Sheriff bans officers from having tattoos and gold teeth

[The Straight Story]

Sheriff bans officers from having tattoos and gold teeth

Officers at a Florida police force have been told that they are not permitted to have visible tattoos or gold teeth.

The new policy at Broward Sheriff's Office also forbids piercings and 'body mutilation'.

It is believed that deputies at the Fort Lauderdale force with a gold-toothed grin will now have to pay to have the expensive dentistry removed if they are to keep their job.

Gold or platinum veneers for decorative reasons are strictly not allowed under the new rules, but officers who can prove they have caps or fillings for dental purposes will be permitted to keep them.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1351423/Sheriff-bans-officers-having-tattoos-gold-teeth.html#ixzz1CY6hhtzY

[HysteryDiagnosis]

1. I had a dream of becoming a wealthy agent for a up and coming music

sensation, my idea was to outfit him with a blue sapphire veneer on one of his incisors, and quite naturally his stage name would be "Bluetooth". Ahhh if only we pursued our dreams as we should.

[ProgressiveProfessor]

3. There has already been a "bluetooth" in history who made it big...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harald_I_of_Denmark

[ProgressiveProfessor]

2. It is very hard to make it retroactive under the circumstances

Existing ones will be grandfathered, new ones not permitted.

[Angry Dragon]

4. Is it okay to have diamonds in your teeth??

[onethatcares]

5. You can bet this is gonna go over real good with the force

yep, instead of worrying about how clean the guns are, they're gonna be wearing long sleeves in July/August/September, you know, the coolest months of the year in sweaty Floriduh.

[Confusious]

6. Cops in Arizona have to wear long sleeves year round

In 120F. How do I know this? I asked a cop if it sucked after he gave me a speeding ticket. In July. He was going to go find shade afterwards.

[blondeatlast]

13. Where was that? Phoenix, tucson, Maricopa County and Pima County all allow short sleeves.

Edit: Pinal county as well--all of these I'm certain of.

BTW, I've lived in Arizona for 38 years; never seen a long sleeved cop in the summer except at a funeral in full dress.

[Ken Burch]

32. Maybe it was the state police.

n/t.

[Confusious]

33. Tucson motorcycle cop.

I see them in long sleeves all the time, summer and winter. Of course, I speed all the time, so I look out for them.

[Edweird]

7. So? I have to wear long sleeves in the same place - and it's heavy FR material as well.

FR = fire retardant
Plus I get to use the thickest rubber gloves you've ever seen and they are tucked inside leather gloves.

They, at least, have air conditioned squad cars, while I am out in the sun (and rain) the whole day.

If they want to be professional law enforcement, it shouldn't be too much to ask that they maintain appearance standards appropriate for the position. I can't have body piercings at my job - I used to have quite a few all over the place. I'm also not allowed to wear jewelry. Such is life.



That's downtown Miami in the background from the South. (Yes, that's me)

[onethatcares]

9. I bet you

wouldn't have it any other way.

I don't think the OP said anything about piercings, but what the heck, I guess you are correct. Body art from the shoulder down to the wrist would
be distracting. Gold teeth, not so much except for a compete grill with sparklies.

been here in sunny floriduh since 77, never been to Miami or the keys. Just didn't feel the desire.

[Edweird]

10. I lived in Palm Beach county the first 10 years I was here.

That will always be 'home' to me.

Dress codes and appearance standards are to be expected - especially in a profession like law enforcement.

The jewelry restrictions at my job are simply because metal conducts electricity and the last thing you want is an arc. That means death or a fate worse than death. It's all about safety. They don't care if you are 'sleeved' with tattoos - nobody's gonna see them anyway.

[dixiegrrrrl]

11. I'd recognize you anywhere!!!

[Edweird]

39. LOL, we all look alike :)

[chowhound]

29. i don't get that attitude of

i don't get to have it therefore i don't care that you lost it. ie:
so, i dont get to wear piercings therefore i dont care that you dont
so, i dont get vacations therefore i dont care that you lost yours
so, i dont get health care therefore i dont care that you lost yours
so, i dont get a raise therefore how dare you go on strike to get one
it's this defining what others should be allowed to have based on what you settled for. it's an attitude that i hear allot of that i dont get.
it's more of that saying 1st they came for..... etc. no offense to anyone but i think we need to stop responding that way. it fuels the race to the bottom.
what you say your boss just dropped your salary to 1$ a day? so, that's all I get.. such is life.

