Tattoos on First Reponders

Many agencies ( Police and Fire) have many policies regarding tattoos. Some places allow them and some require them to be covered up and not publicly visible. What’s your opinion on the subject? ( This is not a bash)

Should you be able to have them visible? Covered? Have a few?

Would not apply somewhere you really want to work because they have a covered tattoo policy?

Plenty of examples on Live PD if you need tattoo First Resoonder porn to see what I’m speaking of.


Yes, I suck at polls

If someone is saving my life, why would I care if they have tattoos or not?
I'd be willing to bet 70%+ of first responders have a tattoo. Why would it matter if it's visible or not as long as they're doing there job?
Now, tattoos on the face, neck or hand are kind of a different level.

In this day and age, tats are the last thing we should be worried about. Nope, don’t care one bit. Just like military, I don’t care what race, color, sex, religion they are. If they’re willing to lay it on the line for me and my family’s freedom/safety, they got my respect and appreciation!

Not a fan. I don’t know why, maybe uniformity.

I would be ok with one tattoo per arm, but some are a bit over the top.

There are plenty of places to work. If your tattoos are that important to you, find a place with a tattoo policy you can live with and go for it.

Tattoos are fully acceptable to me. Last trip to the ER a Doctor had one on his arm, I did not care.

x2

To me tats say you have some amount of “bad arse” in you. I don’t really see that being a bad thing for first responders. Representing the face of some big company... probably not

Sorry, I don't want this person diffusing dangerous life changing interactions with people who are in need of stability.

No issue with it.

As for me, I keep my tats covered on the job.

This . . . . . person may just save your life one day. You just never know! I mean dragons might make a comeback and this’ll keep them at bay

I guess what’s the difference in tatted up or all pierced up with facial implants and dental work, you say?
Well, heck! I dunno but it sure seems like a lot to me

Oh and the word “Death” on their face too. Kinda creep-peeeee!

I have no problem with tattoos except neck and face tattoos.

Our policy basically allows tattoos to be visible as long as they aren't "offensive"

Doesn’t/wouldn’t bother me. Except for anything extreme on face or neck. I work around nuclear and med physicists and doctors all day, every day. A few coworkers have a sleeve or two and even a physicist has sleeves. I don’t care as long as you can do your job, do it properly and with a good attitude. Tattoos have no bearing on any of that.

Dont care either way.

Personally I do not care one way or another, I have seen a lot of tats that look pretty cool and others not so but hey thats their decision.
My only concern with first responders is that the tats are not over the top (visibly depicting evil or gorey images) that might have a negative influence on impressionable young kiddos.

It is very unprofessional.

I have no desire to get a tattoo, but could care less if someone has them.

I have never been drunk enough or high enough in this life to think marking my body for life with ink was a good idea. I think it is disrespectful and see no benefit to a man and certainly a woman with tats is just ugly to me.
I know this goes against this new world view point but I don't see any reason to do that to your body.God gave me what I have and I am perfectly satisfied with it.

I could care less. Of course I don’t want someone that looks like a freak show but tasteful is fine with me. They are putting their life on the line everyday so who am I to judge. Hell some of them have them to blend in I’m sure.

I always think of branding cows when I see a tattoo on someone.

X2 Rattlesnake Dan!!!!

This. Couldn't care less.

Not a fan of uncovered tattoos. But to each their own...…..

They are not for me but I don't care if first responders have them.

I don’t mind either way. I have a military tattoo on my right forearm and I accepted the position with my current employer knowing that policy stated I’d have to wear long sleeves year round. The first summer a supervisor saw me sweating my [censored] off, which I was used to and fine with. But I guess he felt bad because he went and talked to the boss man and the next week the policy changed to short sleeves if I wore one of those half sleeve things to still cover the tattoo. I made sure the boss knew I wasn’t griping about the previous policy because I accepted the position knowing I’d be in long sleeves. I’m the only one here the policy affects.

Fast forward to now with a new boss man here. When he started he sent surveys to city employees and city civilians asking a multitude of questions, one of which about tattoos. The overwhelming majority did not care about tattoos. Because of that we now have a policy allowing approved visible tattoos.

