Sikh and Muslim police officers allowed to grow beards by the New York Police Department

U.S. Marion Schneider
http://stocknewsusa.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/Sikh-and-Muslim-police-officers-allowed-to-grow-beards-by-the-New-York-Police-Department.jpg

In what can be seen as a call to inclusion and tolerance, the NYPD has agreed to allow beards, as well as the wearing of turbans by their Sikhs officers.

With this move, they soften their existing policies, allowing, for religious motives, beards up to 1,27 cm in lengths. With this move they hope to recruit an increase number or minority officers.

The announcement was made Wednesday, at the end of a graduation ceremony for new recruits by Police Commissioner James O’Neill. In the new regulation, Sikh officer are allowed to have turbans instead of the traditional police hat.

A signed approval is necessary for the use of the turban, which will have to sport the navy blue color and the NYPD badge on it.

“We’re making this change to make sure that we allow everybody in New York City that wants to apply and have the opportunity to work in the greatest police department in the nation, to make sure we give them that opportunity,” O’Neill declared in New York Times.

As noted by the Times, 33 recruits out of 557 were Muslim and two were Sikhs That the graduation ceremony.

The advocacy group The Sikh Coalition said they were “optimistic about what this announcement represents in the way of progress,” and along with the Sikh Officers Association are calling the move “a proud moment for the Sikh community.”

Muslim women in the NYPD have for years been allowed to wear headscarves.