With outdoor temperatures rising, tattooed officers with the El Dorado Police Department may soon be able to roll up their sleeves.
Police Chief Kenny Hickman has asked the El Dorado Civil Service Commission to consider an amendment to the police department’s policy regarding tattoos for uniformed personnel.
Hickman presented the request earlier this week, saying that the proposed change would allow arm-tattoos to be visible while officers are on duty and would fall in line with a trend that is occurring at other police departments across the country.
“Chief Hickman asked if we would loosen the rules on the tattoo policy and he sent us information about what police departments in different cities are doing with their tattoo policies,” said Toddy Pitard, chairman of the civil service commission.
The existing policy requires officers to cover their tattoos while on duty.
Hickman said the amendment would apply to arm-ink, allowing officers to wear short-sleeved uniform shirts as late-spring, early-summer temperatures move in.
“They guys with tattoos have to wear long sleeves in the summer when it’s hot,” Pitard said.
Hickman said police departments nationwide are relaxing tattoo policies to help officers stay cool while carrying out their duties.
“It can get really hot in that uniform over the summer, especially if you’re wearing a (protective) vest. It’s just a matter of adjustment as it gets hotter and hotter,” Hickman said.
Other factors can drive up body temperatures when officers are working in the field, the police chief said.
“When you’re responding to scenes, such as an accident, and you’re trying to move people off the road, you can be out there for awhile,” Hickman said. “That pavement can get hot, so if it’s 100 degrees, the pavement can make it feel like it’s 115.”
Changing the policy would also help the EPD keep pace with a shift in societal norms and views toward tattoos, he said.
“A lot of officers have had tattoos over the years. I just hired an officer that has two names tattooed on his arm,” Hickman said.
Moreover, officers with a military background often denote their service in the armed forces with body art.
“If they’ve been in the military, they may have a tattoo of their unit or some association with the military and they’re very proud of that,” Hickman said.
A considerable benefit for relaxing the EPD tattoo policy, he said, is that it would aid in recruitment, particularly among younger candidates.
In recent years, the EPD and El Dorado Fire Department have stepped up recruitment efforts as interest in police and fire service jobs across the country wanes.
Both chiefs recently requested and were granted an additional testing cycle for civil service exams this year to help fill vacant positions for uniformed personnel.
The ECSC typically administers the exams twice per year, once in the spring and again in the fall.
Hickman and Fire Chief Chad Mosby said the round of testing that was offered in April and follow-up job offers did not yield enough qualified candidates to fully staff their departments.
Each department has a 51-person roster for uniformed personnel.
“With this tattoo policy, a lot of police departments are finding that it presents problems with recruiting, especially with young officers who are coming out of the military,” Hickman said. “So a change in the policy would not only help with the heat, but it would also help with recruitment.”
Tattoos with racist, sexist, nude and disturbing images are prohibited by the proposed amendment, he said.
“Nothing that glorifies death — like skulls —, the KKK, no nudity or anything that’s perverse — nothing that will elicit a strong response,” explained Hickman.
Hickman said the feedback he has received from EPD officers has been supportive of the proposed amendment to the tattoo policy.
“I have not had any opposition,” he said.
The civil service commission is expected to continue discussions about the matter at its regular meeting in June.
“We’re going to vet that out and study it and get back with Chief Hickman,” Pitard said.
Other business
The commission is also vetting its options for recommending a candidate to fill a vacancy left by former Commissioner Scott Ellen.
Ellen, also a former member of the El Dorado City Council, resigned from the ECSC in April, immediately after spring civil service exams wrapped.
He previously announced his intentions to resign, having served on the commission since 2008.
Pitard said the ECSC is taking its time with the selection process.
“We’re going to be visiting with the city council about not getting in a big hurry to appoint another commissioners,” he said. “We want somebody who’s going to bring a certain strength to the commission to make us better as a team.”
Pitard said commissioners are considering a candidate with a legal background to work with City Attorney Henry Kinslow on issues such as bylaw revisions and poring over related legal cases.
Such a candidate has not served on the commission since 35th Judicial District Judge Jack Barker resigned in 2016 to campaign for the elected judge’s seat.
Anyone who is interested in serving on the ECSC may request an application by calling City Clerk Heather McVay at 870-881-4877.
Hickman also told commissioners that Capt. Cathy Phillips, who heads up the EPD’s Criminal Investigative Division, has announced plans to retire May 31.
Phillips has worked for the EPD for more than two decades. She was promoted to captain in 2017.
Tia Lyons may be contacted at 870-862-6611 or tlyons@ eldoradonews.com.