[Confusious]

35. Really. Tattoos are the equal of vacation, retirement and pay

OK.

[Edweird]

38. No, that's not really the point.

I don't believe it's unreasonable to expect professionals to maintain a professional appearance. Do you? I brought up the fact that I have to wear what I wear in response to the 'oh they'll be HOT in the summer' statement. M<y response is
that they will learn to cope with it just like I have.

Not being allowed to have visible tattoos or piercings is the least of the restrictions on a police officer's life. There are all sorts of restrictions on what you are allowed to do and who you are allowed to associate with. In other words, they even dictate who they can and cannot be friends with. That's part of being in law enforcement.

[Freddie Stubbs]

67. The unions representing them did not object to the new rules:

Lamberti said the two unions that represent road deputies and other workers (including jail deputies) didn't object. He said there might be some grumbling from affected workers, but he hasn't heard any formal complaints.

more: http://weblogs.sun-sentinel.com/news/columnists/mayo/blog/2011/01/broward_sheriff_bans_out_of_co.html

[Xicano]

8. Nothing spells freedom better than non autonomy over one's own body.

"Land of the Free!"

[Vickers]

12. They can still do it.

They just won't have a job with the sheriff's office.

I live down here and have never seen a cop with gold teeth.

[Xicano]

14. Telling someone they will lose their job if they use gold on their teeth or tattoo their skin

Is no different in principle than telling a woman she will lose her job if she gets pregnant.

In both cases the employer is restricting the right of autonomy over one's own body as a condition of employment.

Both are totally repugnant to the principle of "Land of the Free"

[Vickers]

15. Tattoos and grillz = pregnancy?

Damn, I learn something new every day!

:crazy:

[Name removed]

16. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Vickers]

19. Name-calling, Xicano?

Tsk, tsk.

It's a pretty common tactic for people who use logical fallacies.

[Xicano]

23. To someone who misrepresents my post? Sure why not.

I'll say it again.. What part of "restricting autonomy over one's own body as a condition of employment do you not understand"?

[Vickers]

26. So you STILL equate pregnancy with tattoos and gold teeth?

:rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl:

[The Straight Story]

47. I would equate it to your body, your choice - and this is a govt job (nt)

[Confusious]

49. Your body, your choice

It doesn't have to be someone elses choice too.

[The Straight Story]

50. So now looking at someone not like you is a problem? Really?

And here I thought I was on a progressive board that believed in choice and not judging others on their appearance.

Do tell us all how a cop with a tattoo harms you? I would really love to know.

[Vickers]

52. What if it was a tattoo across his forehead that said "GOD HATES FAGS" ???

:shrug:

[Confusious]

57. There's more then just physical harm

I would think you would agree.

Now how can I put this?:

My personal opinion on the matter is that if I saw a "marines" or "army" or any military tattoo on a cop, my intimidation levels would be higher.

If I saw "My little ponies" or "care bears" on his arm, or pretty much anything else, my intimidation levels would go down.

It's a matter of the respect and command that a police officer needs to be able to have to perform his job. If he can't pull it off, things can get out of hand, and almost anything can effect that.

Now you really can't say "Only military tattoos will be allowed" so banning them all is the only course of equal action.

[cynatnite]

20. What is wrong with you?

:shrug:

alerted.

[Vickers]

22. My guess: whiskey and anonymity. n/t

[Xicano]

25. Wrong guess.. .

I don't drink alcohol. Just sick of misrepresentations.

[Vickers]

27. Of *course* you don't drink.

There now.

*pats Xicano's back*

Feel better?

[cynatnite]

28. Don't blame you...

:) :hi:

[cynatnite]

17. No where near the same thing at all...

:eyes:

Besides, they have had the same requirements for the military for years. This is not a big deal at all.

[Xicano]

18. "Restricting autonomy over one's own body as a condition of employment"

What part of that do you not understand?

[cynatnite]

21. As I said...this is nothing new at all...

The military is no different.

[Edweird]

40. That's the least of the restictions on police officers.

They dictate who you can and cannot be friends with and where you can and cannot go and what you can and cannot do. It's all part of being held to a 'higher standard'.

