Officer sues for being forced to shave in front of others.

[Pudge]

The president-elect was coming to Baltimore and the cops had their orders.

They had to keep the crowds orderly, keep Barack Obama safe and look presentable. Officers needed to be "clean shaven."

That was a problem for Anthony L. Brown, an 18-year veteran of the Baltimore Police Department. He says he has been diagnosed with Pseudofolliculitis Barbae, a skin condition nicknamed "razor bumps" that can cause infection and scarring "as a consequence of shaving."

That didn't stop the department from enforcing orders that cops on the presidential detail be "clean-shaven," according to a $17 million lawsuit that Brown, who is now retired, filed in Baltimore Circuit Court this month. It names the city, police force and supervisors as plaintiffs.

The lawsuit alleges that Sgt. Allen Adkins and Lt. John Windle forced Brown, 51, to shave in front of his colleagues at a roll call hours before Obama arrived on Jan. 17. The suit says the supervisors "provided Brown with a yellow plastic Bic razor and a small bottle of shaving cream, and ordered Detective Brown to shave right there and then in front of everyone without the use of water and/or a mirror."

Brown, who was a member of the Warrant Apprehension Task Force, says he wasn't allowed to use the bathroom, and that the incident caused him to suffer "tremendous humiliation, embarrassment and mental anguish," as well as aggravating his skin condition resulting in "tremendous physical pain, discomfort and disfigurement."

The officer alleges that his complaints resulted in poor performance evaluations and loss of overtime opportunities. His lawsuit also alleges police officials discriminated against him because of his medical condition.

Baltimore police declined to comment, as is their practice with pending lawsuits. City Solicitor George N. Nilson also refused comment on the litigation.

The condition for which Brown suffers is common in black men, according to the American Osteopathic College of Dermatology, which describes the ailment as curved hair growing back into the skin. The group's Internet site recommends letting the beard grow and then shaving at most every other day. Even then, the site does not recommend shaving closely.

In the suit, Brown says his ailment has been known to city police throughout his career. The officer says he had never before been asked to shave until Obama came to Baltimore on Jan 17, 2009, as he made his way to Washington by train to be sworn into office.

Brown says that on Jan. 13, a sergeant ordered him to do something about his "shaving profile." The next day, Brown brought in a letter from his dermatologist, Dr. Larry H. Gaston, which stated: "In my professional opinion he should be exempted permanently from any type of shaving requirement."

Crime Scenes: Baltimore officers sues, says forced to shave - WJW

[keith720]

Holy crap! Give me $17,000,000, and I'll shave my "taint" in the middle of Lambeau field!

[N2Fowl]

There's probably more to this story than what the media is letting on...

[Cidp24]

17 milllion is absolutely crazy but I believe that he should not have been humiliated in this manner. I can't put myself in his place because I don't know all the facts, but I'm fairly sure that I would have simply refused. Now, given that, I agree with keith.

[Buttercup]

Holy crap! Give me $17,000,000, and I'll shave my "taint" in the middle of Lambeau field!

[irishmick]

Holy crap! Give me $17,000,000, and I'll shave my "taint" in the middle of Lambeau field!

Sure! As long as you do it with a straight razor...no little yellow Bic for you!!

There *has* to be more to the story than what was in the article. After a doctor's note saying he shouldn't shave and the department knowing of his condition, I can't believe they'd force him to do that. And, if he was refusing to shave, not just pull him off of the detail?

[Pudge]

Sure! As long as you do it with a straight razor...no little yellow Bic for you!!

And, if he was refusing to shave, why not just pull him off of the detail?

Bingo. Or put him someplace he won't be in view.



My Department doesn't have a problem hand picking who they want for details, and we've got less guys on the entire department than some of you have on a shift. You can't tell me Baltimore didn't have the option to have him sit this one out.

[jmur5074]

Well if that's how it all went down, I can't blame him for suing. This conditions has come up before, and I've heard of the condition. It's recognized by many police departments.

[luckyme]

Well if that's how it all went down, I can't blame him for suing. This conditions has come up before, and I've heard of the condition. It's recognized by many police departments.

+1


Even in my academy class they said if you have this problem you don't have to shave. Just keep a "neat" appearance.

[lewisipso]

Ok sue, but 17 mil? Wow. But that's just me.

[Standard Dave]

Why doesn't the president like beards ?

Surely a neatly trimmed beard would look better than making a man with a skin condition shave with a substandard razor.

[Ducky]

Is it just me, or is the type of mentality that sues for $17mil over something like this the same mentality that drama queens have? Is it possible that his poor evaluations were actually due to his attitude? I've been in "tremendous physical pain" before, and razor bumps don't even make my top 10. Not even the top 50.