We are proud to welcome first #Sikh Turbaned female Auxiliary Police Officer in the @NYPDnews. APO Gursoach Kaur and other Auxiliary Police Officers graduated from the Academy. We are proud of you. Stay safe. #sikhsinlawenforcement pic.twitter.com/P4q2ysUVbK
— Sikh Officers Assoc. (@SikhOfficers) May 16, 2018
The New York Police Department has welcomed its first turbaned Sikh woman officer, in hopes of diversifying its ranks.
Gursoach Kaur graduated from the New York City Police Academy last week. The announcement was first made by the Sikh Officer’s Association through a Facebook post:
“Sikh Officers Association is proud to welcome First #Sikh Turbaned Female Auxiliary Police Officer in the NYPD. APO Gursoch Kaur and other Auxiliary Police Officers graduated from the Academy. We are proud of you. Your service will be a motivation for others to join the Law enforcement Family.”
The NYPD has allowed its Sikh officers to wear turbans and grow out their facial hair as part of their religious practice since December 2016. At the time, there were roughly 160 Sikh officers serving in the NPYD according to commissioner James O’Neill.
“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 had said after announcing the policy change according to The Deccan Herald.
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