Becoming A Cop
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Tattoos
This year the training officers added weekly swimming to the recruits' physical training. Photographer John Harte and I went the first day, and I quickly noticed that a lot of the officers and cadets have tattoos that had been covered by their clothes on the other occasions I visited them.
Now, I'm 28 years old and of the generation where pretty much everyone has at least one tattoo. I myself have four, and a nose ring. When I wear certain outfits, all of my tattoos are visible while I'm working. I'm sure someone out there is going to tell me that this is inappropriate. You and I are going to have to agree to disagree, and I hope we can still be friends. Anyway, after I had watched the recruits swim for a bit, shot some video, I decided to get some shots of their tattoos. Just for fun. I thought maybe at the end of the video I was planning to make to go with the story, I'd put in a few shots of the tattoos. It would show the cops as regular people, which is the whole point of the project. Then, and for several days afterward, a couple of the training officers started expressing concern. Tattoos apparently do not reflect well on the department. Sheesh. Cops. I swear, I have written about 13-year-old girls who are less preoccupied with their image. When I edited the video, there was no smooth place to fit the tattoo footage in. I might have just let it drop at that. But they just kept on about it. So the Bakersfield Police Department would really prefer if you did not watch this video. 12 comments from 11 users
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posted by
dgrealish
on Aug 29, 2006 at 08:40 PM
The only relevance I see concerning these recruits tattoos being shown on video being a problem is the idea that they could be used to identify them if they were ever working undercover. And that's one tremendous long shot. Of course, we all have a right to privacy. If the recruits didn't like the idea of their tattoos being shown, they should have the right to say no. But the training officers expressing concern that the tattoos didn't reflect well on the department is ridiculous.
posted by
anonymous
on Aug 30, 2006 at 06:49 AM
I think seeing a tattooed officer is encouraging. There tasteful and mostly patriotic. I myself have a tattoo in a very visible spot. Oh, did I mention I'm a female and work for a school district! People from every walk of life are getting inked. So why the embarrassment BPD!! I'm not ashamed! posted by
anonymous
on Aug 30, 2006 at 08:20 AM
As far as the tattoos of the BPD cadets, I dont think that the BPD Training staff were or are embarrassed about the tattoos of their cadets, but rather wanted to protect them as they go through the training and keep them from being prejudged as a regular officer. It's true, they are regular people, with regular lives, but society does tend to hold public servants, ie. police officers and firefighters for example, to a higher standard and people might just see a certain tattoo and not agree with it or its meaning, thus make a hasty judgement about that individual, the BPD, or other police officers in general.
posted by
ProgressivePete2
on Aug 30, 2006 at 09:07 AM
I have to agree with the second anon post. I don't think they should be embarrassed, but the tats shouldn't be visible on the job. Can you imagine a cop pulling you over with full sleve tattoos? I don't think I would believe that it was actually a cop. If you allow visible tatoos, where do you draw the line? ((no pun intended)) posted by
anonymous
on Aug 30, 2006 at 09:15 AM
I can almost see it in the future. You get pulled over for a broken taillight by a motorcycle officer. You're digging through your wallet when the officer approaches. As you turn to speak to the officer you are face to chest with a female officer about your daughter's age. You can see tattoos on her neck and hands. You can see the multiple pins and needles stuck in various places making her look like grandma's pincushion that was a stuffed rag doll. You get an indication from her clothing that there may be a couple of rings in places that should rust. You want to suggest that, if she has two rings there, she could put a padlock through them. It will be hard to take anything she has to say seriously. In fact the only thing you might take seriously is the gun on her hip while you hope she doesn't use it to give you a body piercing.
posted by
anonymous
on Aug 30, 2006 at 09:21 AM
make that... an indication through her tight clothing....
posted by
anonymous
on Aug 30, 2006 at 09:31 AM
Pondering.... please hold..... If they are public servants, aren't they guilty of defacing public property?
posted by
anonymous
on Aug 30, 2006 at 11:28 AM
What difference does it make, if tattoos were a reason for not holding public jobs even safety, the military and Corrections could not hire any one.
Maybe it is the same reasoning PhD senile Sam attributes to rape victims , if they dress not to his liking and wear unusual (to him) decorations they are inviting rape. So I guess a cop with tattoos or piercings is inviting crime. Get a life this is the 21st century, this men and women are not gods in the making, they are just people like you and me. posted by
kmdymit1743
on Aug 30, 2006 at 06:47 PM
I think what you have to say regarding the BPD being as concerned about their image as a little girl is completely inappropriate. What do tattoos have to do with becoming a police officer? Now I understand that you - for some reason - are extremely interested in tattoos...noting you have 4 of them yourself...but why is it such a big deal that the officers don't want this to be drawn attention to? These recruits go through EXTREME measures to look professional everyday that they go into work, getting into trouble for even a small shirt wrinkle or dirty nametag, you may not think that tattoos are unprofessional - but other people do, and you should respect the officers decision to keep the tattoos quiet.
posted by
anonymous
on Aug 30, 2006 at 09:49 PM
Christina, get off your high horse. Wo cares if they have tattoos? Do you think they care if anyone else has tattoos? None of their tattoos look like they would show in their uniforms. Quit trying to stir up controversy over a non-controversal topic.
posted by
steveeswenson
on Aug 31, 2006 at 08:34 AM
We live in America. We can comment on what we see without asking permission first. People died to defend that right.
posted by
anonymous
on Sep 5, 2006 at 05:08 PM
Christina, professionalism and appearance are key to any career, not just for an officer. The law enforcement community takes great measures to make sure they present themselves in a professional manner. Nothing stands out more than seeing our men and women in uniform that are polished and groomed. The visible tattoos and extreme piercings would take away from their authoritative appearance they portray to us. Tattoos and extreme piercings, although a norm in parts of our society, have no business being seen on an officer in uniform, male or female.
I am happy you are able to show your piercing and tattoos off in your work environment, but, be it right or not, you are judged by the citizens and co-workers of Bakersfield as soon as they see your pieced face and tattooed chest. Christina, instead of pointing fingers at the police for presenting themselves professionally, maybe you should take more time in presenting yourself professionally.
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