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[GK86]

Rest of the article at link.

The New York Police Department has relaxed its policies to allow Sikh and Muslim officers to grow beards of 1.27cm long for religious reasons, in a move aimed recruiting more minorities.

Police Commissioner James O'Neill announced the new rule on Wednesday following a graduation ceremony for new police recruits.

Under the revised rules, Sikh officers will also be allowed to wear turbans in place of the traditional police cap, O'Neill said.

Officers would need approval to wear the turban that would have to be navy blue and have the NYPD insignia attached.

"We're making this change to make sure that we allow everybody in New York City that wants to apply and have the opportunity to work in the greatest police department in the nation, to make sure we give them that opportunity," O'Neill was quoted by the New York Times as saying.

Of the 557 recruits who graduated, 33 are Muslims and two are Sikhs, the Times reported.

The Sikh Coalition, an advocacy group which aims to protect the right to practise the religion, said it was "optimistic about what this announcement represents in the way of progress".

Meanwhile, the Sikh Officers Association welcomed the move calling it "a proud moment for [the] Sikh community".

According to the NYPD patrol guide, officers were previously prohibited from having beards, though an unwritten policy permitted them up to one millimetre in length.

The reason given for the ban was that beards interfere with certain gas masks.

 

[Spiral Insanity]

Looking good.

 

[The Last Wizard]

Nypd pr is in full swing lately but it don't change a thing.

 

[Sou Da]

That badge on the turban is pretty spiffy.

 

[norm9]

But now their gas masks won't fit per their prior excuse. Or will NYPD just not give gas masks to Sikh and Muslim cops when they tear gas people?

 

[LionPride]

Now can they treat black people and latinos/hispanics like people?

 

[AntraxSuicide]

But now their gas masks won't fit per their prior excuse. Or will NYPD just not give gas masks to Sikh and Muslim cops when they tear gas people?

Honestly, I find that excuse lacking.

 

[nkarafo]

The beards i get. But the cap?

I thought police caps are standard part of the police uniform for everyone and aren't supposed to represent religion or anything like that.

 

[Tagyhag]

That's cool, but I had no idea they had a beard length requirement in the first place.

 

[GK86]

Now can they treat black people and latinos/hispanics like people?

.

 

[Silver Arrows]

I believe RCMP units do this as well.

 

[Quonny]

Dang, they should all wear turbans. That looks sharp as hell.

 

[Alebrije]

So they will look like this :

Cool.

 

[Quonny]

So they will look like this :

Cool.

1.27cm is 0.5 inches. It's barely more than stubble.

 

[Frozenprince]

Yeah. Call me when the commissioner isn't calling it a "business" and his police officers "employees who we expect to earn their pay" when referring to drug arrests.

 

[Imm0rt4l]

Nypd pr is in full swing lately but it don't change a thing.

this

 

[Kyzon]

That's pretty dope looking actually.

 

[DrunkShogun]

As it should be. Allows s more diverse police force and doesn't compromise their ability to perform in anyway. Hopefully we see a positive reception and see this moved to other areas.

 

[Oblivion]

Breitbart report on how the NYPD has been infiltrated by ISIS in 3...2...

 

[RustyNails]

Nypd pr is in full swing lately but it don't change a thing.

Is it just PR? Do you think podunkville, Alabama can also say the same thing about their local PD?

 

[Fury451]

This is really cool, but I fear that this will make them targets.

 

[Nibiru]

This is good imo.

 

[Hyun Sai]

Unfortunately, even if minorities are in, they'll likely stay silent to the behaviour of the scumbags, like the others.

 

[Wolfe]

1.27cm is 0.5 inches. It's barely more than stubble.

It's still a step in the right direction and made me feel good reading about it.

 

[BoosterDuck]

This is really cool, but I fear that this will make them targets.

Targets to who? Criminals? That's what an officer's job is lol

 

[Fury451]

Targets to who? Criminals? That's what an officer's job is lol

Well that's standard, yes. I was referring to people that would target officers based on being Muslim or Sikh.

