GENERAL ORDERS LINCOLN POLICE DEPARTMENT
SUBJECT: PERSONNEL
TITLE: PERSONAL APPEARANCE
EFFECTIVE DATE: JUNE 1, 2025
REVISION DATE:
ACCREDITATION: ALABAMA ASSOCIATION OF CHIEFS OF POLICE (AACOP)
APPROVAL: CHIEF DARREN E. BRITTON
Embedded Files
PERSONAL APPEARANCE
1023.1 PURPOSE AND SCOPE
This policy provides guidelines for the personal appearance of members of the Lincoln Police Department. Requirements for department uniforms and civilian attire are addressed in the Uniforms and Civilian Attire Policy.
1023.2 POLICY
Lincoln 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, appearance conformity and the social norms of the community served, 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., race, 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 on the scalp are prohibited. Hair adornments shall be primarily for the purpose of securing the hair and must present a professional image.
Hairstyles for male department members must not extend below the top edge of a uniform or dress shirt collar while assuming a normal stance. Hair on the side of the head must be trimmed and tapered to a length that will not cover the ear canal.
When working a field assignment, hairstyles for female department members must not extend below the bottom edge of a uniform or dress shirt collar while assuming a normal stance, nor shall it cover the ear canal. Longer hair shall be worn up or in a tightly wrapped braid or ponytail that is secured to the head above the bottom edge of the shirt collar and not interfere with the proper wear of headgear.
Plainclothes female officers' hair shall be neatly arranged and appropriate to a business environment. Plainclothes female officers, when working a uniformed field assignment, on or off duty, with longer hair shall be worn up or in a tightly wrapped braid or ponytail that is secured to the head above the bottom edge of the shirt collar and shall not interfere with the proper wear of headgear. This serves to maintain a uniform appearance among members and also as officers' safety
Civilian members' hair shall be neatly arranged and shall be appropriate to a business environment.
All members are prohibited from wearing braids, ducktails, flips, mohawks, and afros. Sworn personnel shall not have bulk of hair to exceed 1-1/2 inches regardless of length.
Any exceptions to the above shall be approved by the Chief of Police.
1023.3.3 MUSTACHES
Mustaches shall not extend below the corners of the mouth or beyond the natural hairline of the upper lip and shall be short and neatly trimmed.
1023.3.4 SIDEBURNS
Sideburns shall not extend below the bottom of the outer ear opening (the top of the earlobes) and shall be trimmed and neat.
1023.3.5 FACIAL HAIR
Facial hair, other than sideburns, mustaches, and eyebrows, is prohibited, unless authorized by the Chief of Police.
1023.3.6 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 or with an open 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, or one issued by the Department (i.e., silicon), 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
When members of the Lincoln Police Department are on duty or representing the organization in an official capacity, they shall conceal any tattoos or body art that could be considered offensive. This includes, but is not limited to, tattoos that display or promote discrimination, affiliation with gangs, supremacist or extremist groups, 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 Lincoln 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:
(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 unless it is deemed part of a religious practice.
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 Lincoln 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
Unless authorized by the Chief of Police, 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 Lincoln 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, in order to be considerate of individuals who may have sensitivities to strong scents.
1023.4.7 UNDERGARMENTS
Proper undergarments shall be worn as necessary for reasons of hygiene and general appearance standards.
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.
Those who request to wear headscarves, simple head coverings, certain hairstyles or facial hair for religious reasons should generally be accommodated absent unusual circumstances.
These policies and operating procedures are not designed to cover every possible scenario or situation in society, but rather to define standard operating procedures for members of the Lincoln Police Department. These guidelines are subject to past, present and future judicial review. These guidelines can be amended and or repealed by the Chief of Police as necessary. The policies and procedures herein provided supersede all previous policies and orders.
Page updated
Google Sites
Report abuse