Baltimore Police Dept's New Grooming Policy
 

http://www.thewbalchannel.com/news/10470167/detail.html

BALTIMORE -- The WBAL TV 11 News I-Team has obtained a new professional appearance policy for the Baltimore Police Department intended to promote a professional image, but it's also raising questions of racial insensitivity.


The new policy is more specific than the old one. For example, tattoos must now be kept covered.


However, the questions surround an issue that's been batted around the courts and company workplace policies for several years -- hairstyle.

"We just felt that over the years, some officers have taken advantage of the old general order and are not presenting themselves, while in uniform to the public, in the most professional manner possible," said Matt Jablow, spokesman for the Baltimore Police Department.


Like the old policy, the new one governs hair length, jewelry, mustaches and beards, but it also added a new standard -- extreme, or "fad," hairstyles are prohibited, including cornrows, mohawks, dreadlocks, and twists.


Three of the four hairstyles banned are almost exclusively used by blacks.


"I think it's incredibly insensitive," said Taunya Banks, a professor at the University of Maryland School of Law. "I'm really kind of concerned about labeling as faddish a practice that's not faddish at all, and what appears to be a targeting of black officers."


Banks said the policy seems to ignore the differences in hair texture between blacks and whites and may affect black female officers more than men.


"What they're saying to a woman is either she has to wear her hair short in an Afro, which is no longer stylish, or she's going to have to chemically straighten her hair," she said.


"We do not think it's racially insensitive. It's not intended to be racially insensitive," Jablow said.


Department officials said they consulted with the Black Officers' Organization in forming the policy.


It will go into effect on Jan. 1, the same time as Baltimore swears in its first female black mayor. Sheila Dixon said Tuesday she's aware of the new policy and supports it.


"I think there is an appropriateness one needs to have, and if that's the policy of the police department, then one has to come in compliance," Dixon said.


Earlier this year, 11 News reported that there's less diversity in the leadership ranks of the police department now than 10 years ago.


Deputy major is the highest rank held by a black woman in the department, and only two women hold that position.

This is really ridiculous :mad: Having lived in the Baltimore area for the last 6 years, I know that officer grooming is the LAST thing they need to be thinking about. With the rapidly increasing crime rate, the political turmoil that surrounded the recent mayoral election (where they elected their first black woman mayor) and the state of the city schools, I would venture to say that there are much more pressing issues that the city and esp the police dept need to be concerned with. Can we say 'Distraction Technique'?

I'm sorry but I have to crash here. To lump mohawks - a hairstyle which I rarely if ever see, even at the odd punk rock show or two - in with those other three is completely ridiculous.

If they're banning that big mohawk "fad" they also need to talk to the white guys with Brady Bunch perms and Dylan from 90210 sideburns, because ya know there are sooooo many of those out there right now. :rolleyes: This policy is definitely unfair to blacks.

It's strange that they didn't give any really good reason, like "safety". I can see them banning long dreads or something, but they're banning those types of hairstyles regardless of length. I can't believe how blatant they're being.

*an unrelated note*

UMM, NO! :mad: And I thought it was impossible for someone to screw up this name!

I wonder what their official stance was concerning hairstyles. Because if there agreed to the ban of certain hairstyles, shouldn't they bear some responsibility as to an explainantion why?

They should have known better...

They say that they consulted with the Black Officers' Organization. Perhaps that organization is primarily run by men b/c I could see (although I don't agree with) one thinking that cornrows, twists, etc. for men is radical (b/c the men don't have the short fade length that is typical) if one is extremely traditional AA. However, even for extremely traditional AAs, those hairstyles are not really radical for women. They are just styles for women who wear their hair in its natural state. Maybe they didn't ask any AA *women*. Maybe the Black Officers' Organization is a group comprised of a bunch of AA male schauvinists.

SC

wow...

Why does it have to be "extreme"? I don't see anything extreme about cornrows, twists, and dreadlocks. (if they're neatly done.)

I experienced a double-take on this one, it's unbelievable.

The mohawk (maybe not in the form we have been accustomed to) has made a comeback. :rolleyes: Today, the sides are not shaved, but possibly braided on the sides with the center in the traditional mohawk style. The kids are being creative with it, adding weave and such. If they could use their creative juices ACADEMICALLY... :D

Just an FYI...

My dad coaches high school football. For no apparent reason, about half the team suddenly got mohawks (mostly white kids, definitely not the punk variety). I won't even attempt to explain this behaviour, but maybe the mohawk is "in" now?
:confused:

Knowing Baltimore, this is probably how she spells it! Pronounced tawn-ya :cool:

I was shocked when I read this. I am under the impression that they consulted no women when developing this policy because it leaves us with little to no options for wearing our hair in its natural state. And I'm kinda :mad: at the mayor for her blind support. I can only assume whats on her head :rolleyes:

man, then i guess i'm not becoming a police officer in Baltimore, cause i'd be unstylish.

:cries in a corner:

this irks me, because what will happen (for women anyway) is that they will spend good money on a weave and after a while it starts to look dirty and unkempt. and that is acceptable over a fro, twists, or locs? please, give me a break. i think braids can look just as "hood" as a dirty, tangled 18" weave, cause that's what the BPD seems to be getting at by banning these hairstyles.

and since we're considering a mohawk to be "traditionally" a white hairstyle, does this mean that, let's say, mullets are out too? i dont know why that is a parallel for me, but i feel like that would be just as unacceptable. after all it IS a "fad" hairstyle. and if THAT'S the case, then we gotta get rid of Jheri curls and all sorts of hairstyles cause there are many styles that come and go.

Good for them. This petition was well written and obviously very effective. Kudos!

I'd think you'd want to keep Louisiana business....Louisiana business, but hey, whatever. :p