White Philly officer told to get rid of cornrows

[WriteDown]

Source: AP

PHILADELPHIA — A white Philadelphia police officer who came to work with his hair in cornrows was ordered by a superior to get a haircut, even though black colleagues wear the same type of braids. The Philadelphia Daily News reported Monday that Officer Thomas Strain was put on desk duty earlier this month because of the hairstyle.

A police spokesman, Lt. Frank Vanore, said Strain's boss didn't feel the braids were "professional."

Vanore said department policy requires officers to have "clean, properly trimmed and combed hair" that allows them to wear their uniform hat "in a military manner."

Vanore said Strain was not disciplined, only told to get a haircut.

Strain declined to comment to the paper.

Read more: http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5gh4PhkwIS0XmcwNPEeXzurYBH8wwD9ARU3GG0

[imdjh]

1. dupe

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=6602996&mesg_id=6602996

[UndertheOcean]

2. ?? What should it be anyones bussiness how one wears his or her hair ?

[Chulanowa]

3. The police have never allowed us "long hair hippy types"

Most jobs, in fact, do not let you fully determine your own appearance. I recently got a demand that I shave my beard. it's not a long beard by any means (I can't grow long facial hair anyway), it's neat and trimmed and clean. But it's either I shave my face bald, or I put a beardnet on.. .And given the choice between shaving and wearing a sock on my face, I guess i'm going smooth-shaven.

The issue here is that other employees are premitted the same hairstyle with no restrictions, and that the style itself does not conflict with the uniform standards - That hat can sit on his head just fine with cornrows.

[ScottLand]

4. Racist can work in reverse too.

[No Elephants]

6. Until Republicans started crying "racism" to protect white males, the most

protected group throughout all of American history, racial discrimination was well understood to mean discrimination by those in power against members of a "discrete and insular minority."

Why is he wearing corn rows?

Is he trying to manage hair that is very difficult to manage? Is he trying to reflect his cultural roots (no pun intended). Or is he trying only to get around a regulation about hair length?

[ScottLand]

8. Maybe he's just trying to fit in with his buddies.

[paulsby]

9. it doesn't matter

police agencies can set grooming standards. and fwiw, it HAS been upheld as legal for them to set different standards for men and women. but NOT for black men and white men. it matters not what his motivation for the haircut is. it matters if there is a policy or pattern of allowing them for other officers (black or whatever). if that's the case, he will clearly win. my agency specifically does not allow cornrows - for blacks, whites, or anybody else. that's perfectly fine. heck, some agencies don't even allow mustaches believe it or not (MA state police didn't when i lived in MA. don't know if they still prohibit them)

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

17. This isn't reverse racism, it's old fashioned normal racism.

The only reason people have a problem with corn rows is because it's an African American hairstyle.

[AspenRose]

18. He'd have trouble in Louisiana.

"I don't want to get into calling people names, but if you're going to walk the streets of St. Tammany Parish with dreadlocks and chee wee hairstyles, then you can expect to be getting a visit from a sheriff's deputy." Jack Strain, Sheriff, St. Tammany Parish, Louisiana."

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x1987868

I would venture to guess that in portions of Louisiana, White guy + Traditionally black hairstyle = "Race traitor"

[BlooInBloo]

19. Wow - stupid on top of dumb. Bravo.

[Zix]

22. It's not racism! It's just silly pettiness.

Stop deliberately blurring issues!

[No Elephants]

5. I have a feeling there may be more to this story than meets the eye.

[BoneDaddy]

11. Of course

cause if a white guy is discriminated against, there has to be an underlying issue or problem. Unbelievable.

[BumRushDaShow]

7. I have never seen

any uniformed Philadelphia police officer with cornrows, whether male or female, and of any race/ethnicity. Perhaps this stunt is confusing undercovers who might "costume-dress" to try to "fit in" with certain communities under surveillance?

[uberblonde]

10. From what I know of Philly cops...

I suspect this is a deliberately provocative statement. As in, "'They' get to do whatever they want, why can't I?" There's a fair amount of racial animosity on the local force.

[BumRushDaShow]

13. There definitely are many issues

The Guardian Civic League has continually had to intervene for the crap that goes on.

[astral]

12. Cornrows is simply a hairstyle, not a 'costume'

His hair isn't hanging down or too long. I think it's kinda cool-looking.

[Fumesucker]

14. How long does your hair have to be in the first place to do cornrows?

Not trying to start an argument, I honestly don't know but it seems to me you need a significant length of hair to do that style.

Longer hair than most male officers have that I've seen in the last few years, "high and tight" seems to be the style these days.

[Nuclear Unicorn]

15. Are black officers allowed to wear cornrows?

If not--because it does allow tehm to wear their uniform hat "a military manner"--then there is no discrimination.

Of course, I'm told the reason the military demands short hair for field hygene as much as appearance.

I rather think this is an issue for the fashion police more than anything else and he should be sentenced to 25 to lifestyle.

[Posteritatis]

16. Er, the article says they do in the first sentence. (nt)

[anigbrowl]

20. DU should ban all text and only have headlines nt

[Posteritatis]

21. Meta-summaries of headlines, even

BREAKING: OUTRAGEOUS DEED PERFORMED!

[onenote]

23. this issue comes up in one form or another every so often

This time its a bit different because of the claim that African American officers can wear cornrows. A lot of police departments simply ban them (and dreads) for all officers.

See: http://www.aclu.org/religion/discrim/16289prs20000711.html