I’m ok with whatever but I’m definitely more comfortable at work now!

Some of the best Firefighter/ Paramedics the world has ever seen, are covered in tats. Some have sleeves from their wrist to their armpit. And I trust them with everything I own, my life, and the lives of my wife and children.

I've been right beside them bailing off into a house on fire, cutting people out of cars, covered in blood in the back of Ambulances. When you are in that much need, you won't give a damn if they have tatoos.

yes here on this

its your skin and your kids daddy's/mommy's skin

I don’t have any and never will. I’ve judged people because of their tattoos and I’m sure I will in the future (I don’t feel good about that). At the end of the day, I don’t care if people have them or not, nor do I think it means you can’t do a good job in whatever field you choose.

I don’t think it matters if first responders have tattoos. What matters is whether they can do the job.

I assume many of the POs I see with them are former military-it's pretty much a way of life there and it doesn't really bother me. If anything I think 'Man, this person may have seen WAY worse things than 'ol Granny passing out on the sidewalk/cat in a tree/etc.'.

As long as they are good at their job and like every UN-tattooed employee - properly vetted - please continue to answer my distress call.

I don't have any but I could care less if someone else has them ... what matters is they can do their job to me.

Doesn't bother me one way or the other.

As long as they aren't on my body, I don't care!

WAIT....you mean people with tatoos have jobs? Who knew

x 2

The mentality that it takes to be a first responder is often times the same mentality that leads one to want a tattoo.

On top of this -

If you knew that you had to cover up or wear long sleeves, would that deter you from applying at that agency?

This, I don't see how it makes a difference.

Yes because I have a lot. If a department is that closed minded then what are their other small minded ideas that I’ll have to adhere to?

Yup. It shows they sweat the small stuff. I have zero tats, but that would show me their mentality.

Not for me but none of my concern if others have/want them. BIL, you gettn' that "Chital" tat you've been talking about?

Tats don't bother me, to each their own. I've got a few none are visible unless I'm in shorts and a tank top. Very easy to cover for work, which is required I'm not LE, but we have a pretty strict dress code.

two beez logo

I don't like them, don't have any, do not believe they look very professional.

Buzz - 5
Beez and KR - 4

My department lifted the ban on visible tats and facial hair a few years ago. I don't mind it and I'm pretty old school.

Would you say it has helped at all in recruiting ? Not sure how much local competition you have

Buzz how is your ol’ ladies Tramp Stamp?

My FD doesn't have a tattoo policy. I don't have any, but many of my co-workers do. Several have full sleeves.

If I had some in visible areas it would certainly prevent me from applying at a place that required them to be covered up. It's way too hot in this state. Plus we have a hard enough time getting qualified candidates to apply...couldn't afford to exclude anyone else.

I'm obviously biased, but if you have an emergency and need help you shouldn't care if I show up wearing a clown suit to help you.

I'd prefer full tat sleeves. Clowns creep me out.

Just to bump the read count past 666...

Can't help but notice that officer on Live PD with the colorful arm display. I put it with men wearing earrings...doesn't make sense to me but if that's what you want then do it. If I was an employer I would have a strict policy.

This post is for those that do have tats. I don't and it is not a big deal with me. Here is my question " what is your reason for having the tats?" Is it a mind set or what? I am not trying to create a problem but just curious as to why?

I don't care what you look like smell like or your color just as long as your there to save my butt I could care less.

This post is NOT for those who have tatts. This post is for should they be covered up in the first responder profession and does the public really care

I have tattoos and they are seen by everyone at my job and I kinda the face for our company. I work for a water company serving 2340 customers in an area where people have some money. I was promoted to field supervisor about 2 years after starting here and I was asked to cut of my long hair and I did so, I'm now the water superintendent and I have customers that ask about my hair being short even talk to me about my tattoos. I've been in this industry for less than 5 years and can only take one position GM. All that being said I believe if a person no matter the industry they serve, if they are doing their jobs and making effective decisions tattoos shouldn't matter. just my opinion

Dislike!

