MILLSBORO — In a changing world with a focus on recruitment and retention, Millsboro Police chief Brian Calloway admits the time has come to seriously consider a policy change to departmental grooming standards.
“This year we have certainly been working on recruitment and retention. It’s a big part of what we want to do to keep police officers,” Chief Calloway said.
“And one of the things that we’re finding from staff is, and it pains me to say this, is they want to be able to loosen up some uniform standards, mainly with facial hair.”
Following a path blazed by other agencies, Chief Calloway’s request for a policy change that allows acceptable facial hair – beards, goatees and mustaches – for officers wearing a certain type of uniform met near unanimous Town Council approval.
Matthew Davis, John Thoroughgood, Ron O’Neal, Bob McKee, Marty Presley and Mayor Kimberley Kaan supported the request. Councilwoman Mary D’Silva opposed.
Chief Calloway noted this policy would only apply to an officer wearing a specific uniform type.
“In working with our staff, it pained me to be to do this in a normal uniform. What I am wearing is a Class A summer uniform. Oct. 15, you’ll see me go to a shirt and tie. On April 15, we go back to spring,” the chief said. “We have changed into … the outer vest uniforms. And officers have asked if they could change policy to allow them to grow a beard while in the Class B uniform, which would be the outer vest.”
A temporary growth of facial hair has been allowed since 2016 through the Millsboro department’s Whiskers for Wishes program, a fundraising initiative supporting Millsboro Grace United Methodist Church and its effort to bring Christmas cheer to needy children and families. Under the Whiskers program, participating officers pay a monthly donation, which allows them to grow facial hair for several months during the holiday season.
“Officers are asking to have facial hair all of the time,” said Chief Calloway.
“It is something that our staff has asked me repeatedly for many years, and I have definitely opposed it,” said Chief Calloway.
“But I am also understanding that we are in a time where I have to be looking through a different lens. I need to gain people here and keep them. And, I have to ask myself, ‘Is it my problem? Or is it an agency problem?’ I am looking at this certainly as my problem. If I can still have officers that look professional and have facial hair, I would approve that.”
A beard, goatee and mustache must be short and neatly trimmed, not to exceed a quarter inch. Officers wearing facial hair must be able to pass a gas mask fit test, and have equipment, such as trimmers at work should that need arise.
The policy encourages officers to begin growing out beards during time off so as not to present an unshaven look while on duty.
“They can’t go to work with just stubble. They have to make sure they have grown a beard before they are to come into work,” said Chief Calloway.
“My concern was the beard length,” said Mr. Thoroughgood. “And it’s a quarter inch, so I’m OK with that. Other agencies are doing this.”
Unless approved by the chief, male officers will be required to be clean-shaven when wearing a Class A uniform, to include the winter and summer uniform.
Another change with the Class B uniform is the allowance of an officer to wear a ball cap.
Mr. Thoroughgood’s motion for approval included a request that any aps have emblems that are easy to read. “I’ve seen like DNREC. You can’t read the emblem,” he said. “Georgetown, you can’t read their emblem on ball caps.”
With council’s approval, Chief Calloway may have an officer attend a council meeting serving as model “of what it would look like.”
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