Policy Text
Policy
1018San Luis Obispo Police Department
San Luis Obispo PD CA Policy Manual
Copyright Lexipol, LLC 2026/01/22, All Rights Reserved.
Published with permission by San Luis Obispo Police
DepartmentPersonal Appearance Standards - 1Personal Appearance Standards
1018.1 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.
1018.2 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.
1018.2.1 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.
1018.2.2 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.
1018.2.3 SIDEBURNS
Sideburns shall not extend below the bottom of the outer ear opening (the top of the earlobes)
and shall be trimmed and neat.
1018.2.4 FACIAL HAIR
Sworn and non-sworn personnel are permitted to wear beards or goatees that are maintained at
a length and pattern so as not to detract from the employee's professional appearance. Beards
and goatees shall be well-groomed and neatly trimmed at all times. Beards and goatees must be
trimmed, have clean lines, shall not be permitted below the adam's apple or on the neck, and shall
be uniform in length and style. Beards and goatees that have a non-uniform or are overtly thin or
patchy in appearance will not be permitted. A goatee may not be worn without a mustache. Sworn
personnel shall not exceed a maximum beard or goatee length of three-eighths of an inch.
When starting to grow a beard or goatee, members shall start on a period of at least three days off
to present a more professional look and prevent working while in an 'unshaven' state. Members will
not be permitted to report to work without shaving, then claim they have started to grow a beard.
Members recognize that with the implementation of this policy, the intent is to maintain a
professional appearance in our personnel while still allowing some individuality. Members
San Luis Obispo Police Department
San Luis Obispo PD CA Policy Manual
Personal Appearance Standards
Copyright Lexipol, LLC 2026/01/22, All Rights Reserved.
Published with permission by San Luis Obispo Police
DepartmentPersonal Appearance Standards - 2recognize that factors may be out of their control that limit their ability to grow a beard or goatee
that conforms to the appearance standards outlined in this policy.
BEARD REVIEW BOARD
Supervisors will be responsible for ensuring that their subordinates conform to the standards outlined in this policy. If a
Supervisor feels that an employee's beard or goatee does not meet these standards and cannot be corrected with trimming
and maintenance, the employee will be referred to the Beard Review Board for evaluation. The Beard Review Board will be
comprised of three members, both Watch Commanders (Lieutenants) and one member selected by the POA Board from the
Uniform Committee and will be convened within 14 days. The three-member board will evaluate the employee's appearance,
keeping in mind the rules outlined in this policy. The decision of the Beard Review Board on whether an employee is conforming
to this policy will be final. Members that receive an unfavorable ruling from the Beard Review Board shall wait one year before
re-attempting to grow a beard.
All sworn employees must maintain facial hair that allows the proper fit and function of personal protective equipment including
department-issued gas masks.
Sworn personnel working in undercover or plainclothes assignments, or specialized assignments requiring facial hair not
otherwise authorized by this policy, shall be exempt from these restrictions.
1018.2.5 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.
1018.2.6 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
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.
(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