NYPD right to allow religious attire

Newsday ^ | August 5, 2004

[presidio9]

The New York Police Department wasted a lot of time and taxpayer money with an absurd defense of its policy barring two Sikhs from wearing turbans while working as traffic agents. So reinstating the two men last week was a welcome if belated recognition of the obvious - that the NYPD dress code is no match for First Amendment rights.

Described by a Sikh adherent as "our first big civil rights victory in this country," the achievement didn't come easy. Police claimed for two years-plus that turbans and beards, both tenets of the Sikh religion, violated the dress policy. The more salient point was that constitutionally protected religious expression wouldn't compromise public safety in this case.

So rather than simply altering the policy in deference to the law, not to mention common sense, officials waited for one of the men, Amric Singh Rathour, to drag them into federal court on discrimination charges. Meanwhile, Jasjit Singh Jaggi's case made its way to the city's Commission on Human Rights, which recently ordered the NYPD to reinstate him. Mercifully, police officials decided not to appeal.

[Oztrich Boy]

Yeah Sihks occasionally reltaliate. But it's usually short term and against the actual transgressor.

Unlike some groups (Muslims and Irish spring to mind) they don't nurse pointless grudges for centuries.

[maxwellp]

I live about an hour west of Albany, NY (yes, the Albany where they arrested two terrorist suspects today). If I were pulled over for, say speeding, and a cop approached my car wearing a turban I'd freak out! We must remember that this is the United States of America.

[Fiddlstix]

Sikhs are not Muslims.
It is my understanding that Muslims hate the Sikhs.
(Feel free to correct me if I'm wrong.)

[AM2000]

If a rag head stops me i would think it was a terrorist. and if I was afraid I might kill him. There is a good reason uniformed officers should be easily recognizable.

Are you saying if a Sikh police officer stopped you, you'd shoot him because you were scared of his turban?

I'm not sure whether to call you a punk or a wannabe cop-killer.

[HuntsvilleTxVeteran]

I am saying if all you could see was a turban why would I
think it was a police officer.

[AM2000]

I am saying if all you could see was a turban why would I think it was a police officer.

If all you can see is a turban? Are you by any chance imagining a Sikh cop as naked underneath the neck?

[HuntsvilleTxVeteran]

"I'm not sure whether to call you a punk or a wannabe cop-killer."

I am neither and I have never had anything but respect
from any police officer.

[AM2000]

I am neither and I have never had anything but respect from any police officer.

"from"? You can get respect from someone and still not respect them - what's your point?

[HuntsvilleTxVeteran]

I see from your profile you post a lot about yourself.

[AM2000]

I see from your profile you post a lot about yourself.

Do you always like to change the subject when you get uncomfortable? :)

[Salman]

If these Turban Top Cops can wear Turbans, why can't I display my Ten Commandments plaque in my Federal Government office or wear my Republican Pachyderm pen on my shirt?

Only if it's a requirement of your religion. It's not about free expression. A cop on duty or in uniform does not have free expression. It's about honoring religious requirements.

It can go too far, but this does not. Even if the Sikh turban reminds you of Osama's get-up. It's really not the same design.

Sikhs are in general good citizens, and policeman is the sort of job that traditionally fits in with their culture, believe it or not.

Great Britain had Sikh policemen in turban way before the age of PC, and Sikh soldiers in turban even before that.

Diversity is only bad when made a moral absolute, trumping all else.

[HuntsvilleTxVeteran]

Nope I just don't like or respect people from India.

[Salman]

I understand that Sikhs are also required by their religion to carry a dagger called a kirpan. Will NYPD regulations permit this also?

Why not? Though there is a blunt plastic "airplane" version that is religiously acceptable.

[AM2000]

Nope I just don't like or respect people from India.

So if a Sikh police officer stopped you, you would not show him any respect. Correct? Would you freak out at the sight of his scary (shudder) turban and shoot him? Or would you just run back into the woods whence you came?

[Salman]

More recently, two million of them helped fight the Axis...

Right on! :)

[HuntsvilleTxVeteran]

A police officer in uniform should be recognizable as an
officer.


Here in Texas a highway officer in a marked car must also
wear his uniform hat so he can be easily recognized.

I will let you have the last word.

[AM2000]

Texas isn't the last word on how a police officer should appear. If you're in a jurisdiction where police officers wear turbans and are recognized as police officers by their uniform and badge, then you're required to accept the fact that they're police officers. You may not shoot at them. You may not hit them. And more importantly, you may not look at their turban and squeal like a little girl.

[paleocon patriarch]

Not Good - NOT GOOD!

[A.J.Armitage]

What religion do you belong to? Cause whatever it is, I can point to worse stuff by your coreligionists. If you're an atheist, I can point to stuff for that too, starting with Joe Stalin.