HPD announces accommodation policy for Sikh officers

Houston Police Department becomes the largest law enforcement agency in Texas, and one of the largest in the nation, with a policy allowing Sikh officers to wear articles of faith while on duty

The new policy was partly inspired by the life of the late Harris County Sheriff's Deputy Sandeep Dhaliwal, 47, who was killed in the line of duty Friday, September 27 in Northwest Harris County. Dhaliwal was the first Sikh deputy in Texas.

Houston Police Chief Art Acevedo said all are welcome.

"Please come and apply at the Houston Police Department. We represent the entire nation," said Acevedo. "So come to the United Nations of Policing. We don't want to just serve 90 percent of the community, 92 percent of the community. We want to reflect 100 percent of the community.”

He said they are a diverse police department.

"You cannot truly have legitimacy in relational policing unless you're reflective of the community we serve," said Acevedo.


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