Personnel are expected to wear clothing appropriate
to their work environment and present a clean, neat,
and professional appearance. In situations not
specifically covered by these standards, propriety
and good judgment must prevail in the selection of
modes of dress and grooming.
STANDARDS FOR UNIFORMED OFFICERS
A. Uniformed officers shall report for
duty in a neatly tailored, laundered and pressed,
regulation uniform and with the equipment prescribed
by departmental directives.
B. Officers may wear an undershirt with
their uniform. If visible, the undershirt shall be
solid black in color and in a V-neck, crew neck,
turtle neck, or dickey or an appropriate style that
conforms to the open necked collar. With the
exception of the collar area, the undershirt shall
not extend beyond any portion of the uniform.
(This restriction does not apply to bullet resistant,
soft body armor.)
C. While in uniform, officers shall wear clean,
well kept, black, regulation shoes. Socks shall
be black or navy blue in color with no logos,
decals, or other colors (including skin) visible
at any time. Refer to Policy, UNIFORMS, EQUIPMENT, AND FIREARMS.
D. The police hat, which is considered part of
the uniform, shall be readily available while the officer is on duty.
1.
with the exception authorized in section E below, the hat shall be worn when directing traffic
and for ceremonies, foot patrol, security details,
drills, inspections, off duty assignments, and/or
as directed by the Chief of Police.
2. The wearing of the hat is optional in all other situations.
E. The department-authorized police baseball cap may be
worn in place of the police hat while officers are
directing traffic either on duty or on special duty.
The cap must be worn with the bill facing straight
forward at all times. Also, the wearing of the cap
is prohibited in all other situations.
F. While in uniform, officers shall not wear or display
floral adornment of any kind, medallions, necklaces,
bracelets, brooches, or other items not prescribed
for wear with or as part of the uniform. Exceptions
to this restriction would be wristwatches, medicalert
or similar emergency-treatment information
bracelets, conservatively styled rings, or concealed
religious medals.
G. Hairstyles shall be conservative. Hair
shall be neat, clean, and trimmed. In no case shall
the bulk or length of hair interfere with the proper
wear of any authorized headgear.
Sculpted (e.g., Mohawk-style or lined) hairstyles are prohibited.
H. Coloring, dyeing, tinting, or highlighting
of hair must be in good taste; unnatural hair colors are prohibited.
I. If a wig or hairpiece is worn, it shall
conform to departmental standards for hair grooming.
J. Body piercing jewelry, excluding earrings,
shall not be visible while on duty or representing
the department in any official capacity. Refer
to section V A 2 of this policy regarding body ornaments.
K. Fingernails should always be well-manicured and neat.
They shall also be kept short at all times (i.e.,
fingernails shall not extend more than one-eighth
inch beyond the fingertips).
L. Perfumes, colognes, and lotions (when used)
shall be sparingly applied.
M. Male Uniformed Officers
1. A hair style is unacceptable whenever the
hair is within one inch of the eyebrows, covers any
portion of the ears, or extends below the top of the shirt collar.
Sideburns shall not extend below the tip of the
earlobe and shall be level at the bottom. The
forward and rear edges of the sideburns may
follow the natural hairline. Extreme styles
such as “mutton chops” are not permitted.
2. Officers shall report for duty cleanly shaven.
A neatly trimmed mustache may be worn, provided that
it does not extend below the junction of the upper
and lower lips. Mustaches with waxed tips, handlebar
mustaches, beards, and goatees are not permitted.
N. Female Uniformed Officers
1. The hair shall not extend more than two
inches below the bottom of the uniform collar.
Hair that would extend more than two inches
below the bottom of the uniform collar if
unsecured shall be worn up in a neat fashion
and securely fastened. Hair-holding ornaments
(barrettes, pins, and clips) must be transparent
or similar in color to the hair.
2. Ponytails and pigtails are prohibited. A single
braid may be worn, but shall not interfere with the
proper wear of authorized headgear. The end of the
braid shall not extend more than two inches below the
bottom of the uniform collar.
3. Body piercing jewelry, excluding earrings,
shall not be visible while on duty or representing
the department in any official capacity.
However, earrings may be worn by female uniformed
officers. Earrings shall be stud-type and no
larger than one quarter inch in diameter. No
more than one earring may be worn on each earlobe.
Plugs or tunnels (e.g., used to stretch out the
holes pierced through the earlobe, nose, or lips)
are prohibited. Refer to section V A 2 of this
policy regarding body ornaments.
4. Cosmetics, when used, shall be neatly and
sparingly applied. False eyelashes and eyelash
extensions are allowed if they are natural in
appearance (e.g., style, length, volume, color, etc.)
and worn tastefully..
