NYPD to allow Sikh officers to grow a beard, wear a turban instead of a police hat

The New York Police Department just made a "major change" to its uniform policy. On Wednesday, NYPD Commissioner James O'Neill announced that Sikh officers will now be allowed to have longer beards and wear just a turban on their heads while on duty, so long as they have obtained a religious exemption from the department's Equal Employment Opportunity Office. Both wearing a turban and keeping a beard are integral practices to the Sikh faith.
Previously, officers with religious exemptions were only allowed to have a beard up to a millimeter long. Because of the department's strict rules against non-uniform head coverings, Sikh officers were only allowed to wear a small head wrap underneath their traditional police hats. Now, beards of up to a half-inch long are permitted. Turbans will be allowed to be worn in place of a police hat, so long as the turban is navy blue and has NYPD insignia on it.
The new rules reflect the force's growing number of Sikh officers; CNN reports there are now about 160 Sikh officers in the NYPD. "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 said.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Gurvinder Singh, an NYPD officer and president of the national Sikh Officers Association, is already predicting "there will be a lot more Sikh officers now taking the next exam" because of the policy changes. "Now I'll be able to serve with my full turban on," Singh said. "It's a great feeling."
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
Book reviews: ‘Red Scare: Blacklists, McCarthyism, and the Making of Modern America’ and ‘How to End a Story: Collected Diaries, 1978–1998’
Feature A political ‘witch hunt’ and Helen Garner’s journal entries
By The Week US Published
-
The backlash against ChatGPT's Studio Ghibli filter
The Explainer The studio's charming style has become part of a nebulous social media trend
By Theara Coleman, The Week US Published
-
Why are student loan borrowers falling behind on payments?
Today's Big Question Delinquencies surge as the Trump administration upends the program
By Joel Mathis, The Week US Published
-
Nobody seems surprised Wagner's Prigozhin died under suspicious circumstances
Speed Read
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Western mountain climbers allegedly left Pakistani porter to die on K2
Speed Read
By Justin Klawans Published
-
'Circular saw blades' divide controversial Rio Grande buoys installed by Texas governor
Speed Read
By Peter Weber Published
-
Los Angeles city workers stage 1-day walkout over labor conditions
Speed Read
By Justin Klawans Published
-
Mega Millions jackpot climbs to an estimated $1.55 billion
Speed Read
By Catherine Garcia Published
-
Bangladesh dealing with worst dengue fever outbreak on record
Speed Read
By Catherine Garcia Published
-
Glacial outburst flooding in Juneau destroys homes
Speed Read
By Catherine Garcia, The Week US Published
-
Scotland seeking 'monster hunters' to search for fabled Loch Ness creature
Speed Read
By Justin Klawans Published