Maryland Agency Puts Dozens of Officers on Paid Leave Due to Growing Facial Hair

Twenty-five police officers in Maryland will be on paid leave for the remainder of the Coronavirus pandemic—not because they caught COVID-19—but because of their facial hair.

According to WCBJ-TV , an order that allowed police officers to grow beards has now been rescinded at the request of the county health officer, who says beards aren't compatible with protective face masks.

A year ago, Prince George's County Police Chief Hank Stawinski broke with long-standing tradition and allowed his officers to grow beards.

The order has now been rescinded temporarily.

The officers who continued to grow facial hair are now on paid leave for the duration of the COVID-19 outbreak.