In order to develop better upper body strength, a couple of years ago I bought a British sports car, which guarantees I do a lot of pushing.

Sunday afternoon found me pushing the Triumph again, this time at the intersection of Calumet and Columbia avenues in Munster, after the fuel pump decided it no longer wanted to push gas to the carburetor.

Several motorists shouted helpful suggestions in colorful language about getting my car out of the way, apparently under the impression I was out for a Sunday afternoon push. Then a squad car pulled up.

Patrolman Mike Silsby got out. "Sounds like a fuel pump," he said. "When the light turns green, let's push it across the street into the park." Which we did.

Silsby stuck around a little and offered to check later to see if someone had come to get me home. He sympathized, saying his truck had just gone through an $800 fuel pump.

One thing I did not notice was whether Silsby had a tattoo. I don't know, and I don't care. He helped me out of an unpleasant situation in a friendly but professional manner.

I bring this up because Schererville's Police Commission has banned all visible tattoos on its police officers, and is not grandfathering in officers whose ink was all right up until this month.

I have no tattoos. I don't care all that much for the way they look, but beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Unless a tattoo is racist, obscene or reflects poorly on the individual, I don't get what all the fuss is about.

Certainly, police officers should look and behave like professionals, but tattoos are becoming so commonplace that they are no longer the exclusive domain of biker gangs, pirates, sailors and circus freaks.

You've seen them on Olympic athletes, at the grocery store and in church. They're not everyone's cup of tea, but they are everywhere. Times change, and tastes have changed, even if I feel it's not for the better.

You see the stories daily where a cop somewhere, without regard for his or her own safety, pulls someone from a burning car or dives into a lake to rescue a drowning child. Do we really want to worry about the ink on their skin?

If Schererville wants to start this policy with its next hire, no problem. But grandfather in the existing tattoos, and ban additional ones on visible places on current officers.

Oh, yes, and while you're meeting to discuss these weighty matters, tackle some of the smaller things, too.

Like finding a police chief.

The opinions are solely those of the writer. He can be reached at markk@nwitimes.com or (219) 933-4170.