By Jesse Buchanan
The Record-Journal
SOUTHINGTON, Conn. — Police officers and firefighters say they left Thursday’s cultural training program with a better understanding of Islam and Sikhism.
Speakers certified with the U.S. Department of Justice Community Relations Service gave an overview of both religions and examples of issues that can arise between adherents and law enforcement — such as the ceremonial daggers carried at all times by most Sikhs.
The training follows talks between the Southington Police Department and members of the Sikh temple on West Street about increased security in the wake of the deadly Aug. 5 shooting at a Wisconsin temple. Southington police increased patrols around the West Street temple and held talks with Sikh leaders about security.
Another session is scheduled tonight for those who weren’t able to attend on Thursday. Police Lt. Lowell DePalma said such training can help avoid unintentionally offending those of a different culture or religion.
“One of the best tools we can have is education,” he said. Raman Beet Singh, a Sikh from Trumbull, said adherents of Sikhism do not cut their hair and most often wear turbans. For Sikhs who do so, the turban is very important, and requiring a Sikh to remove it in public would be disrespectful.
If police need to search or remove a turban, Singh said, it should be done in a private room, and another item, such as a bandana, provided to allow the Sikh to cover his head. The Sikh dagger, which is unsharpened, is kept on the person and is one of five items that every Sikh carries. Unlike other items, which include a bracelet and comb, the dagger can cause alarm, but Singh said it is carried to symbolize fighting for justice rather than as a weapon.
As with the turban, Singh said, police should remove the items with care and treat them with respect.
Singh said there are 700,000 Sikhs in the United States.
Though the training was most applicable to police officers, firefighters were among the 30 people attending Thursday’s program. Fire Chief Harold “Buddy” Clark asked Singh about the West Street temple and the Sikh scriptures kept there. In the case of a fire, Clark said he’d like firefighters to know where those religious books were kept so they could be preserved.
“We want to help protect what’s precious to them,” he said after the training.
Clark and other fire staff plan to meet with temple leaders to go over where scriptures are kept in the building.
Singh pointed out that Sikhism is its own religion and is not a part of Islam. Confusion arises from the wearing of turbans, which are sometimes associated with Islam.
Saud Anwar, a trainer with the Community Relations Service, gave an overview of Islam and took questions about the religion worldwide.
When asked about extremists, Anwar said every religion has militants who believe their way is the only way and who believe harming others is justified.
Anwar said people generally only see the bad news — he faced concerns from friends and family in his native country of Pakistan that his children would be shot in U.S. schools.
“We only hear about the negatives,” Anwar said. “Bad people make good news.”
The training was first in a series of meetings between police and town organizations to foster cooperation and to let officers know what resources are available, according to police Capt. Edward S. Pocock III. Future meetings are planned to take place between police and group homes in Southington, autism groups and the YMCA.
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