XPost: alt.politics.usa.republican, alt.gossip.celebrities, talk.politics.misc   
   XPost: talk.politics.guns   
   From: jeromec@nwestern.edu   
      
   The union that represents rank-and-file Chicago police officers   
   says it plans to file an unfair labor practice complaint with   
   the Illinois Labor Relations Board over a new directive   
   requiring officers to cover their tattoos while on duty.   
      
   In a memo to members of the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 7,   
   union President Dean C. Angelo said the directive, which also   
   bans knit and baseball-style caps, should have been negotiated   
   with officers before it was issued this week.   
      
   “It remains the Lodge’s position that the dress code policy is a   
   mandatory subject of bargaining, especially when it impacts   
   current officers who have visible body tattoos and/or body   
   brandings,” Angelo wrote to union members Tuesday afternoon.   
      
   The directive was issued Monday and is to go into effect Friday.   
      
   "Tattoos and body brandings will not be visible while on duty or   
   representing the department, whether in uniform, conservative   
   business attire, or casual dress," the directive states.   
      
   The hands, face, neck and other areas not covered by clothing   
   must be covered with "matching skin tone adhesive bandage or   
   tattoo cover-up tape," according to the directive.   
      
   The department said in a statement Tuesday afternoon that the   
   changes to its uniform policy were made "to promote uniformity   
   and professionalism. Too many uniform variations became   
   available, making Chicago police officers less immediately   
   identifiable to the public."   
      
   The changes were prompted by newer officers who were “over the   
   top” with their style of dress, according to a source familiar   
   with the department’s implementation of the new policy. Tattoos   
   covering arms and necks, and baseball caps worn backward “had   
   gotten extreme,” the source said.   
      
   One issue the department encountered in developing the directive   
   was whether officers would have to cover their tattoos if they   
   commemorate their military service.  “It’s difficult to draw a   
   line, so they went with none,” the source said.   
      
   Several tattooed officers told the Tribune on Tuesday that the   
   policy is ridiculous and violates their freedom to express   
   themselves. The officers declined to be identified for this   
   story because they’re not authorized to talk to the media.   
      
   The officers said they’ve often been complimented for their   
   tattoos by the public while walking the beat or working a case.   
   They believe the tattoos make them more approachable by people   
   who are fascinated by them, especially at a time when   
   Superintendent Garry McCarthy is trying to foster better   
   relations between the police and the community.   
      
   “The general public already looks at police like robots,” said   
   one of the tattooed officers, a sergeant who works on the South   
   Side. “We’re already thought of as not being personable.”   
      
   None of the officers, each of whom has about 20 years with the   
   department, could recall an instance when they offended people   
   because of their tattoos.   
      
   http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/ct-police-   
   union-says-it-will-fight-order-banning-visible-tattoos-   
   baseballstyle-caps-20150609-story.html   
       
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)