Cops order cover-up of officers' tattoos

LOS ANGELES (AFP) - As Americans go crazy for tattoos, police chiefs in one California city have ordered overly embellished officers to cover up excessive body art to avoid further scaring crime victims.

The official cover-up was ordered by San Diego Police Chief William Lansdowne on Wednesday as he unveiled a detailed directive for his boys in blue to hide their tattoos from the taxpayers who pay their salaries.

"Clearly, the public in San Diego wants a well-groomed, very professional appearance on our police officers, and that's what this (policy) does provide and will provide," Lansdowne said.

Under the new rules, uniformed police must ensure that their dress blues hide any tattoos, brands or "scarifications" that are "excessive," or visible over more than 30 percent of their biceps, forearms or hands.

The rules also outlaw most inked skin renderings above the officer's collarbone, at a time when body art has become big business across the country.

The crackdown came after members of the public complained of excessively decorated police at community meetings and also after a few emergency calls.

Some victims of crime were taken aback by the sight of extensively tattooed patrolmen turning up to help them, the chief said.

"We have had complaints from citizens who called and said they didn't believe that (the cops) were police officers," he said.

"We had to send a sergeant or someone else to manage the call for them."

While many San Diego police sport tattoos, only a handful boast enough body art to require significant changes to the way they wear their uniforms, officials said.

The most ornate officers will now have to look more formal and may find California's summers hotter and stickier than usual as they resort to wearing long sleeves and ties.

"For 37 years in this business, I've never worn anything but long-sleeved shirts, with a tie," Lansdowne said. "It's the way I think officers should look.