[Quantess]

24. I would like my local police officers to have tattoos and gold teeth.

Those should be prerequisites.

[Taitertots]

30. This is all about limiting certain groups presence in the police department

This is all about blocking anyone who is remotely counter culture from being able to be represented in the police force. This is all about creating an ideological purity in the police force.

[Confusious]

34. Sorry, but having tatoos and gold teeth isn't counter culture

It's culture.

It's counter culture to NOT have a tattoo these days.

[Taitertots]

37. One man (or women)'s opinion

It is certainly about limiting a certain group of people from being represented in the police force. Whether or not it is counter culture (My opinion) or just a different culture (your opinion) doesn't really matter.

[Confusious]

42. What group of people?

Are gold teeth and tattoos an ethic group?

Are they part of a religion or a culture?

If you work with a part of the government that should be respected or asks for respect, look and dress like it. I really wouldn't take a cop, judge or president seriously that had gold teeth and a shitload of tattoos.

I would probably wonder if they were hiring from the local prisons.

[Taitertots]

46. The people who have tattoos and piercings

What makes you think that the only relevant groups of people are races and religion? Don't forget that tattoos and piercings are without question part of the various cultural subsets within America.

40 Million people have tattoos and now they are systemically being discriminated against in hiring, in addition to having almost no representation in business and government. Not to mention the bigotry the face from people like you.
http://www.skininktoday.com/Tattoo-Designs/History/tattoo_statistics.htm

[Confusious]

48. Expanding the use of bigot?

"The predominant usage in modern English refers to persons hostile to those of differing race, ethnicity, nationality, sexual orientation, various mental disorders, or religion."

If you're stupid enough to do it to yourself, I really have little sympathy. If it's outside your control, I have all the sympathy in the world. You can remove tattoos and piercings. It does not in no way, in no universe, rise to the level of race, ethnicity, nationality, sexual orientation, various mental disorders, or religion.

Don't forget that tattoos and piercings are without question part of the various cultural subsets within America.

Would you happen to have a recognized subset? or a list? or is it just because you say so?

40 Million people have tattoos and now they are systemically being discriminated against in hiring, in addition to having almost no representation in business and government.

Really. because someone has a tattoo they are to be afforded representation in business and government? You have to fing kidding me.

I have brown hair, brown eyes and obsessive compulsive disorder and major depressive disorder. Where's my representation in business and government? I want a representative all my own. I'm a subculture of one, and I deserve it!

[Taitertots]

51. You are expanding the bounds of bigotry

"big·ot noun \ˈbi-gət\
Definition of BIGOT
: a person who is obstinately or intolerantly devoted to his or her own opinions and prejudices; especially : one who regards or treats the members of a group (as a racial or ethnic group) with hatred and intolerance."http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bigot
You are being a bigot.


"1cul·ture noun \ˈkəl-chər\
Definition of CULTURE
1: cultivation, tillage
2: the act of developing the intellectual and moral faculties especially by education
3: expert care and training <beauty culture>
4a : enlightenment and excellence of taste acquired by intellectual and aesthetic training b : acquaintance with and taste in fine arts, humanities, and broad aspects of science as distinguished from vocational and technical skills
5a : the integrated pattern of human knowledge, belief, and behavior that depends upon the capacity for learning and transmitting knowledge to succeeding generations b : the customary beliefs, social forms, and material traits of a racial, religious, or social group; also : the characteristic features of everyday existence (as diversions or a way of life} shared by people in a place or time <popular culture> <southern culture> c : the set of shared attitudes, values, goals, and practices that characterizes an institution or organization <a corporate culture focused on the bottom line> d : the set of values, conventions, or social practices associated with a particular field, activity, or societal characteristic <studying the effect of computers on print culture> <changing the culture of materialism will take time — Peggy O'Mara>""http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/culture?show=0&t=1296430442

It is by definition an aspect of the subsets of American culture. That you would even ask for a list shows that you lack a fundamental understanding of what we are discussing. You are just a bigot who will do anything to justify your own bigotry

[Confusious]

58. I think the only bigot around here is you.

"a person who is obstinately or intolerantly devoted to his or her own opinions and prejudices"

I think you should focus on this part.

Calling someone a bigot with no proof in the second post is quick even for DU standards.

