SAPD bans visible tattoos for officers in uniform

Chief implements new policy to make department look more professional

SAN ANTONIO – Starting next week San Antonio police officers sporting tattoos will be required to cover up their body art.

Chief William McManus said the department will begin enforcing its first policy banning visible tattoos for officers in uniform on Monday.

McManus said it's an effort to make the department look more professional.

"What we want to do is look like a more professional agency with requiring people to cover up tattoos," McManus said. "Basically what it does, it bans visible tattoos above the neckline and below the elbow."

McManus said he's been contemplating the tattoo policy for over a year and now was the right time to implement it.

The ban follows a similar policy put in place last year prohibiting new recruits at the police academy from displaying body art.

"Close to a year ago we prohibited any new recruits coming in with visible tattoos," McManus said. "So if you had one on and you were in the academy you have to have it medically removed, surgically removed."

Officers with neck tattoos that can't be covered will also be required to have them removed at their own cost but McManus said most officers will simply be able to cover them up.

"We're allowing sleeves, uniformed colored sleeves, to be worn or a compression type shirt with long sleeves that will match the uniform color," McManus said.

McManus said the policy impacts roughly 200 of the department's 2,375 officers.

While some aren't happy about the change he said it's the right move for the department.

"With body art becoming more and more popular we're seeing more people with full sleeves, tattoos kind of creeping up the neck and we decided that's not the look we want for SAPD," McManus said.

SAPD is one of the last major cities in Texas and the nation to implement a ban on visible tattoos.

Dallas, Houston and Austin have had policies in place for a few years now.

While Austin P.D. requires its officers to submit photos of their body art, McManus said SAPD officers will not be required to document their tattoos.

The tattoo policy will not impact officers working undercover.