Police Officer David Demarest was fired in 1991 after wearing a tattoo of a swastika on his ankle that irked fellow officers. Demarest, reinstated two years ago by a hearing officer, has now come under fire for his new hairstyle.
It’s the skinhead look.
“The haircut is not despicable by itself, but when we couple the haircut with the fact that the department has been known to be a racist one for years, that is the problem,” resident Maretha Madeus said on Wednesday.
Demarest, 28, is not alone. Three other officers shave their heads, but all deny they are skinheads, a hair fashion associated with white supremacy.
As he did in the case of the tattoo, Demarest said his haircut is a First Amendment privilege.
“I am not a racist person – not at all,” he said. “And from what I hear about skinheads, I do not support them.”
All four officers say they have been shaving their heads for several years and that they had no intent on offending anyone with their haircuts.
“I decided that shaving my head would save money on haircuts, disguise my baldness and still provide ease of care,” police Sgt. John Smith said.
Like Smith, Officer David Wier said he began shaving his head to hide his bald spot.
“I’ve been shaving my hair long before I became a police officer,” said Weir, who has been with the department for two years. “I’m only 26 and I am going bald, so I want to keep my youthful appearance.”
Officer John Peters said he has been sporting the shaved head look since he was in the military.
There is not much the city can do because the department has a dress code that requires officers only to sport a professional haircut.
Nevertheless, the officers have agreed to let their hair grow longer.
“I never intended to offend anyone or embarrass the Police Department or myself by wearing my head shaved,” said Smith, a 10-year department employee. “I understand that appearance does sometimes result in erroneous judgment, and for that reason, and my pride in being a dedicated and honorable public servant, I intend to let my hair grow out to avoid any further misperceptions.”
Chief Thomas Dettman, who took over the department last year, said he will not tolerate any officers who endorse or condone any racial or derogatory practice on his force.
For decades the Boynton Beach Police Department has been at odds with many of its black residents, who accuse police officials of racist practices.
In 1987, the Cherry Hill community was considered a war zone. Black residents frequently complained that police used excessive force, and white police officers were shot at while they patrolled the streets.
Two years ago, a team of independent consultants criticized the city’s record in hiring black officers and recommended measures to improve minority hiring.
Madeus, of the Ridgewood Hills Community Action Group, said the officers should have first thought about the negative connotations.
“It is especially depressing because one of the officers who now shaves his head used to wear the swastika,” Madeus said. “Has he traded his swastika for the skinhead haircut?”
Arthur Mathews, owner of Rainbow City Grocery and former chairman of the Code Enforcement Board, said there are some things that responsible individuals should do.
“Demarest said he has a right to put a tattoo on his body wherever he wants, but realizing who he is, a police officer, it would be in his best interest to keep quiet and stay low considering you are being sponsored by taxpayers dollars.”
