January 11, 2012 (New York, NY) As 2011 came to a close, the Sikh Coalition delivered a first-ever presentation on Sikhs and Sikh practices to the New York Police Department’s (NYPD) newest graduating class.1520 graduating recruits were given tips on interacting and working with the tens of thousands of Sikh residents and Sikh visitors to America’s largest city. The presentations, which last over an hour, included a turban tying demonstration and a lively question and answer session.
The Coalition would like to thank New York City Police Commissioner Raymond W. Kelly and the leadership of the New York City Police Academy for allowing the Coalition to conduct the training. The Coalition would especially like to thank Lt. Theodore Federoff, Commanding Officer for the Curriculum and Evaluation Unit, for organizing these trainings sessions with the Coalition. The Coalition also thanks Police Officer Harinder Singh Khela of the Community Affairs Bureau for participating in and supporting the training sessions.
Through these trainings, the Coalition hopes to work with major institutions like the NYPD — the largest police force in the United States — so that they produce government employees who understand Sikhs and what it means to carry the Sikh articles of faith. New York is an extremely diverse city, and boasts a sizeable Sikh population. It is our hope to continue to partner with the NYPD in this way for every subsequent graduating class so that we can spread the message of respect and appreciation for this diversity to “New York’s Finest.”