What are the legal and psychological aspects of police officers’ uniforms and their general appearance, and the nature and purpose of an agency dress code? What types of lawsuits are officers filing in regard to dress codes?

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

The uniform and overall appearance of police officers has several psychological and legal aspects. Police administrators are legally allowed to regulate officer appearance. In the 1976 case of Kelley v. Johnson, the U.S. Supreme Court held that police agencies have a legitimate, “rational” interest in establishing rules and regulations relating to a dress code. Today, departments regulate a wide variety of appearance-related issues, including hair grooming standards, the displaying of tattoos, beards, the proper components of uniforms, when summer and winter uniforms are to be worn, and so on. Psychologically, the uniform conveys power and authority and identifies the officer as a person with powers to make arrests and use force. It also establishes order and conformity within the ranks by suppressing individuality. Police uniforms induce feelings of safety and people wearing a police uniform are generally seen as more competent, reliable, intelligent, and helpful.

Officers have filed a variety of lawsuits in regard to a dress code. One example is a lawsuit that claimed a police department violated the complainant’s rights by refusing to hire him because he would not have an arm tattoo removed.