Red or purple? Philly police officer files complaint after being sent home for colored hair

Complaint: Pa. policewoman sent home for dyed hair

PHILADELPHIA — A Philadelphia police officer says she was sent home from work because of a dispute over her hair color.

Officer Renee Norman filed a discrimination complaint Wednesday with the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission. She says her hair was red but her captain insisted it was purple.

A police department directive on officers’ hairstyles bans “unnatural colors” such as purple, blue and green.

Norman says her supervisor sent her home when she refused to change her hair color. She says she used a commercial dye labeled “crimson.”

Police spokesman Lt. Frank Vanore says the directive is “pretty clear.” But he won’t comment on the complaint.

An officer with cornrows was assigned to desk duty last year until he agreed to cut his hair.

Information from: The Philadelphia Inquirer, www.philly.com