This spring the Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD) introduced a controversial policy on tattoos that calls for a complete cover-up. Although many fire departments have policies that prohibit showing offensive tattoos, such as those depicting nudity or obscene images and words, the LAFD now requires firefighters to cover all tattoos all the time.
“We’re looking for consistency in the policy. It reads that all tattoos shall be covered while on duty, and that means the entire time you’re on duty,” explains Captain Armando Hogan, community liaison officer for the LAFD. “We want to stay fairly well grounded in our grooming standards, and that’s all this is–an update to our grooming standards.” The policy, which went into effect on May 1, has forced tattooed firefighters into long sleeves and even gloves and bandages while on duty. Those with ink have to cover up while they’re in the station house, whether cooking, training or even sleeping.
Anthony Temple, a firefighter with the LAFD, has to hide multiple tattoos on his arms, which depict roses, sparrows, clouds and a ship. “I sleep in long sleeves; I wear a long-sleeved uniform from the minute I walk in. I work out in long sleeves. I work under the fire trucks in long sleeves,” he says. “The thing is, they said this policy was about public image, but I don’t understand why it’s so stringent.” Temple hopes for a compromise on the tattoo policy, saying, “Everywhere else, [firefighters with existing tattoos] get grandfathered in. That seems like a logical answer.”
Temple is a station steward for the local firefighters union, and he reports that the new policy has been discussed “at great length.”
Unilateral Change
Jon McDuffie, first vice president of United Firefighters of Los Angeles City, Local 112, says of the tattoo issue, “This discussion has been going on for years–at least 5 years, formally.” In late 2006, tattoo talks intensified and the union and the department agreed to do some fact-finding to support an official policy. “We split the tab for the fact-finder, who came back and said that the union’s proposed policy looked good,” McDuffie says. “That policy was basically to cover up offensive tattoos only –anything racial, bad language, that type of thing. But the fire department went ahead and implemented this new policy unilaterally. That’s our biggest issue–that they blew right past the labor-management process.”
While the union seems somewhat ambivalent on the argument for or against covering up, McDuffie says the policy is “in informal discussion right now between us and the fire department.”
Tattoo Trend?
Every department has its share of firefighters with tattoos, and that trend is increasing: One survey shows that around one-third of Americans between the ages of 25 and 34 have tattoos, as well as 28 percent of people under age 25.
Are other fire departments grappling with a tattoo explosion? Probably. But none of the larger city departments seem to consider it a problem: The Chicago Fire Department (CFD)’s policy allows tattoos to show as long as they are not deemed offensive–and the department has no plans to change this plan. (The CFD is aware of the LAFD’s tattoo policy, but would not comment on it.)
Captain Victor Rangel with the Phoenix Fire Department was not aware of the LAFD policy, but when he learned of it, said, “That seems pretty drastic. I feel sorry for those guys–I would think that would cause a lot of dissention.” Phoenix Fire only allows tattoos on arms and legs, and then only if they’re not offensive. “We ask firefighters not to do full sleeves [of tattoos], but tattoos just don’t seem to be an issue here,” Rangel explains.
Neither the New York Fire Department nor the Houston Fire Department has any policy regarding tattoos; Houston considered adding one, but decided it was unnecessary.
In fact, the only fire department that the LAFD (and local 112) points to that has an identical policy on covering up tattoos is nearby Long Beach (Calif.) Fire Department, so the cover-up policy doesn’t seem to be spreading as much as the increase in tattoos might indicate.
Meanwhile, tattooed LAFD firefighters continue to work amicably under the policy. “Everybody with tattoos is covering up; we’re following the rules,” reports the tattooed Temple. “That’s our job–we do what they say. But we’d like a little latitude on it–to at least be able to wear a T-shirt in the fire station.”