5. Except for clear polish, fingernail polish
and false fingernails are prohibited for uniformed assignments.
STANDARDS FOR PLAINCLOTHES OFFICERS
A. Plainclothes officers shall report for
duty neatly dressed and with the equipment prescribed
by departmental directives.
B. In general, plainclothes officers shall wear
conservative and tasteful clothing on duty.
C. Plainclothes officers shall wear neat,
well kept shoes that are appropriate for business wear.
Footwear not appropriate for business wear
(e.g., sport shoes, tabis, flip-flops, and zoris) are not allowed.
D. Hairstyles shall be conservative. Hair shall be neat, clean, and trimmed.
Sculpted (e.g., Mohawk-style or lined) hairstyles are prohibited.
E. Coloring, dyeing, tinting, or highlighting
of hair must be in good taste; unnatural hair colors are prohibited.
F. If a wig or hairpiece is worn, it shall conform
to departmental standards for hair grooming.
G. Body piercing jewelry, excluding earrings,
shall not be visible while on duty or representing
the department in any official capacity. However,
earrings may be worn by plainclothes female officers.
Earrings shall be stud-type and no larger than
one quarter inch in diameter. No more than one
earring may be worn on each earlobe. Plugs or
tunnels (e.g., used to stretch out the holes pierced
through the earlobe, nose, or lips) are prohibited.
Refer to section V of this policy regarding body ornaments.
H. Fingernails should always be well-manicured and neat.
I. Perfumes, colognes, and lotions (when used) shall be sparingly applied.
K. Jeans of any type or color are not acceptable
attire. However, jeans may be worn temporarily if they
are definitely more appropriate for the performance of
certain duties. This temporary exception requires prior
permission from the division-level commander or bureau chief.
L. Male Plainclothes Officers
1. A hairstyle is unacceptable whenever the
hair is within one inch of the eyebrows, covers
any portion of the ears, or extends below the top of the shirt collar.
Sideburns shall not extend below the tip of the
earlobe and shall be level at the bottom. The
forward and rear edges of the sideburns may follow
the natural hairline. Extreme styles such as
“mutton chops” are not permitted.
2. Officers shall report for duty cleanly shaven.
A neatly trimmed mustache may be worn, provided that
it does not extend below the junction of the upper
and lower lips. Mustaches with waxed tips, handlebar
mustaches, beards, and goatees are not permitted.
3. The following shirts are approved for on-duty wear:
a. Sport and/or aloha shirts with collars; and
b. Business shirts with or without neckties.
Shirts with tails are to be tucked into trousers.
Shirts worn outside trousers shall be square-cut
at the bottom and of sufficient length to cover
weapons and other equipment.
4. The following shirts are not approved for on duty wear:
a. Shirts that unduly expose the chest area;
b. Shirts without sleeves;
c. T-shirts;
d. See-through shirts;
e. Novelty shirts; and
f. Other inappropriate styles.
5. Dress slacks are appropriate for plainclothes assignments.
6. Suits are appropriate on-duty attire. Suit jackets should cover the hips.
M. Female Plainclothes Officers
1. The hair shall not extend below the bottom
of the shoulder blade. If the hair extends below
the bottom of the shoulder blade, it must be worn
up in a neat fashion and securely fastened.
2. Ponytails and pigtails are prohibited.
3. Cosmetics, when used, shall be neatly and
sparingly applied. False eyelashes and eyelash extensions
are allowed if they are natural in appearance
(e.g., style, length, volume, color, etc.) and worn tastefully..
4. Fingernail polish and false fingernails are
acceptable for plainclothes assignments. However,
the fingernails should not be so long as to interfere with movement or work.
5. Sleeveless or sleeved dresses, suits, and
short and long sleeved blouses and skirts are
examples of acceptable attire.
6. The length of a skirt (e.g., dresses,
culottes, etc.) shall not be more than five
inches above the bottom of the kneecap while
standing at attention. Midi, maxi, and long
dresses are acceptable for daily attire.
If a garment includes slits, the slits shall
not extend more than five inches above the
bottom of the kneecap while standing at attention.
7. Coordinates, i.e., blouses, tunics, vests,
skirts, culottes, and dress slacks are appropriate
for plainclothes assignments. Tunics and blouses
shall extend down to the top of the hips or below.
a. Blouses worn outside trousers shall have square-cut bottoms.
b. Blouses with tails are to be tucked into
skirts, culottes, or dress slacks.
8. Pantsuits are also acceptable attire.
Pantsuit pants shall adequately cover the waist,
and jackets should cover the hips.
9. Muumuus of all types are acceptable attire.
Heeled sandals, excluding slippers, are appropriate
footwear with aloha attire. However, muumuus are
not acceptable courtroom attire.