They’re not professional. I saw a cop the other day 5,8” 350lbs, eating lunch in a small town. He had SHEPHERD tattooed on his forearm, in GIANT letters. I had a lot of questions about whether his tattoo meant he was the Shepherd and I was the flock, if he liked the Dukes of Hazzard and he was lost sheep to Shepherd and that was his CB handle? I had many questions. I didn’t ask but I knew I could outrun him or kick his arse. Since he was the law I didn’t ask.

Being out of shape is unprofessional.

I don’t care one way or another about visible tattoos as long as they aren’t on the neck, head, or face. I do not like piercings on men, long hair, or facial hair on police officers. And whoever says it’s too hot to wear long sleeves to cover your arm tats is ridiculous, I wear long sleeves in uniform all year. I also wear Class A uniforms because I think the Class B looks like pajamas, now that does vary from department to department.

My lawn guys wear long sleeves. I see roofers do it too.

Could care less, to each their own. MERICA!

In some jobs appearance matters more than others. I wouldn't consider a first responder as someone who having a tattoo could potentially be a detriment to their career as it could in other professions. Like others have said, most important is that they are proficient at their job. Honestly, I would expect most cops and firemen to have tattoos, but I think covering them up looks more professional in some lines of work.

I got a logo if someone is man enough to get it tattoo’d on themself!

Place I work at has some dang good Paramedics with full sleeve tats. So far nobody that was mangled in a wreck, had heart problems, couldn't breathe, had back pain, or any other thing has complained about any of them.

I am former LEO and I have tattoos. Non of which were visible when I was in uniform. I not necessarily saying that tattoos are unprofessional. I am just saying that ANY first responder needs to maintain a high level of professionalism and in my opinion tattoos could take away from that. I think it would be a case by case basis for me. I never applied/did not apply based on a tattoo policy.

Why is that?

DPD class B uniforms are terrible.

Those sweet white t’s

That was pretty good. Off the skateboard and onto the rollies was cool.

i have some tats including a full sleeve but im not a cop, some of these cops look worse than the criminals they arrest. that doesnt seem right. professionals need to look the part just my opinion

My daughter got me a new tatto yesterday got a daddy daughter tat
I were long sleeves when in uniform anyways but this is not really visible anyway

If someone is saving my life idgaf if they have tats.

What's your idea as a "professional"?
LEO's get dirty, bloody, shot at, kicked, punched, cursed, and on and on. So in your opinion they should wear ties and dress coats? I don't get the professional part. Look the part? What's that consist of?

That would consist of being held to a higher standard in all aspects of the job.

So some LEO's are professionals and others aren't?
Chiefs are professionals but beat cops aren't?
Doesn't make sense.
By definition, a "professional" is someone who gets paid for what they do.
"engaged in a specified activity as one's main paid occupation rather than as a pastime"

Were you ever in the military?
You don't understand what looking professional means?

Like if you go to a doctors office and their scrubs are all wrinkled, they have hair that looks like Bernie Sanders, their facial hair is scraggly, and they have dirty shoes....that's looking unprofessional.

It should be fairly obvious that if someone is in a position of leadership or authority they should have an appearance that solidifies that role, not undermines it.

Sucks I can have an on point uniform, shined boots, crisp haircut, but my visible tattoo makes me unprofessional.

So tattoos undermine leadership & authority.
Got it.


<10% of the military, police & fireman I know don't have tattoos. Sad that 90% of them can't do their job appropriately.

So when a fireman goes from a house fire to an EMS call & saves somebody's life, it wasn't professional because they were sweaty & didn't smell great?
The poo is getting deep in this thread.

It started back on the 24th.

It all goes back to the community you serve. If they have no problem with it, who cares.
If you join a city with a policy in place, just cover up and do your job.

I know when Dallas allowed beards, the city council drew the line with no visible tattoos.
Some always take it to the extreme anyway.

Good point LFD. My dog and I tracked a guy through the woods recently. I was literally crawling at times It was so thick. I was a dirty unprofessional sob the rest of the night I guess.

