Washington, DC — The DC Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) will hold its annual career expo to showcase the department’s operations and to recruit new officers including, for the first time, Sikh recruits to the department. After meetings with Sikh Mediawatch and Resource Taskforce (SMART) representatives on inclusion of Sikhs on the force, DC Police Chief Ramsey has publicly stated he would welcome Sikhs to serve in the police department. SMART considers this is a move in the right direction and a victory for Sikh Americans. On behalf of all Sikh Americans SMART thanks Police Chief Ramsey for his commitment to having an inclusive and diverse police force reflective of the local population. SMART encourages all Sikhs in the DC metro area who are interested in career with the DC police department to attend the expo. Recruiters will be on-site to provide more information on career opportunities as a police officer. Provisions have been made for those interested to take both the written and physical abilities tests. The written test will be held at the convention center and the physical test will be held at the Training Academy. The career expo will be held: WHERE: Washington DC Convention Center WHEN: April 27, 2002 from 9 am – 5 pm Minimum Job Requirements: To qualify for the position of police officer you must: 1. Be a US citizen at the time of application 2. Have reached the age of 20 years and six months at the time of application and have reached the age of 21 years at the time of appointment 3. Possess at least 20/100 vision, correctable to 20/30 in both eyes 4. Pass a written test 5. Pass the following physical requirements equipped as a police officer: – Run an obstacle course – Run serpentine course – Run up/down stairs – Drag 160 pound mannequin 30 feet – Run under a table – Run and jump over a fence – ID “suspect” after “pursuit” – Dry fire point and shoot 6. Pass a medical examination, including being of proportionate weight and height 7. Pass a psychological examination and drug-screening test 8. Possess a high moral character for carrying out law enforcement duties 9. Possess a valid driver’s license at the time of application 10. Have a high school diploma or a certificate of equivalency issued by a recognized department of education Residency Requirements: MPDC officers do not have to reside in DC; however, there is a residency preference that adds points to the rating and ranking score of qualified candidates who live in the District of Columbia. While police officers are not required to live in the District of Columbia, all applicants selected for police officer positions must certify that they will establish residence within a 25 mile radius of the United States Capitol building within 180 days from the date of graduation from the police training academy. More detailed information is available at: http://mpdc.dc.gov/mpdc/site/default.asp or by contacting the department at: Metropolitan Police Department Office of Recruiting 300 Indiana Avenue, NW, Room 2169 Washington, DC 20001 (202) 727-2767 (800) 994-MPDC (6732)
DC Metropolitan Police Career Fair, Sikhs Invited to Apply
Washington, DC — The Sikh Mediawatch and Resource Task Force (SMART), a national Sikh American advocacy group, conducted a 90 minute presentation on Sikh Americans and Sikhism yesterday for local law enforcement in Charleston, West Virginia. This presentation was part of SMART’s ongoing efforts to educate federal government and local law enforcement agencies about Sikh Americans and Sikhism. The presentation offered a tutorial about the history and theology of the Sikh faith, and focused on breaking down common stereotypes and misperceptions of Sikh Americans. The presentation also highlighted the five articles of faith, giving special attention to the kirpan and turban. Additionally time was devoted to explaining the difference between Sikhs, and other commonly associated religions and cultural groups, stressing Sikh’s separate identity from Hindus, Muslims, and especially the Taliban. Attending the seminar were staff of the WV Attorney General’s office, WV Human Rights Commission, US Attorney for Southern District of WV, Director of WV Equal Employment Opportunity Office, FBI agents, US Marshals Service, officers of WV State Police, and officers from several WV city and county police departments. SMART believes that the most effective way to prevent further incidents of harassment of Sikh Americans, especially regarding domestic security issues, is continued education about Sikhism to federal agencies, local authorities, and community leaders. SMART will continue to offer such seminars to other federal agencies in the future.
Washington, DC – The Federal Bureau of Prisons clarified its policy allowing Sikh visitors to federal prisons to wear their religiously mandated turbans during security searches in response to concerns raised by Sikh American groups after a Sikh attorney was barred from visiting his client in a federal prison. Ravinder Singh Bhalla asserted his first amendment rights when he was asked to remove his turban after he had successfully passed through the metal detector without triggering the device at a Brooklyn, NY Federal Prison. Bhalla mobilized fellow attorneys and also contacted the Sikh Mediawatch and Resource Task Force (SMART) and the Sikh Coalition to successfully persuade the Federal Bureau of Prisons to clarify its policy allowing Sikh visitors to federal prisons to wear their religiously mandated turbans during security searches. The Sikh turban is a religiously mandated head-covering and its removal in public is regarded by Sikhs as akin to a public strip search. The Federal Bureau of Prisons recently reviewed its policy and notified all its institutions clarifying the policy regarding religious garment searches. Religious garments are only to be subjected to searches on a case-by case basis and only if there is reasonable suspicion for such a search, the bureau said. The bureau also said that when prisons conduct removal and inspection searches, the least invasive means to prevent contraband introduction will be employed. If the removal and inspection of any religious head covering is required, the search will be conducted in a private area by staff of the same gender. SMART and the Sikh Coalition said they are pleased with the bureau’s clarification of its policy and encourages the bureau to implement religious and cultural awareness training for federal prison employees.
Baltimore, M.D.– The Sikh Mediawatch and Resource Task Force (SMART), a national Sikh civil rights advocacy group, conducted an educational seminar December 7, 2001 for the Director and employees of the Department of Justice Community Relations Service. Trainers from the Baltimore Police Department and members of various Maryland County Human Relations Commissions were also in attendance. This presentation was part of SMART’s ongoing efforts to educate federal government and local law enforcement agencies about Sikhism, explain how the events of September 11, 2001’s terrorist attacks affected the Sikh community, and possible solutions to address the concerns of Sikh Americans. The presentation offered a brief tutorial about the history and theology of the Sikh faith, but primarily focused on breaking down common stereotypes and mis-perceptions of Sikh Americans. In addition, the SMART presenter offered attendees possible solutions to address the issues facing the Sikh Americans community while still maintaining important security measures now in place across the nation. The presentation also highlighted the five articles of faith, giving special attention to the kirpan and turban. Additionally time was devoted to explaining the difference between Sikhs, and other commonly associated religions and cultural groups, stressing Sikh’s separate identity from Hindus, Muslims, and especially the Taliban. SMART believes that the most effective way to prevent further incidents of harassment of Sikh Americans, especially regarding domestic security issues, is continued education about Sikhism to federal agencies and local authorities.
Washington, DC — The Sikh Mediawatch and Resource Task Force (SMART), a national Sikh American advocacy group, conducted a 90 minute presentation on Sikh Americans and Sikhism on Thursday, March 28, for local law enforcement in Seaford, Delaware. This presentation was part of SMART’s Education Campaign aimed at educating federal government and local law enforcement agencies about Sikh Americans and Sikhism. The presentation offered a tutorial about the history and theology of the Sikh faith, and focused on breaking down common stereotypes and misperceptions of Sikh Americans. The presentation also highlighted the five articles of faith, giving special attention to the kirpan and turban. Additionally time was devoted to explaining the difference between Sikhs, and other commonly associated religions and cultural groups, stressing Sikh’s separate identity from Hindus, Muslims, and especially the Taliban. SMART believes that the most effective way to prevent further incidents of harassment of Sikh Americans, especially regarding domestic security issues, is continued education about Sikhism to federal agencies, local authorities, and community leaders. SMART will continue to offer such seminars to other federal agencies in the future.