Mad lawsuit since 2013
Police officer gets ‘Aloha’ tattoo after years of legal battle
A police officer from Bavaria fought for his “Aloha” tattoo right up to the highest court. Now he was right – and can get the tattoo.
After a year-long legal dispute over the approval of a tattoo with the lettering “Aloha” for a Bavarian police officer, there has been an out-of-court settlement. The officer had been granted the appropriate permission, a spokeswoman for the Bavarian Ministry of the Interior confirmed on Friday in a report by Der Spiegel magazine. The man had gone before the Federal Administrative and Federal Constitutional Court, but a final decision was still pending.
According to the State Ministry of the Interior, the police officer was granted permission “for the specific individual case” and on the condition “that the tattoo be covered in a suitable manner during the service and is therefore not visible”. The regulations for tattooing Bavarian police officers are currently “in the process of being updated”.
Effects still unclear
The litigation has been going on for years. The official went through the instances to the Federal Administrative Court, which initially confirmed the ban. On the other hand, the man defended himself in part successfully before the Federal Constitutional Court, which saw his fundamental right violated by the judgment of the Federal Administrative Court and obliged it to hold a new hearing. A new decision has not yet been made.
It was initially unclear what effects the permit would have on the proceedings pending at the Federal Administrative Court. A spokeswoman for the court said on Friday that it was too early for such a statement. The State Ministry of the Interior was initially unable to provide any information.
In 2013, the police commissioner wanted to have the Hawaiian lettering “Aloha” tattooed because it reminded him of his honeymoon and was a commitment to peaceful coexistence. However, the police headquarters in Middle Franconia rejected this. The policeman then went to court.
According to “Spiegel”, the police headquarters in Central Franconia gave the official permission by notice. Accordingly, the letter said that the background to the decision was a “change in administrative practice in dealing with tattoos”.
(AFP)