WASHINGTON: Washington's police chief on Wednesday gave the green light for turbaned Sikhs to serve as officers, making the capital the first major US city to accommodate the religion's articles of faith.
The police department said that 4,000 officers have gone through cultural training to sensitize them to the Sikh faith and that the first Sikh American keeping his turban and beard was expected to join the force in August.
"It is difficult enough to find highly qualified police officers. There are very rigid standards," Cathy Lanier, chief of the Metropolitan Police Department, told a news conference.
"Then to think about something as simple as appearance or a grooming standard that would prevent somebody who is talented enough to meet all that other criteria, it really just doesn't make sense," she said.
Sikh men are required by faith to wear a turban and beard and carry a ceremonial sword. The requirements have often conflicted with codes in Western countries that call for men to be clean-shaven or wear assigned headgear.
Since 2010, the US military has made exceptions to allow observant Sikhs to serve. Turbaned Sikhs already serve as police officers in several other countries including Britain, Canada and India, where the religion was founded.
But New York City, which has a large Sikh community, maintains a prohibition on turbans. In 2003, a Sikh traffic officer filed a discrimination lawsuit but the police department reverted to its former rules after he left the force.
Los Angeles County has allowed Sikh Americans to serve with turbans but only in the sheriff department reserves, not on active duty, according to activists.
The US Sikh community, estimated by activists at around 700,000 strong, has endured harassment and sporadic violence since the September 11, 2001 attacks as assailants mistakenly associate their turbans with Islamic extremism.
Jasjit Singh of the Sikh American Legal Defense and Education Fund, which partnered with Washington's police department, hailed the US capital for "affirming that religion is no bar in public service."
"We hope that other police departments around the country will follow their pioneering leadership," Singh told the news conference.
"It was over 100 years ago that Sikh Americans came to this country. Today we join our counterparts across the world in being able to protect our communities -- and proudly wear our turbans and beards while doing so."
Washington is considering holding job fairs to recruit more Sikh officers, said Patrick Burke, the assistant police chief.
COMMENTS (13)
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@zaman: First suicide bomber was the SIKH who blew himself killing Indian PM Rajev Gandhi in India. So credit goes to Khalsa force.
Do some research, rajiv ghandhi was killed by a tamil. It comes to show how much knowledge you actually have.
@zaman: First suicide bomber was the SIKH who blew himself killing Indian PM Rajev Gandhi in India. So credit goes to Khalsa force. Wow - this one takes the cake. Kudos! Did you get this in your text books too?
@Pappu Pager
Go and study Islam dear boy! Hijab is MANDATORY for all muslim women, not preference! Also trimming moustache and growing Beard is an established Sunnah and hence very important in Islam!
@Khalsa Sikhs killed Indira Gandhi and caused lot of terrorism in India, Still you have sikhs as the most loved and respected community of India!! It was never PROVED who actually crashed planes on 9/11. The hatred of Americans (or the non muslims in general) against Islam is long before 9/11. You just need to look at the history of crusade attacks which were defended by Saladin. or what Ranjeet Singh did in Lahore Badshahi Masjid. He used it as a stable for his horses!! Reason? forces of falsehood will be comfortable with falsehood but will always hate the truth.
@khalsa: First suicide bomber was the SIKH who blew himself killing Indian PM Rajev Gandhi in India. So credit goes to Khalsa force.
@Nasir: Sir, fyi, beard & turban are MANDATORY in Sikhism. It is not a matter of personal choice/preference nor a traditional style. On other hand, burqa/hijab is more of a traditional habit; while topi/ muslim beard in routine life is purely personal preference. Try to understand the DIFFERENCE. In sikhism, it is SIN to cut facial/ head hair for men. (i am not sikh, but i know- so you too can..)
@Nasir: French banned Burkha because many criminals use burkha to hide their faces from CCTV cameras and commit crime.... Nowhere did they ban hijab....
But,you know muslims will riot at the slightest provocation and spread lies to make others join them...
@someone: sikhs are nt crashing planes into their buildings!! they are not planning to blow cars at city square. they are not threatening to kill all non-sikhs!! or are they?
wow! notice how positive the attitude of the Americans is towards Sikhs and how hateful it is towards muslims!! Will they allow muslims to wear the masjid cap and serve in the police? wait a minute... a few days ago it was revealed that they were planning a total war on Islam and to nuke Islamic holy cities...reason? Simple... falsehood and oppression will always side with falsehood and oppression and will always be against the truth and justice (which is Islam)
sikh community has stood by the american people and law unlike the muslim community whose loyalty lies with other muslim nation from where they migrated to save themselves of of hunger and poverty
Sad Day for all True Americans...
This is good news. The Sikh community has had to undergo significant discrimination because the average American equates the bearded South Asian individual with hardcore Islam, whereas appearance is not a matter of choice for the Sikh, and the value system is likely to be quite different.
Good job. Ban hijab and beard for Muslims and allow turban and beard to Sikhs.