Each department is different, but most patrol officers are required to keep it short and well kept. Long hair, dreadlocks, large afros, ponytails (on men), etc all depict an unprofessional appearance. It also gives the bad guy something to grab hold of during a fight. Females have their own regulation, which is also designed to maintain a professional image. Our detectives fall under that guideline, but our Drug Task Force guys have more leniancy.

If you have to ask, you probably need a haircut!

My view from the standpoint of a civilian familar with past Policelink Forum posts -

There are regulations, just as in the military.  I believe every department's standards for grooming are clearly outlined.  It is a question of asking.  These regulations have to do with uniform appearance partly as a measure to avoid unwanted bias in the officer's interactions with his/her co-workers as well as with the public.

For an interview, you should appear clean cut.  A clean cut appearance underscores capability and a willingness to conform to standards.  It sends a message of trainability and can-do attitude.  Clean-cut allows your appearance to match a sterling record and high level of credibility and integrity. 

Clean-cut looks well in a court of law where your sworn testimony will represent the State.

Longer hair or other grooming features that call unnecessary attention to oneself suggests a host of undesireable traits.  These include a candidate's preoccupation with fashion statements over professionalism - a mark of immaturity and/or vanity.  To 'maverick' your grooming outside standards at the job interview stage suggests other messages of unsuitability.

I will let you guess what those might be.

Good luck.

You only get one first impression.

Guys who work undercover and covert assignments have to look the part of the people they are trying to bust, hence the long hair, dreadlocks etc... When you are interviewing for a job, do you really want to look like they guys entire divisions are employed to arrest?

Is that who you want to fit in with? Will your personal life interfere with your professional live? Will your associations outsdife of the department reflect negativly on the department? Will you attract negative media attention?

These would be the questions going through my mind in the interview.

Annd...when uncled was just...d.

Hope nobody takes offense to my last post,although it's true.When I retired I let my hair grow for a few years.Due to my Hawaiian linage,it grew way out to the side before it grew very long.I looked like a Bushman.

...much easier than this one!  

Wait ssu459 are razor bumps and mad cowlicks a 'heritage issue' for the female officers too??? 

ssu459 says ...

It is,of course,most definately up to each jurisdiction.Our chief allowed the black officers to grow beards and the Hispanic officers to grow long hair.The excuse he used is that it was their heritage?My father drank Michelob beer as I did as well,ergo it should have been considered my heritage.Although I knew the chief well he would not allow me to drink Michelob on the job.

uncledennis1 says ...

I will take it a step further than 36TR. I would not even interview with long hair and dreadlocks. I currently wear my hair in dreadlocks and hate to wash it. Axe the department you apply with.

That reminds me of the new show, "dreadlilocks and the three squares" 

Doc

Sorry, UncaD. But it had to be done (roflmao) 

BigNTS says ...

 I find my current hairstyle to be most fitting and very typical of LEOs in my area. It's also the easiest to maintain...

 

You can use this for those under cover assignments......

 You might need a few cans to get back to this look though.

SkoolCop says ...

Sad........... He was sombody's baby once.

 

Reminds me of a friend who recently passed away........except he looked a bit more like Santa Claus than a troll