Uniform & Appearance

To establish specifications, guidelines and procedures for personal grooming standards and for the wearing of uniform items and uniform accessories

Policy: Uniform & Appearance

Author: Chief Joseph M. Hallman

WILEAG Standard: N/A

Issue Date: June 22, 2011

Reviewed Date: April 14, 2026

Revised Date: April 14, 2026

 

Purpose:

To establish specifications, guidelines and procedures for personal grooming standards and for the wearing of uniform items and uniform accessories

Policy:

It is the policy of the UW-Platteville Police Department to adopt high standards of personal grooming and cleanliness and to require personnel to exhibit a professional appearance, individually and collectively, when on duty.  The University of Wisconsin-Platteville Police Department will provide uniforms and equipment necessary to perform assigned tasks to personnel assigned to a uniform function, taking health, comfort, appearance, and utility as the basis for design and issuance of uniforms and accessories.  It is the policy of the University of Wisconsin-Platteville Police Department to provide guidelines to ensure uniformity in all items worn by personnel so that they present a professional appearance and ensure that uniforms and uniform accessories will be kept clean, neat and in proper state of repair.

Definitions:

N/A

Procedures:

1. Non-uniformed Officers Dress
   1. Officers will wear clothing of a type generally accepted for business wear.
   2. An officer assigned to a covert assignment may deviate from these standards with the approval of his/her supervisor.
   3. Regardless of assignment, an officer may be attired in a manner appropriate to a particular situation, e.g., casual clothing for tactical surveillances and training functions including, but not limited to, firearms, defensive tactics, physical training, driving, etc., with the approval of his/her supervisor
2. Uniformed Officers Dress
   1. The day-to-day patrol uniform is described in APPENDIX B. Officers have the freedom to decide the appropriate uniform given weather conditions and personal comfort.
   2. The complete uniform of the day, with appropriate accessories, will be worn at all times while on duty unless otherwise directed by the chief of police. (APPENDIX A)
   3. Department issued uniform or accessory items lost or damaged due to negligence will be paid for by the negligent person.
   4. Procedures for wearing of the uniform, uniform accessories and uniform options are described in APPENDIX B.
   5. Uniforms issued to personnel will be properly cared for, maintained and worn. (APPENDIX C).
   6. Uniforms and accessories will fit properly, be clean and neatly pressed and be free of rips, tears, holes, frayed edges, missing buttons and faded colors.
   7. Civilian clothing for a detail will consist of a style befitting the assignment, as determined by the Chief of Police.
3. Personal Grooming
   1. Hair will be kept in a clean and neat manner.
   2. Hair will be neatly groomed and will not hang over the collar for male officers. Female officers may wear what is commonly referred to as a “pony tail” if it is elected to have hair hanging over the collar (recognizing the officer safety issue, wearing hair in such a manner). The hair may be worn slightly over the ears.
   3. No ribbons or ornaments will be worn in the hair except for neat and inconspicuous bobby pins and barrettes.
   4. Mustaches, beards and sideburns, when worn, will be neatly trimmed.
   5. If worn, cosmetics will be conservative and natural looking.
4. Personal Hygiene
   1. All employees shall ensure that their body and clothing is kept clean to prevent offensive odor.
5. Tattoos and Branding
   1. Tattoos and branding may be required to be kept covered if they are political, have a potential negative impact to the University, or have potentially offensive words, terms, logos, pictures, cartoons, or slogans.
   2. Visible tattoos and branding on the ears, head, or face are prohibited. Visible tattoos on the neck area are prohibited unless approved by the Chief of Police.
6. JEWELRY
   1. Jewelry worn shall be professional and may not have potentially offensive words, terms, logos, pictures, cartoons, or slogans.
   2. Earlobe hoops or plugs (used to enlarge piercing holes in the earlobes) are not allowed.
   3. Uniformed officers shall not wear any visible necklace, unless authorized by the department (i.e., ID chain).
       

APPENDIX A

WEARING OF UNIFORM

Trousers, Shirts, Jackets and Coats

• Sleeve emblems, if utilized, will be securely sewed on.
• Pockets will not present a bulging appearance.
• All buttons will be buttoned unless wearing the summer shirt or winter shirt with dickey/turtleneck, which may be opened at the collar. A dickey/turtleneck collar should be at least as high as the winter shirt collar.

Holster, Belt, and Leather Accessories

• The holster will be located on the officer’s “strong side”. The magazine cases will be worn on the officer’s “weak side” in an upright (or vertical) position with the flap at the top (may be horizontal with firearm instructor and command staff approval), or horizontal on the strong side, in front of the holster.
• Handcuffs will be carried in the issued handcuff case or as authorized by command staff.

Authorized award ribbons may be worn on the outer garment.

Badge

• The badge will be worn in the proper location on the outer garment. The safety catch will be secured.

Service insignia (years of service)

• Officers issued the service insignia may wear it centered on the right pocket of the shirt.

Footwear

• Patrol officers will wear authorized black shoes or boots while in uniform.

Protective Vest

• Officers, while in uniform and performing patrol activities, SHALL wear their department issued ballistic vest.

Personal Accessories

• Personnel may wear a cloth scarf with the issued uniform jacket during the winter months when desired.
• The scarf will be dark blue or black with no designs, clean, free from holes and free from excessive fraying of the material.
• When worn, the scarf ends must be securely tucked inside the jacket and are not to protrude under the waist belt of the jacket.
  
   

APPENDIX B

CLASSES OF UNIFORMS

Warm Weather uniform

• Department approved baseball type hat
• White, Black, or Dark Blue V-neck or crew neck T-shirt
• Short sleeve summer shirt
• Dress trousers/Utility Trousers (Shorts are not permitted)
• Leather &/or Nylon Belt set
• Badge
• Nameplate
• Regulation footwear
• A Department issued jacket may be worn with the warm weather uniform when necessary for the comfort of the officer.

Cold Weather uniform

• Department approved baseball type hat or an approved stocking/knit cap
• White, Black, or Dark Blue V-neck or crew neck T-shirt
• Long sleeve winter shirt
• Necktie with tie clasp or dickey/turtleneck (Optional)
• Dress trousers/Utility Trousers
• Leather &/or Nylon Belt set
• Badge
• Nameplate
• Regulation footwear
• A Department issued jacket may be worn with the cold weather uniform when necessary for the comfort of the officer.

Sweater

• A sweater may be worn as weather dictates. When the warm weather uniform is being worn the sweater may be worn over the summer shirt with the collars of the shirt pulled out over the neck of the sweater. When the cold weather uniform is being worn the sweater may be worn over the winter shirt. In this mode the winter shirt collar can be opened and shirt collars can be pulled out over the neck of the sweater. No tie, dickey or turtleneck needs to be worn with the sweater.
   

APPENDIX C

MAINTENANCE OF UNIFORM ITEMS

Cleaning of uniforms

• Uniform shirts and trousers can be laundered or dry-cleaned.

Metal Accessories

• Hat badges, badges, buttons, rank insignia, tie bars, service pins, shooting medals, specialty insignia, title plates, award ribbons, or medals, etc. will be maintained in a high state of polish or luster.