Via Philly.com

Police in Philadelphia say a white officer who came to work with cornrows was ordered by a black superior to get a haircut because the braids violated department standards. The Philadelphia Daily News reported Monday that Officer Thomas Strain was put on desk duty this month because of the braids, even though the paper reported dozens of black officers wear cornrows.

Police spokesman Lt. Frank Vanore says Strain’s boss told the officer to cut his hair to look more “professional.” Vanore says officers’ hats must fit “in a military manner” over their hair, and that Strain’s hat did not. Strain got a haircut; he declined comment to the paper.

Vanore recalled only one black officer with braids in the past several years. He says that officer also was told to get a haircut.

Man, Vanore sure is lucky he has that one black officer as an alibi here.  If not for that this would most likely be a much bigger story…nor not.  Still though, this is very similar to dress codes in the NBA or that town that forbids wearing really low pants.

Put it this way, is it racist?  Depends on what you consider racist.  Technically I would say this is a blatant example of a police Lieutenant really hating something that originated in the hip hop culture and is using company uniform and policy to prohibit anything resembling blackness in his unit.

I for one can’t stand corn rows.  But, technically it’s a free country right?  Tough call on this one.Still though, Vanore should let his white cop keep the corn rows.  It’ll serve him right when a gang of black dudes beats the crap out of him.