most likely this is a give in and an attempt to boost morale. Even in prison, prisoners respect physical fitness and how an inmate wears their clothing and presents themselves.”
- “Firmly believe in command presence, but Adam-12 era uniforms are not conducive to modern day policing requirements. Proper workable uniforms with appropriate grooming and weight standards are the solution.”
The strongest opposition to NYPD’s directive came from the NYPD Union (PBA.) President Patrick Hendry, who “vowed to file a legal challenge to the new rules, predicting they would drive officers out of the the force.”
So, the gauntlet has been thrown down and the battle begins. Time will tell whether the revised regulations will take effect, but clearly, the lines in the sand are drawn.
So here is the challenge as I see it. The policing profession is in an unmitigated crisis trying to recruit and retain qualified people. If officers prioritize relaxed standards as a key employment factor, agencies that enforce stricter guidelines may risk losing personnel to those with more lenient policies. In other words, it may be too late to address this issue. That would be unfortunate as many of us still believe in the importance of appearance and its overall impact on the effectiveness of officers.
Sir Robert Peel must be, as the saying goes, “rolling over in his grave.”
What do you think? Email your opinion to editor@police1.com. Read more on the issue here: State your case: Should the NYPD return to traditional uniform and grooming standards?
Listen to Gordon Graham discuss professional dress for law enforcement:
