Studying Public Perceptions of Police Grooming Standards

• NCJ Number: 203446
• Journal: Police Chief Volume: 70 Issue: 11 Dated: November 2003 Pages: 42,44,45
• Author(s): Paul N. Tinsley; Gregory S. Anderson
• Date Published: November 2003
• Length: 3 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This article discusses whether grooming standards for police officers are outdated as perceived by the public.

Abstract

Strict grooming standards have been deemed by many police agencies as necessary to ensure safety, discipline, and uniformity; to promote an esprit de corps; and to foster public respect for police. Some police associations have sought to challenge grooming regulations on the grounds that they infringe on officers’ rights and on the assumption that they are outdated. The United States Supreme Court has acknowledged that grooming standards and other restrictions infringe on an officer’s freedom of choice in personal matters. The Court ruled that a police department need only have a rational basis to constitutionally restrict an officer’s freedom of choice in this area. This study was designed to assess current public attitudes toward police officer grooming. Questionnaires were mailed to 7 randomly selected groups of 200 citizens in British Columbia, Canada. Each questionnaire was accompanied by a computer-manipulated photo of a police officer exhibiting one of six selected grooming standards, such as a shaved head, goatee, pierced ear, full beard, shaved head with goatee, and no distinguishing grooming feature. Respondents were asked to rate the pictured officer in terms of eight qualities: knowledge of the law, reliability, being objective, trustworthiness, concern for the public, hardworking, courtesy, and fairness. The results indicate that the general public does not support relaxed grooming standards and suggest that there are several negative consequences of officers being allowed to deviate from conservative grooming standards. Respondents believed that relaxing standards would erode confidence in the police, especially in terms of respect, trust, and pride. Grooming policies should remain in place until more conclusive evidence suggests otherwise. 4 tables, 10 endnotes