Innovative Law Enforcement Education

Over 60,000 law enforcement officials from across the United States have screened On Common Ground: Sikh American Cultural Awareness Training for Law Enforcement.

Law Enforcement
Trained in 2007

Federal Agencies:
Federal Bureau of Investigation
Department of Homeland Security
Department of Justice
Transportation Security Agency
US Citizenship and Immigration Services

Local Officials in:
California
Connecticut
District of Columbia
Iowa
Massachusetts
Missouri
North Carolina
Oregon
Pennsylvania
Texas
Washington
West Virginia

SALDEF and DOJ Partnership

In a groundbreaking partnership, the Sikh American Legal Defense and Education Fund (SALDEF) and the U.S. Department of Justice – Community Relations Service (DOJ-CRS) produced this pioneering Sikh American cultural awareness training film especially for law enforcement. You can watch the film .

Then U.S. Attorney General Alberto Gonzalez reflected, “[On Common Ground] makes clear that Sikhs are an integral part of American society. I commend CRS, and I offer my sincere appreciation to CRS and SALDEF for their perseverance and creative effort in producing this educational film.”

Law Enforcement Training

Since its release in 2007, the training program has become an integral part of law enforcement education throughout the United States and is used extensively by federal, state, and local law enforcement. The training video is also being used as a model for law enforcement agencies worldwide including Australia, Canada, the United Kingdom, and New Zealand.

Through your generous support, SALDEF will continue to develop innovative strategies to inform the American public about Sikhism and create a more inviting environment for our families and children. Make your contribution before the year ends to support this work done in the spirit of seva.