Sikh police officers in the American capital will be allowed to wear turbans, beards and other religious items while on the job.
The new uniform policy announced recently by Washington DC Police Chief Cathy Lanier makes it the first major metropolitan police department in the US to permit Sikhs to maintain their articles of faith.
Developed with the Sikh American Legal Defence and Education Fund (SALDEF), the new police policy states that Sikh officers can wear turbans that are of the same colour as the uniform that they would otherwise be required to wear, with the department badge pinned to the front of the turban.
Male Sikh officers will also be able to grow neatly groomed beard. Officers of other communities would be allowed to grow beards with a waiver issued by the Department.
Ms Lanier said that it was hard to find qualified police officers, and hence it was practical to accommodate candidates who would otherwise be fit for the job.
“This is a common-sense decision,” she said.
There are no known observant Sikhs among Washington’s roughly 3800 officers. However, the new policy was motivated in part because a Sikh who will graduate from the Police academy in August and plans to become a reserve officer, has requested the accommodation, Ms Lanier said.
“This first of a kind guidance by one of the nation’s premier law enforcement agencies serves as a model for other agencies across the country.” SALDEF Executive Director Jasjit Singh said.
Sikhs had to fight for religious accommodations in other parts of the US, he said, noting that nine years ago members of the Sikh community sued New York City to become traffic enforcement officers.
In the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, observant Sikhs can serve in the reserves but not as full-time officers.
The New Zealand Police has a number of officers from the Sikh community. Among the first Sikhs in the traditional gear is Amaninder Singh Sandhu.
