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Photos Of Tattoos In Detention Deputy Inquiry Released

Pinellas County Sheriff's Office

It was these tattoos on Deputy Aaron Simpson's hands and knuckles that landed him in trouble with his bosses.

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By STEPHEN THOMPSON | The Tampa Tribune

Published: July 18, 2008

LARGO - On each side of his neck is a tattoo of a skull, and across his knuckles he had tattooed the expression, "Hard Luck," with a letter on each knuckle.

To Pinellas sheriff's detention Deputy Aaron Simpson, his tattoos are an art form.

To his bosses at the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office, they constitute a violation of the sheriff's uniform and appearance policy. As a result, the six-year veteran was suspended for three days.

In response to a public records request, the sheriff's office this afternoon released the internal affairs file on the matter, along with pictures taken of Simpson during the investigation.

Simpson's tattoos came to light March 27, one month after he was charged with drunken driving. Jail staff members typically document every inmate's tattoos.

When asked about the tattoos, Simpson said he had been acquiring them piecemeal while in the U.S. Marine Corps, where he worked before he joined the sheriff's office.

At the time, however, none of those tattoos was visible to the public. While in the sheriff's employ, he added tattoos that were visible when he wore his uniform at the jail. In essence the tattoos that got him into trouble were the ones on his neck, hands and knuckles.

Simpson defended the tattoos, according to the internal affairs file.

"It's just art work," Simpson said. "It might be distracting to one's perception, but they're not offensive in any manner."

It was clear from the file internal affairs investigators thought differently.

"I think you'll find or you may or may not agree that it's unusual for persons in our line of work wearing our Class A uniform to have body art on their hands and fingers," Sgt. Joe Gillette told Simpson during Simpson's internal affairs interview.

Simpson served his suspension June 9, 12, and 13. As part of his punishment he was told that until the tattoos are removed, he can't be given any assignments where the public is involved; he cannot bid for any particular shifts; and he cannot wear a Pinellas sheriff's uniform that can be viewed by the public, and that includes while he is commuting to and from work.

Simpson violated a general policy that says deputies can't engage in any conduct that is contrary to "good order and discipline." In addition, there is a policy that says tattoos are supposed to be covered. So, if a deputy has a tattoo on his forearm, he is required to wear a long-sleeve shirt to cover it up, regardless of the weather.

Previously Simpson had been disciplined for failing to document use of force and for a drunken driving charge filed in 2004.

Reporter Stephen Thompson can be reached at (727) 451-2336 or spthompson@tampatrib.com.

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