A year ago, Prince George’s County Police Chief Hank Stawinski allowed his officers to grow beards. The move was both unique and somewhat controversial.
Following the CDC Guidelines following the COVID-19 pandemic, that policy has now been rescinded.
The request came after a county health officer said that beards are not compatible with protective face masks.
“We have to follow the CDC guidelines because it protects the officer, it protects his family and it protects the community,” says Dr. Ernest Carter. “And so that’s why I asked him to change that policy.”
The Centers for Disease Control even posts a cartoon-like chart to make the point: Beards and especially the medically approved N-95 masks aren’t compatible. “You can’t have stubble. It has to fit on your clean-shaven face,” says Dr. Carter.
When the order went out, 25 mostly African-American officers claimed a medical exemption.
Some have a condition called PFB (Pseudofolliculitis barbae), which prevents them from shaving.
Dermatologist Dr. Chesahna Kindred-Weaver says it’s a very real problem for men with curly beards.
According to WJLA, Chief Stawinski sent a letter to the officers with a medical exemption that they would have to stay home, taking sick leave.
The officer’s union threatened to sue.
“What the guys were upset about is the fact they were going to have to use their own leave,” says Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 89 President Angelo Consoli.
Today, after hearing the concerns, the chief agreed that the 25 bearded officers would go on paid health and safety leave.
Travis Yates, Author of the Courageous Police Leader, calls the final decision by the Chief the right thing to do.
“To the uninformed, this may seem like a chief that backed down because of a threat to sue but the truth is, for some, this is a medical issue and labor laws exist for this very reason. If an employer, forces you to stay home, it doesn’t make much sense to punish the individual officers for having to do that,” Yates said.
The union is dropping its complaint.
The officers are going home until the health emergency is over.
Photo Courtesy: YouTube