For more on the ongong crisis in police recruitment, take a listen to a recent “Policing Matters” podcast, in which PoliceOne Senior Contributor Doug Wyllie and San Francisco Deputy Chief Jim Dudley (ret.) discuss the problem of recruiting new officers, and and how agencies can improve recruitment efforts.
And, to hear more about LE tattoo policies, take a listen to a “Policing Matters” podcast, in which Wylie and Dudley discuss whether police officers should be allowed to have visible tattoos.
By Police1 Staff
IRVING, Texas – In an effort to recruit and retain qualified candidates, the chief of the Irving Police Department recently released a video announcing changes to their tattoo policy.
Chief Jeff Spivey said the change in policy reflects the modern-day norms that accept tattoos as ordinary and recognizes that “tattoos doesn’t (sic) change the professionalism of the man or woman answering that call for service,” he told CBS Local in Dallas.
The department released a video of Chief Spivey explaining the change on its social media channels. The department has about 350 officers and says that it loses up to 30 each year, due to retirement.
https://www.facebook.com/IrvingPD/videos/307846136632985/
Spivey believes relaxing the tattoo policy will attract new officer candidates and perhaps retain those on the force who will no longer have to hide their tattoos.
The new policy applies to arm and leg tattoos, as well as ring finger tattoos. But, face and neck markings are still not allowed.