Can you have tattoo's as a Cop?

Question

I want to be a Officer in New york, Can you have a tattoo on your forearm? Do you have to wear sleeves or can you just wear a medi bandage?

Answer 1

yes you can there are some restrictions depending on the department guidelines  

Answer 2

you can but they have to be covered up

Answer 3

Usually, yes you can have a tattoo but it must be covered by your uniform.  Go to the city's web page that you wish to work for and look up the police department's qualifications for police officers.  Our city's police department's web page specifically states that all tattoos must be able to be covered by an officer's uniform when on duty.  

Answer 4

Just don't show it.

Answer 5

It depends upon the department.  I have seen applicants come through our offices with tattoos on their forearms applying for police positions.  Since we are towards the end of the line in the hiring process it is presumable that their department doesn't disqualify because of tattoos.  I've also seen Plano police officers with small tasteful tattoos on their forearms and Garland police officers with tattoos on their legs.

Answer 6

Nope.  Get out the steel wool and start rubbing.....

Seriously, it depends on the department.  Do you mean NYPD or somewhere else in the State?

Answer 7

You can but you need to cover the tattoo - as you said, sleeves or medi-bandage.

Answer 8

I've seen alot of cops with tattoos and i've even seen a new york cop with a tattoo sleeve. and he never covered it up .but make sure that you check first .you should also consider putting the tattoo some place else cause you might want to do some undercover work.

hope that helps

Answer 9

Call your local police dept. they will tell you.

ask for the captain.

explain this is a profession you want to go into.

I believe some states are allowing tattoos in UN -SEEN places. some not.

better to find out or wait until you become an officer before getting one.  

you may not like the tattoo in 10 yrs anyway.

p.s can i get a break if you pull me over. lol

Answer 10

I've seen alot of police officers with tattoos, but small ones.  

Answer 11

When I came on in the early 70's, if you had one showing below the shirt sleeve, you wouldnt get hired, now I see cops with tats everywhere, it looks disgusting and un professional, and I understand Departments are cracking down on them.