Policy Text
Policy
1023Garden Grove Police Department
Policy Manual
Copyright Lexipol, LLC 2022/08/15, All Rights Reserved.
Published with permission by Garden Grove Police
DepartmentPersonal Appearance Standards - 1Personal Appearance Standards
1023.1 PURPOSE AND SCOPE
In order to project uniformity and neutrality toward the public and other members of the department,
employees shall maintain their personal hygiene and appearance to project a professional image
appropriate for this department and for their assignment.
1023.2 GROOMING STANDARDS
Unless otherwise stated and because deviations from these standards could present officer safety
issues, the following appearance standards shall apply to all employees, except those whose
current assignment would deem them not appropriate, and where the Chief of Police has granted
exception.
1023.2.1 HAIR
Hairstyles of all members shall be neat in appearance. For male sworn members, hair must not
extend below the top edge of the uniform collar while assuming a normal stance.
For female sworn members, hair must be no longer than the horizontal level of the bottom of
the uniform patch when the employee is standing erect, worn up or in a tightly wrapped braid or
ponytail.
Hair shall not display extreme or untidy styles and shall not impair vision in any manner. Hair clips
and barrettes will be of conforming colors (black, brown, blue, silver, no bright colors).
1023.2.2 MUSTACHES
A short and neatly trimmed mustache may be worn. Mustaches shall not extend below the corners
of the mouth or beyond the natural hairline of the upper lip.
1023.2.3 SIDEBURNS
Sideburns shall not extend below the bottom of the outer ear opening (the top of the earlobes)
and shall be trimmed and neat.
1023.2.4 FACIAL HAIR
Facial hair other than sideburns, mustaches and eyebrows shall not be worn, unless authorized
by the Chief of Police or his or her designee.
1023.2.5 FINGERNAILS
Fingernails extending beyond the tip of the finger can pose a safety hazard to officers or others.
For this reason, fingernails shall be trimmed so that no point of the nail extends beyond the tip
of the finger.
1023.2.6 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
Garden Grove Police Department
Policy Manual
Personal Appearance Standards
Copyright Lexipol, LLC 2022/08/15, All Rights Reserved.
Published with permission by Garden Grove Police
DepartmentPersonal Appearance Standards - 2concern 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.
1023.3 TATTOOS
While on-duty or representing the Department in any official capacity, members should make every
reasonable effort to conceal tattoos or other body art. 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 BODY PIERCING OR ALTERATION
Body piercing or alteration to any area of the body visible in any authorized uniform or attire that
is a deviation from normal anatomical features and which 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.
(c)Abnormal shaping of the ears, eyes, nose or teeth
(d)Branding or scarification.
(e)Except for a single stud pierced earring worn in the lobe of each ear of female
employees only, no body piercing shall be visible while any employee is on duty or
representing the Department in any official capacity.
1023.5 EXEMPTIONS
Members who seek cultural (e.g., culturally protected hairstyles) or other exemptions to this policy
that are protected by law should generally be accommodated (Government Code § 12926). A
member with an exemption may be ineligible for an assignment if the individual accommodation
presents a security or safety risk. The Chief of Police should be advised any time a request
Garden Grove Police Department
Policy Manual
Personal Appearance Standards
Copyright Lexipol, LLC 2022/08/15, All Rights Reserved.
Published with permission by Garden Grove Police
DepartmentPersonal Appearance Standards - 3for such an accommodation is denied or when a member with a cultural or other exemption is
denied an assignment based on a safety or