Our policy has evolved quite a bit over the past 24 years. For most of that time it was "no visible tattoos", no exceptions. I remember multiple applicants being rejected because of tattoos because the Chief did not want to force anyone to wear a long sleeve uniform shirt in the Texas heat. Then it was relaxed to allow officers with tattoos on their arms/legs to wear short sleeve shirts or shorts as long as the tattoos were covered by something like a compression sleeve. Now it's just about the content, not the fact it's there. As long as it's not offensive or controversial it can be uncovered.
I still have reservations with having a lot of tattoos, but my feelings have evolved as well over the years. An awful lot of good applicants have tattoos now. l would rather not have an officer on the street who is sleeved out, but I'm ultimately more concerned about his/her qualifications and ability to the job than tattoos (assuming they're not offensive or controversial).

I've got that t-shirt.

My point was that looking unprofessional can undermine leadership and authority, and absolutely that is the case. That is why certain jobs and positions are held to a higher standard in appearance, because perception matters even if it has no bearing on how well someone does their job.

Tattoos have nothing to do with being good at a job or doing it appropriately, but having a bunch of visible tattoos can make someone look unprofessional.

I don't care if someone has tattoos or not....I have one, my wife has a couple. But if I had a sleeve of tattoos I would wear long sleeves at work because I want to look as professional as possible in my office.

A lot of places that did not allow tattoos to show while at work are slowly changing. Hendrick's Medical Sytem, our local hospital had that rule of no visible tattoos. Today it is not enforced, last stay at Hendrick's I saw both male and female staff with tattoos. Nurses,, aides. cleaning staff, even one of the Physicians Assistants had visible tattoos.

Chic Fila, who has by far the most professional staff, does not allow tattoos.
I saw a girl with a large band aid. She said it was to cover her tattoo.

I guess if you wanna see tats, you can go to Burger King.

A visible tattoo is one thing, but i said cops that look like the thugs they arrest. Full sleeves and neck tattoos. Cops deal with the public, and shouldnt look intimidating to grandma jones

That is really an outdated opinion, today there are hundreds of thousands, if not millions of professionals that have tattoos. Most people do not look at tattoos as they did 20 or 50 years ago.

I've never seen an LEO w/a neck or face tattoo. I think cops should look intimidating. Maybe crooks would think twice about trying to take their gun.

I have had a bexar county sherriff at my house dude looked like he was straight out of the pen

Was she hot?

If someone is coming to help me out of something serious, I'm thankful to see them, not judging their life choices.

BIL's tatt 'cept it says "Princess".

Yes, IMO they can have visible tat's.

As it is related to a hiring decision, a tattoo isn't unlike anything else you put on your body in an attempt to tell the world about yourself. If you walk into an interview for a profession where your appearance is important, a decision will be made based on what is discovered about that person's appearance. A tat of a solid band on a mans ring finger in place of a wedding band, an unoffensive symbol on the back of the hand, a military symbol on the forearm, not a disqualify'r. An eyeball on your forehead, middle finger on your shoulder, the right decision will be made. If you choose to look like a fool, a municipality should be allowed to make the call on how their community is represented. Not all tat's are foolish.

FWIW, I have a tattoo and never been sorry about it.

That would consist of being held to a higher standard in all aspects of the job.
[/quote]
So some LEO's are professionals and others aren't?
Chiefs are professionals but beat cops aren't?
Doesn't make sense.
By definition, a "professional" is someone who gets paid for what they do.
"engaged in a specified activity as one's main paid occupation rather than as a pastime"[/quote]

I didn't say they weren't professional, I just said the perception is law enforcement should be held to a higher standard, people expect more from LEOs. I am allowed to have an opinion aren't I? I did say that I don't believe them to look professional and I don't, but then I'm an old guy and the world changes everyday.

By-the-way, I worked with lots of law enforcement officers with tattoos, most of them were great cops and it didn't change my opinion of them at all that they had tattoos. I simply have a personal standard for myself that I won't cross. Maybe the fact that my hair was longer than most cops offended other officers, each to their own. As far a EMS goes, as long as they show up, know their job, do their best, who cares? Fireman are bunkered out most the time I am around them, couldn't see a tattoo on most of them if I tried.....

Not for me.