Policy Text
Policy
1044Mountain View Police Department
Mountain View PD Policy Manual
Copyright Lexipol, LLC 2019/12/16, All Rights Reserved.
Published with permission by Mountain View Police
DepartmentPersonal Appearance Standards - 1Personal Appearance Standards
1044.1 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.
1044.2 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 Police Chief has granted
exception.
1044.2.1 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.
1044.2.2 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.
1044.2.3 SIDEBURNS
Sideburns shall not extend below the bottom of the outer ear opening (the top of the earlobes)
and shall be trimmed and neat.
1044.2.4 FACIAL HAIR
Facial hair other than sideburns, mustaches and eyebrows shall not be worn, unless authorized
by the Police Chief or his or her designee.
1044.2.5 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.
1044.2.6 JEWELRY AND ACCESSORIES
No jewelry or personal ornaments shall be worn by officers on any part of the uniform or equipment,
except those authorized within this manual. Jewelry, if worn around the neck, shall not be visible
above the shirt collar.
Mountain View Police Department
Mountain View PD Policy Manual
Personal Appearance Standards
Copyright Lexipol, LLC 2019/12/16, All Rights Reserved.
Published with permission by Mountain View Police
DepartmentPersonal Appearance Standards - 2Earrings shall not be worn by uniformed sworn members, detectives or special assignment
personnel without permission of the Police Chief or his/her designee. Only one ring may be worn
on each hand of the employee while on-duty.
1044.2.7 COSMETICS
Male employees may not wear cosmetics without permission of the Police Chief. Female
employees may wear conservative, subdued, and blended cosmetics that are blended to match
the natural skin and lip tones.
1044.2.8 EYEWEAR
Eyewear color and style, including prescription glasses, must not detract from the officer's
appearance. Eyewear must be conservative, constructed of wire or plastic, and be black, gold,
chrome, silver, or a subdued opaque color. No multicolor, bright, or fluorescent colors are
permitted. Lenses and eye wear straps must be conservative in color. Mirrored lenses are not
permitted.
1044.3 TATTOOS
All department employees are prohibited from displaying tattoos on duty or while representing the
Department in any official capacity. Personnel with existing tattoos will have the following options:
•On duty personnel shall cover existing tattoos by wearing a long-sleeve shirt and or
trousers/breeches, or
•Cover the existing tattoos with skin tone patch, approved covering, or make-up, or
•Have the tattoos removed at the employee's expense
Tattoos that cannot be covered or concealed are prohibited. Employees hired before May 1, 2009
are "grandfathered" and are not required to adhere to the above options as long as they do not
acquire new tattoos after May 1, 2009. If new tattoos are acquired, then the employee must adhere
to the above options for all tattoos. Any tattoos deemed offensive, regardless the date acquired
must be covered. Any exceptions must be approved by the Police Chief.
1044.4 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
Mountain View Police Department
Mountain View PD Policy Manual
Personal Appearance Standards
Copyright Lexipol, LLC 2019/12/16, All Rights Reserved.
Published with permission by Mountain View Police
DepartmentPersonal Appearance Standards - 3(d)Branding or scarification.
1044.5 CASUAL FRIDAY
The Police Chief has the discretion to permit/deny the practice of permitting certain employees
to dress casually on Fridays.
If approved, police department personnel who are not assigned to uniform patrol assignments
may wear casual clothing to work on Fridays. While casual, clothing is to be neat, clean and well
maintained so as to project a professional image. Shorts, tee shirts (plain or with printing), shirts
which expose the mid