 

[Zaru]

On one hand, good for them.

On the other hand, I'm not overly excited about MORE special treatment for religion, even if this happens under the feelgood premise of helping a minority.
If they allow weird dress exceptions for arbitrary religious reasons, they might as well let a pastafarian police officer wear a pasta strainer. Makes just about as much sense.
While googling, I just found out that in select areas Sikhs are/were exempt from wearing protective helmets on e.g. motorcycles or constructions sites. If your religion tells you to value a fashion statement over safety, there's probably something wrong with it.

 

[Shadax the wizard]

I like the look of that!

 

[Holy Order Sol]

that's one sick album cover

 

[Renekton]

No complaints from me, Sikh enforcers are badass.

 

[tearsintherain]

that's one sick album cover

Thats one sikh album cover

 

[RinsFury]

Wow, those look great!

 

[Moonkid]

We've had this in NZ for a few years now, good move by the NYPD.

 

[PeakPointMatrix]

Looks fucking badass honestly.

 

[The Last Wizard]

Is it just PR? Do you think podunkville, Alabama can also say the same thing about their local PD?

Yes,it's pr. They're trying to win the public back but the institution as a whole is still racist out the ass.

 

[Hyun Sai]

On the other hand, I'm not overly excited about MORE special treatment for religion, even if this happens under the feelgood premise of helping a minority.
If they allow weird dress exceptions for arbitrary religious reasons, they might as well let a pastafarian police officer wear a pasta strainer. Makes just about as much sense.
While googling, I just found out that in select areas Sikhs are/were exempt from wearing protective helmets on e.g. motorcycles or constructions sites. If your religion tells you to value a fashion statement over safety, there's probably something wrong with it.

Also this, but common sense seems to falter when minorities are involved, unfortunately.

 

[rokkerkory]

Good stuff nypd

 

[TheOohChild]

Can white atheist cops wear the turban? I would rather wear a cool turban over those dumb little train conductor hats.

 

[Frozenprince]

Also this, but common sense seems to falter when minorities are involved, unfortunately.

Quick, tell me how many Sikh motorcycle police there are. Also, tell me how many times in their career the average patrol cop needs to use a gasmask.

 

[Lonewolf_92]

Rest of the article at link.

Not gonna hate, they look good. Hell, a turban will probably protect their heads better than the normal police cap too.

 

[cackhyena]

Now can they treat black people and latinos/hispanics like people?

Woah woah woah...baby steps.

 

[victreeb3l]

This is an excellent move but yeah PR. The organization needs to do a lot more to gain back the public trust.

 

[Trouble]

Honestly, I find that excuse lacking.

It's the reason airline pilots aren't allow to grow beards. Granted in the event of a decompression at cruising altitude the pilots' oxygen masks become damn important to far more than a single person.

 

[Regginator]

I'm legit shook that apparently it wasn't possible to let your beard grow at NYPD?

quick edit: Maybe I'm not reading properly, but the new rules now allow beards to grow to a maximum of 1.27cm? That's.... not much at all. Basically anything more than stubbles are still not allowed then.

 

[Kite]

Army versions.

 

[Starborn]

Good PR move, but they took a step backwards in transparency this year by removing "personnel orders" which basically displayed the ongoings of cops in every department for including disciplinary record and or actions. It was made available for reports for more than 4 decades. Link

There's a lot of things they don't tell you about the NYPD, such as having a non-profit police foundation that fund covert activities abroad. They have cops stationed in many parts of the world internationally. Link Some of the funding comes from other governments such as United Arab Emirates. Link

 

[watershed]

Too bad they're still be harassed by their own colleagues once they're off duty in plain clothes. Sorry but I am cynical.

 

[The Last Wizard]

Too bad they're still be harassed by their own colleagues once they're off duty in plain clothes. Sorry but I am cynical.

No, you're not cynical.

 

[Generalpsyduck]

Army versions.

He looks cool as hell.