Over 300 Law Enforcement Officers Trained

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 (LEPP).  These trainings are conducted by SALDEF staff and Regional Directors.  This program continues to 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 Customs and Immigration Service (USCIS), and Customs and Border Protection (CBP), continue to contact SALDEF to arrange trainings.

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On May 7, SALDEF arranged a first-of-its-kind training for the Los Angeles Police Department, Counter Terrorism Bureau (LAPD CTB) as part of our Law Enforcement Partnership Program (LEPP).  SALDEF was invited to conduct the training for roughly 200 members of the LAPD CTB.  Topics discussed during the 90-minute presentation included, an introduction to Sikhism and Sikh Americans, hate crimes and their effect on the community, specifically in Los Angeles County. The training concluded by allowing participants the opportunity to address specific questions and concerns they had about appropriate and respectful ways to interact with Sikh community members. SALDEF would like to thank local advocate Niranjan Singh Khalsa for conducting this training.

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As part of an ongoing relationship with the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) in the northwest region, trainings of dozens of officers and screeners have been conducted during the second quarter.  SALDEF Board Member Navjeet Singh and Northwest Regional Director, Jaswant Singh Chani have been leading the continuing education effort joined with the Law Enforcement Partnership Program (LEPP).

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April 2nd: Several dozen local and federal law enforcement officers from across Western Massachusetts attended a training at the American International College in Springfield, MA, conducted by SALDEF Volunteer Inderpreet Singh.

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April 16th: SALDEF Board Member Navjeet Singh conducted a Sikh awareness training for roughly a dozen TSA officers and screeners. These participants learned about Sikhs and Sikh Americans, and were better prepared to understand the issues that Sikh Americans face when travelling through our nation’s airports.  In addition to the training, SALDEF raised specific concerns with TSA leadership highlighting screening issues Sikh Americans routinely encounter when traveling.

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May 29th:  Members of the TSA office in Chelsea, MA received training on Sikh Americans. The training provided introductory information on the Sikh faith and theology, as well as the challenges facing Sikh Americans, including a viewing of On Common Ground. This was part of a series of trainings that have been focused on training TSA officers and screeners in the northwest region.

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June 25th : SALDEF Northeast Regional Director, Jaswant Singh Chani conducted a Sikh awareness training for over two-dozen members of the Transportation Security TSA office in Chelsea, MA.  The training provided information on the Sikh faith and theology, as well as the challenges facing Sikh Americans. The presentation included the viewing of SALDEF’s training video On Common Ground. This is a continuation of the partnership of several years that SALDEF has had with TSA to train their officers across the Northeast.

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On May 22, SALDEF legal volunteers, Dalpreet Saluja and Nick Talwar, presented to the entire staff of the EEOC District Office in Detroit, MI.  The roughly 50 participants in attendance were comprised of investigators, attorneys, support staff and management.  The presentation provided basic information about Sikh beliefs and practices, Sikh American demographics, and common misperceptions about Sikhs and Sikhism. SALDEF staff discussed the various employment related challenges faced by the Sikh American community and shared examples of cases from different industries and professions. SALDEF would like to thank Dalpreet and Nick for volunteering their time and giving this important presentation.

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To read about out past trainings with the EEOC, please click here.