002 - GROOMING & DRESS STANDARDS

LOS ANGELES COUNTY SHERIFF’S DEPARTMENT

  DETECTIVE DIVISION    

 SPECIAL VICTIMS BUREAU

PURPOSE

To provide guidelines for grooming and dress standards within Special Victims Bureau, the following policy shall be followed by all bureau personnel.

POLICY

Personnel of the Special Victims Bureau shall present a professional appearance when representing the Department in court, investigative assignments, and other departmental business activities.

Attire during business hours shall always be kept clean and neat.  Clothing worn by employees while performing in any capacity, shall be appropriate business attire attendant to their assignment.  Members shall keep their persons clean and sanitary.  Hair shall be appropriately styled and groomed.

All Special Victims Bureau personnel shall adhere to the following standards:

 -          Males shall wear a business suit or sports coat and slacks with a conventional shirt and tie.

 -          Females shall wear a dress, dress suit, skirt and blouse, pantsuit, or blouse and pants appropriate to a businesslike appearance.

 -          See-through fashions, "active wear" garments or shorts are not appropriate business attire.  The fact that an article of clothing is currently in fashion does not mean it is appropriate business attire for members of this bureau.

In the event of a search warrant (or undercover) operation, wherein personnel may be called upon to perform duties which may damage or soil business clothing, appropriate alternative attire, consistent with their role, may be used during the operation.  Sworn personnel may wear appropriate casual attire when the detective feels it may assist in rapport building with a victim in a less formal setting (i.e.; slacks, collar shirts, etc.).  In this situation, sworn personnel shall have access to business attire in the event that they are called into court or other locations where casual wear is not acceptable.  

SAFE TEAM

The SAFE team works with the FBI and U.S. Marshall’s Office on a day-to-day basis.  Members of the team conduct various undercover operations and stings; they are authorized to wear the appropriate attire for their mission.  Individuals assigned to the SAFE team must dress in a fashion set forth by that task force coordinator, given the circumstances of their mission.

COURT APPERANCES

When Special Victims Bureau personnel are called to give testimony in court or for any

other formal court proceeding, (e.g., in camera hearings, motions, depositions at non-court locations, etc.) appropriate business attire shall be worn at all times.

Any exception to this order shall be made only with the approval of the bureau commander or lieutenant.

For further clarification, refer to the Manual of Policy and Procedures, Section

3-01/050.80, Grooming and Dress Standards.

Reviewed and approved by:

Richard Ruiz, Captain                                                                    

Special Victims Bureau