Since 1999 SALDEF has been providing trainings to local, state and federal law enforcement agencies all across the country as part of the Law Enforcement Partnership Program. These trainings are conducted by SALDEF staff and Regional Directors. This program continues to grow and prosper as a variety of agencies including county jails, schools, colleges and universities, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), United States Immigration Service (USIS), and Customs and Border Protection (CBP), continue to contact SALDEF to arrange trainings.
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Washington, D.C.
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In January, SALDEF Executive Director Jasjit Singh conducted a training for the United States Park Police of the National Park Service in Washington DC. The U.S. Park Police provides law enforcement services to designated areas within our national parks and is one of the oldest law enforcement agencies in the country. More than 50 members of the service were in attendance and received the training. SALDEF has been invited to train the Park Police more than a dozen times over the past five years..
Las Vegas, Nevada
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On January 24th, SALDEF Board Member Kavneet Singh was invited to conduct a training for roughly 50 first responders across Southern Nevada. Those in attendance included representatives from the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department (LVMPD), the FBI-Las Vegas office, the US Attorney’s office, the NV Department of Wildlife Management, Nevada Highway Patrol, as well as a number of local hotel/casino security chiefs including the Aria and MGM Casinos, and Las Vegas Security Chiefs Association.
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During the two hour presentation, the background of Sikhs and Sikh Americans was discussed, giving the participants the opportunity to address specific questions and concerns they had about appropriate and respectful ways to interact with Sikh community members. “The feedback that I collected after the presentation was the best of the entire training session”, said LVMPD Training Officer Jon Kikkert. “The presentation and presenter was professional, prepared, and informative and provided information that officers could use in the field.”
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SALDEF would like to offer our sincere thanks to Officer Jon Kikkert and the LVMPD for organizing and hosting the event, as well as local Sikh American community members, Amar Chadha, Teji Malik, and Dr. Amarjit K. Pannu, for their contributions during the presentation and support in organizing the event.
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Massachusetts
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Throughout the first quarter, SALDEF Regional Director Jaswant Singh Chani, conducted four trainings in Massachusetts, to nearly a dozen law enforcement agencies and representatives. The over 200 individuals that participated in the presentations are now better acquainted with the Sikh faith and culture, allowing for greater competency when facing issues that are of particular concern to Sikh Americans..
Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) –Throughout February, the MBTA, received trainings in Quincy from SALDEF Regional Director, Jaswant Chani. In total, over 50 people attended the training and received increased awareness about the Sikh faith and the Sikh American community. The MBTA is the nation’s fifth largest mass transit system, with an average daily ridership of 1.3 million passengers. With the large Sikh population that resides and visits the Boston-area, this training is crucial step to ensure that passengers rights and safety are protected.
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Transportation Security Administration (TSA) – Twenty members of the TSA from Logan Airport as well as the Department of Homeland Security attended a training in Chelsea on February 19th to learn about Sikhs and Sikh Americans, and better understand the issues that we face when travelling through our nation’s airports. In addition to the training, SALDEF raised specific concerns with TSA leadership highlighting issues Sikh Americans routinely encounter when traveling.
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Worcester Police Department – On February 19th, the Worcester Police Department invited SALDEF to conduct a training for thirty-five officers of their uniformed force. The training followed the standard format of a presentation on Sikhism, the Sikh articles of faith and specific areas of concern for the Sikh American community, was followed by a viewing of On Common Ground, and then a question/answer session to address of concerns for the attendees.
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Tufts University – On March 21st, SALDEF conducted a region-wide training at Tufts University in Medford, MA. The over 100 attendees included students and faculty members of the University, as well as representatives from the Tufts University Police Department, Medford Police Department, and local law enforcement agencies from across the region.