10. Examples of unacceptable dress for female
officers include, but are not limited to, the following:
T-shirts, jumpsuits, shorts, pedal pushers, low cut
dresses, backless dresses, see through blouses,
strapless and spaghetti- strap dresses and tops,
and knee high socks with skirts or dresses.
Exceptions
Provisions of sections I and II above do not preclude the following:
A. The commanders may permit their
respective personnel to be clothed and groomed
appropriately (e.g., beards, mustaches, long hair,
etc.) to specifically perform undercover work,
surveillance, or other covert duties. All permissions
shall be documented.
B. The wearing of the navy blue HPD T-shirt
that is specified in Section IX G of Policy 2.38,
UNIFORMS, EQUIPMENT, AND FIREARMS.
C. The wearing of a lei or other ornament
while in uniform when part of an official ceremony or function.
STANDARDS FOR CIVILIAN EMPLOYEES
A. In general, employees shall wear conservative
and tasteful clothing while on duty.
B. Hair should be well kept, neat, and clean at
all times. In no case shall the bulk or length of the
hair interfere with the proper wear of any authorized
headgear or the performance of assigned tasks and duties.
Sculpted (e.g., Mohawk-style or lined) hairstyles are prohibited.
C. Coloring, dyeing, tinting, or highlighting
of hair must be in good taste; unnatural hair colors are prohibited.
D. If a wig or hairpiece is worn, it shall
conform to departmental standards for hair grooming.
E. Body piercing jewelry, excluding earrings,
shall not be visible while on duty or representing
the department in any official capacity.
F. Slacks and jeans are permissible.
G. Footwear shall be worn at all times while on duty.
Footwear such as tabis, flip-flops, and zoris are not allowed.
H. Perfumes, colognes, and lotions (when used) shall be sparingly applied.
I. Female Civilian Employees
1. The length of a skirt (e.g., dresses,
culottes, etc.) shall not be more than five
inches above the bottom of the kneecap while
standing at attention. If a garment includes
slits, the slits shall not extend more than
five inches above the bottom of the kneecap
while standing at attention.
2. Cosmetics, when used, shall be neatly and sparingly applied.
3. Muumuus of all types are acceptable on duty attire.
However, muumuus are not acceptable courtroom attire.
4. Unacceptable Dress
Examples of unacceptable dress for women on duty
include, but are not limited to, the following:
T shirts (exceptions: sections IV K 1 and
2 below), jumpsuits, shorts, low cut dresses,
backless dresses, see through blouses,
strapless and spaghetti-strap dresses and tops,
and knee high socks with skirts or dresses.
J. Male Civilian Employees
1. Suits, sport jackets, and ties may be worn while on duty.
2. Shirts approved for on duty wear include:
a. Sport and/or aloha shirts with collars;
b. Business shirts with or without neckties;
c. Shirts with tails that are tucked into trousers; and
d. Shirts worn outside trousers that have a square-cut bottom.
3. Shirts not approved for on duty wear include,
but are not limited to, the following:
a. Shirts that unduly expose the chest area;
b. Shirts without sleeves;
c. T shirts (exceptions: sections IV K 1 and 2 below);
d. See through shirts; and
e. Novelty shirts.
4. Well kept, trimmed, neat, and clean beards and mustaches are permitted.
K. The mode of dress for civilian employees
assigned to the units listed below shall be as specified:
1. Evidence/Property Unit (Records and
Identification Division), Property and Supply
Section and Publications Unit (Finance Division),
and Telecommunications Systems Section
Personnel assigned to these elements may wear
sport or aloha shirts and slacks combination.
Shirts or blouses with tails must be neatly
tucked in. If it is necessary to move particularly
heavy or dirty objects and the shirt or blouse would
be subjected to excessive dirt, the shirt or blouse
may be replaced with an undershirt or T shirt.
At no time will bare backs be permitted while
on duty, either in or out of public view; and
2. Vehicle Maintenance Section
a. Working supervisors, service station attendants,
vehicle dispatchers, automotive mechanics, trades helpers,
and lubrication workers shall normally wear a uniform shirt
of a type approved and issued by the Honolulu Police
Department (HPD). The HPD emblem shall be sewn on the
upper left sleeve, one inch below the shoulder seam and centered on the seam.
(1) The regulation shirt shall be worn when the
employee leaves the facility in the performance of
duty but not when driving an unmarked vehicle belonging to the HPD.
(2) An employee who does not wish to wear the
regulation shirt while working in the facility shall
wear a presentable T shirt. The supervisor in charge
shall determine which types of T-shirts are presentable.
(Tanktops and bareback shirts are not allowed.)
b. Working supervisors, service station
attendants, vehicle dispatchers, automotive
mechanics, trades helpers, storekeepers, and
lubrication workers shall wear safety shoes
of a type approved and issued by the HPD.
