A New Jersey state trooper who went missing earlier this month is now under investigation for tattoos on his body that some consider racist and offensive.

The tattoos were seen on Detective Jason Dare in photos posted online after he was reported missing.

Dare is currently on administrative leave. There is now an internal affairs investigation to determine if the tattoos mean that Dare has legitimate ties to any white supremacist groups.

The tattoo in question is on Dare’s upper chest near his neck. It reads “Blood Honor.” When translated into German, the phrase represents a Nazi slogan. Blood and Honor is also the name of a neo-Nazi group in the United Kingdom.

The anti-Defamation League states, "Several American white supremacist groups proclaim an association with Blood & Honour, as do many individual white supremacists."

The tattoo became visible when state police started posting photos asking for help finding Dare earlier this month. He was reported missing after walking away from a medical facility in Media, Pennsylvania, where he was receiving unspecified treatment.

Some people seeing the posts on social media questioned why the state police did not notice an apparent Nazi marking on the trooper.

The New Jersey State Police has a policy on tattoos that states they must not be seen when an officer is in uniform. "Applicants who remain noncompliant with these standards will not be appointed to the Academy,” the policy reads.

New Jersey State Police Superintendent Col. Patrick Callahan says he is “aware of the concerns” regarding Dare’s tattoos.

“I understand the importance of transparency and trust between law enforcement and the community, which is why we have enlisted the assistance of our law enforcement partners to conduct a thorough investigation,” Callahan wrote in a statement.

The statement continued, “There is no room for hate, prejudicial rhetoric, or divisive behavior in our organization, an organization that was built on our core values of honor, duty, and fidelity.”

The New Jersey Office of the Attorney General has also weighed in, although the office did not address Dare directly. The office states that it would be a violation of the new police licensure law to be an active member of a group that advocates for discrimination.

Dare has been with the state police since 2004.