The Sikh American Legal Defense and Education Fund (SALDEF) is proud to announce that three more California police chiefs and one county sheriff have issued written confirmation that observant Sikh Americans are welcome to join their respective departments. Responding to an email from local Sikh American community leader Dr. J.P. Singh — an email which contained SALDEF’s Press Release regarding the Yuba City Police Department’s policy of accepting the Sikh identity — San Pablo Police Chief Joseph P. Aita confirmed that observant Sikh Americans are welcome to apply for jobs at his agency. In an email dated June 25, 2009, Chief Aita wrote:
“I spent many hours researching Sikhism, its practices, philosophy and Rehat Maryada, and was extremely impressed. I also received a great deal of information from one of our non-baptized Sikh officers who was instrumental in addressing my safety and equipment concerns […] Satisfied with the aforementioned results, I welcome anyone from the Sikh community with an interest in law enforcement to apply for a position with the San Pablo Police Department[.]”
Responding to a letter from SALDEF, which noted that the Richmond (CA) Police Department had also joined the list of law enforcement agencies that welcome observant Sikh Americans into their organizations, Walnut Creek Police Chief Joel Bryden confirmed his commitment to equal employment opportunities for observant Sikh Americans. In an email to SALDEF dated June 30, 2009, Chief Bryden wrote:
“The City of Walnut Creek and the Walnut Creek Police Department does not discriminate against anyone practicing the Sikh religion. I am happy to confirm for you that observant Sikh Americans are welcome to apply for positions as Police Officers in the City of Walnut Creek.”
Responding to an email from local Sikh American community leader Dr. J.P. Singh, Hercules (CA) Police Chief Fred Deltorchio confirmed that observant Sikh Americans are welcome to apply for jobs at his agency. In an email dated June 30, 2009, Chief Deltorchio wrote:
“Practicing members of the Sikh Faith are encouraged to apply for positions with theCity of Hercules [Police Department], including police officer openings. Our police department would make reasonable accommodations to permit Sikhs, or members of any other religious faiths, to serve as police officers without compromising their religious beliefs.”
Responding to a letter from SALDEF, Sutter County Sheriff J. Paul Parker noted that his organization has a long history of recruiting and accommodating observant Sikh Americans. In an email dated July 2, 2009, Chief Parker wrote:
“[W]e here at the Sutter County Sheriff’s Department have had a long and close alliance with the local Sikh community … We have an active recruitment program for Sikh officers and have hired several Sikh officers over the past year since I took office. One of our Sikh cadets is an observant Sikh and this poses no problem with us. Our only requirement is that their beard is neat while on duty (for safety reasons) and that their dastaars are color coordinated with their uniform.” “Observant Sikhs have proudly served as police officers and soldiers in the United Kingdom and Canada for many years with their articles of faith intact and are beginning to pursue law enforcement careers in the United States,” said Jasjit Singh, SALDEF’s Associate Executive Director. “We are extremely grateful to our friends in San Pablo, Walnut Creek, Hercules, and Sutter County, California for their proactive leadership in the cause of promoting equal employment opportunities for observant Sikh Americans throughout the United States.”
SALDEF is grateful to Dr. J.P. Singh for his tireless outreach efforts and will continue to work with police departments nationwide to strengthen relations between law enforcement agencies and the Sikh American community under the auspices of SALDEF’s Law Enforcement Partnership Program. When observant Sikh Americans throughout the United States engage with their communities as law enforcement officers, we will break stereotypes; prove that Sikh Americans are an integral and inseparable part of American society; and create an atmosphere in which hate crimes and discrimination against Sikh Americans are a thing of the past.