TATTOOS, BODY ORNAMENTS, ETC.
A. Officers shall not display tattoos that are
obscene, sexual in nature, racist, gang related,
alcohol or drug related, derogatory, in violation
of any nondiscrimination laws, or that undermines
city or departmental values. In addition, no
tattoos shall be displayed above the collar.
B. No officer shall have any visible body ornament,
intentional scarring or mutilation, or dental ornament
while he or she is on duty, in uniform, or representing
the department in any official capacity.
1. Body ornaments shall include objects inserted under the skin.
2. Intentional mutilation shall include dermal
branding, tongue bifurcation, and deliberate
disfiguring of body parts (e.g., stretching out
the holes pierced through the ear lobe, nose, or lips).
3. Dental ornamentation shall include any
foreign material (e.g., metals, paints, decals,
unnatural colors, etc.) used in the mouth without
verifiable medical or dental necessity. Such
ornamentation shall also include filing or
disfiguring of the teeth without verifiable medical or dental necessity.
C. Authorized Options and Restrictions for
Complying with Section V A and B Above
1. Officers may wear a long-sleeved, regulation
uniform shirt. A long-sleeved uniform shirt shall be
obtained in accordance with normal uniform allotment procedures.
2. Officers may buy and wear fitted, cover-up
sleeves, which shall be purchased at their expense.
a. The sleeve shall be designed and intended
as a cover-up garment for the arm.
b. The sleeve shall be worn snug and flat against
the skin. The sleeves shall not be rolled, folded,
gathered, or similarly manipulated while being worn.
(1) Long and short sleeves are authorized.
(2) One sleeve shall be worn on one arm.
(3) No part of the sleeve shall extend past the wrist.
c. The sleeve shall be black and made of nylon or
a spandex-type material. The sleeve shall not have
any exposed designs/logos except for the brand name
which shall match the color of the sleeve.
3. Officers may use makeup. Makeup shall match
the skin color of the wearer, and the purchase
of any makeup shall be at the employee’s expense.
4. Plainclothes officers have various clothing
options to conceal the prohibited conditions as
long as their chosen attire complies with dress
and grooming standards in this and other related directives.
5. Gloves and masks are prohibited except as permitted for departmental purposes.
D. Exceptions to Prohibitions in Section V A Above
1. Rings, wristwatches, medic alert bracelets,
earrings, and other similar items that are regulated
in other sections of this directive
2. The performance of plainclothes or covert
duties such as undercover work or surveillance
with the prior written approval from the element
commander. These exceptions shall apply only
while the covert duties are performed.
3. Cosmetic facial tattoos (i.e., eyebrows,
eye liner, lip liner, and rouge) which are neat,
conservative, and sparingly applied
4. Conditions or items specifically for
verifiable medical or dental purposes (e.g., catheter and shunt)
5. Officers engaging in a department-authorized
physical training or fitness program while on duty
are exempt from the restriction that prohibits
visible tattoos above the collar.
ATTIRE FOR HEARINGS AND OTHER OFFICIAL APPEARANCES
The following provisions shall apply to all
employees, regardless of assignment, while
representing the HPD before any official body
or board, at a hearing, or as a member of any
board or panel when such attire is in keeping with the decorum:
A. Uniformed Officers
1. Uniformed officers shall wear their standard
uniforms as specified in sections IV, V, and VII of
Policy 2.38, UNIFORMS, EQUIPMENT, AND FIREARMS,
while representing the HPD in any official/authorized
capacity; they shall not wear utility or bicycle uniforms.
2. The police hat shall be worn during inspections
and/or as directed by the Chief of Police.
B. Plainclothes Officers or Civilian Employees
1. Male employees shall wear dress, heeled shoes;
socks; dress slacks; and a coat and tie combination
that is conservative in nature and gives a professional appearance; and
2. Female employees shall wear dress, heeled shoes;
dresses; suits; or blouse and dress slacks/skirt combinations.
Muumuus are not acceptable.
PERSONAL APPEARANCES
When an officer or civilian employee appears before the court, Legislature,
City Council, neighborhood board, Civil Service
Commission, etc., to represent their
personal interests) he or she shall not wear the
police uniform and shall not present himself or
herself as a representative of the HPD.
RESPONSIBILITIES
A. The Human Resources Division shall inform
new employees of the importance of dressing neatly and conservatively.
B. The importance of personal appearance cannot
be overemphasized, because the public is greatly
influenced by the employees who serve them. The
importance of being clean and well groomed certainly
affects those with whom one works and associates.
C. Division-level commanders are responsible
for enforcing the dress and grooming policy for their element or section.