(NewsNation) — The country’s largest police force is making some old-school changes.
New dress code changes are expected to impact everything from facial hair bans to the New York Police Department‘s uniform requirements.
However, some caution these changes could impact an already-declining roster of NYPD officers.
“Uniform changes are coming rather quickly. No more beards in about a week. No open collars in about a week. We’re going back to weather restrictions on caps,” NYPD Chief of Patrol John Chell said in a video obtained by the New York Post.
He continued, “We are going old school.”
NewsNation has reached out to the NYPD for comment but has not yet heard back.
The department relaxed its policies on beards and turbans in 2016 due to a growing number of Sikhs joining the agency. There will also be religious exemptions with the new policy.
Retired NYPD Sgt. Joseph Giacalone told NewsNation he’s in favor of the move, saying officers need to look more presentable on the job.
However, Police Benevolent Association president Patrick Hendry expressed concern.
“The NYPD is understaffed by thousands of police officers and hundreds more are leaving every month. The department has much bigger issues to tackle. Is it really time to focus on beards and neckties?” the union leader questioned.
According to data from the NYPD pension, more than 2,500 police officers left that job last year. That’s the fourth-highest number of cops to quit in a single year over the past decade.