DPS tells troopers to cover their tats

The Texas Department of Public Safety is no-nonsense about keeping the peace in these parts, and Texans seem to be equally no-nonsense about the way DPS officers look: The state has ordered troopers to cover up their tattoos while they're on duty after complaints from the public.

The policy went into effect last week for the DPS's nearly 2,700 troopers, who already had to have short hair, shiny shoes and wear no jewelry or piercings while on duty. The officers can use long sleeves or skin-tone patches to hide body art, officials said.

Sgt. Brian Hawthorne, of the Department of Public Safety Officers Association, estimates that fewer than 10 percent of troopers have tattoos. The group, which represents troopers, has not taken a stance on the new policy.

"This is a true generational thing," Hawthorne told the Austin American-Statesman. "Over the last few years (body art) has increased."

HPD put a similar policy in place Jan. 1, but local police officers have to cover their tats with clothing — which means bike cops with tattoos on their legs have to wear long pants, even in the heat of the summer. Now that's dedication.