No beards, no goatees, and regulated mustaches—that has been the policy for South Bend Police for decades.
However, those rules have never been set in stone. As is common practice for law enforcement across the country those rules are often suspended at certain times of the year so officers can grow beards for charity. South Bend Police have actually had their rules lifted since October for that reason, and it’s possible that it may not return.
Chief Scott Ruszkowski tells WNDU that the FOP has approached them with some hope the rules could be changed. He says a lot of people don’t care about the beards, but some older residents don’t like the look.
As of now the rules are waived through the end of March, and they will take up the issue again then.
2 comments
I don’t want furry-faced policemen!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! BTW, it’s not fair to allow male officers to have beards and not allow female officers to have them also. (I don’t believe that women should EVER be police officers!!!)
I feel that as long as it is kept trimmed down that it shouldn’t matter, face hair does not change their how they do the job as to protect and serving the community, so if it’s kept clean and neat it shouldn’t b a issue and for that matter it helps them blend in un notice when they are not on duty because it’s a new look.