Orlando deputies face tattoo rules

ORLANDO, Fla., June 23 (UPI) -- A Florida sheriff's department is poised to float a policy requiring deputies to cover up their tattoos.

The Orlando Sentinel reported Saturday that a draft of the proposed policy for the Orange County Sheriff's Department, which would take effect July 1, would require uniformed deputies to cover any visible tattoos. Such a move would put them in long pants and long-sleeve shirts in the sweltering Florida heat instead of the popular and comfortable uniform shorts and short-sleeve shirts.

Deputy John Park, president of the Police Benevolent Association and owner of a black-cat tattoo on his right shoulder, told the Sentinel: "We don't have a problem as long as they grandfather in our current deputies. We don't want someone to be a walking billboard from the elbows and knees down -- but for God's sake, body art is part of our society now."

Orlando police Captain Jeff Goeltz said the pending policy may go as far as altogether prohibiting all visible tattoos for future employees.