What I had derision for were your ideas on "culture" and "representation in business and government" for people with tattoos. You are not the entire group, and the entire group is not you.

[Taitertots]

59. You made it clear that you have bias against people with tattoos and piercings

What group am I bigoted toward?

I don't have tattoos or piercings. I'm just able to recognize that harsh restrictions against them is biased and creates a non-representative police force.

[Confusious]

60. A bias does not equal bigotry.

You're ridiculous. You are taking things to the extreme.

I'm just able to recognize that harsh restrictions against them is biased and creates a non-representative police force.

What about the blonde cops with blue eyes then? of course we can't forget the blonde cops with dark eyes, they have to have representation. Of course, then there's the black cops with dark eyes and the black cops with light eyes.

O, hell. We'll just get one person from every ethnic group in the department, and the divide them up. We'll have to get the campers representation, and the mountainclimbers representation, and the homebodies representation.

Of course, then we need to break it down, so we get some from every ethnic group in who are tall, some medium, and some who are short, because you can't have shortism.

And then we'll have to break it down by number and type of tattoo, and piercing, so they all have representation.

Have to have one from every group:

one piercing, no tattoo
two piercings, no tattoo
three piercings, no tattoo
etc...

so they can all have representation.

no piercing, one tattoo
no piercings, two tattoos
no piercings, three tattoos
etc...

so they can all have representation.

[Taitertots]

62. You have a fundamental lack of understanding regarding representation

Are there any administrative rules that prevent any of those groups from becoming a police officer? Obviously not. So your response is nothing but trash.
They ARE refusing to allow the tattooed and pieced to become police officers.


Your post shows a fundamental lack of understanding regarding representation. Representative doesn't mean every group is absolutely represented by their percentage within the population. That you would even post this shows that you have no interest in rational discussion. Otherwise you wouldn't post things that you should know are false interpretation of concepts.

[Confusious]

64. Seem to have a misunderstanding on your part

You seem to think I don't agree because I don't understand. That's arrogance on your part.

I understand, and think it's ridiculous. So my post reflected that.

[Taitertots]

65. Then why are you repeatedly making statements that prove that you don't? n/t

[Confusious]

69. Maybe you're the one who doesn't understand

There are already different classifications that divide people: race, ethnicity, nationality, sexual orientation, religion.

Why do you want to create more?

It's also based on something people do to themselves, not something out of their control.

That's why I think it's ridiculous.

[KansasVoter]

43. I disagree. NO executives or upper management I have met with in 30 years of work.....

have had a visible Tattoo.

[Confusious]

45. 10 years from now, if you're still in the workforce

everyone will.

Pretty much everyone I have met, girls I've dated, all have had tattoos.

You also said "visible tattoos." I bet if you took a poll of everyone under 40, they would all, or most all, would have a hidden tattoo. It doesn't have to be visible.

[KansasVoter]

54. Well, the police said "visible" also, so maybe that is what matters. It would to me.

[KansasVoter]

55. How is this any different than a dress code which everyone understands?

[Hippo_Tron]

61. As an under 40 person, I don't think that would be the case

I agree that one doesn't have to be "counter culture" to have a tattoo, as I know many people who are not even remotely "counter culture" that have one. But I doubt the vast majority have them.

[Confusious]

63. Maybe it's just my little world

Almost everyone I meet has a tattoo or a piercing. My dad even got one (ear piercing - thought I'd make that clear).

I don't even think there is or ever was any counter culture. It all gets eaten up in the consumerism Orgasmatron.

[aikoaiko]

31. Suicidegirls should sue.

:evilgrin:

[Edweird]

44. My kinda women. Them and 'God's Girls'.

[southernyankeebelle]

36. Well I think that is a good idea

[KansasVoter]

41. I agree. Visible Tattoos do not look professional.

[david13]

53. That's not the only place by far that has such rules. And so what?

So what of it? I hate tattoos.
dc

[jahlove17]

56. Gold Grill

You have to be clean-cut pigs.

[orleans]

66. maybe too many of their cops have swastika tats & the residents

are starting to complain?

seeing a cop with a tattoo wouldn't bother me
seeing a cop with a swastika tattoo would definitely bother me

on edit: same with the medical profession

[Supply Side Jesus]

68. In other news, A shortage of Deputies in Broward County presists

wonder if a new Sheriff is trying to assert his dominance....