Approximately
60,000 law enforcement officers in California now have access to cultural
awareness training materials on Sikh Americans as a result of
collaboration between the Commission on Peace Officer Standards and
Training (POST) and SALDEF.
SALDEF worked to add
On Common Ground, a first- of-its- kind training video on Sikh
American cultural awareness for law enforcement, to the POST online
Learning Portal, giving access to law enforcement officers across
California.
On Common Ground, part of the SALDEF
Law Enforcement Partnership Program, provides law enforcement with
an overview of Sikh American cultural practices, describes their articles
of faith, explores common misconceptions, and presents strategies and best
practices to use in non-emergency situations when interacting with
community members.
“I am proud of our unending determination
to provide the best possible cultural awareness resources to the dedicated
law enforcement officers across California,” said POST Senior Consultant
Robert “R.C.” Smith. “Our partnership with SALDEF has allowed us to offer
a unique and informative online resource which will equip our officers
with much needed tools to serve to strengthen our partnership with the
Sikh American community.”
Established in 1959, POST sets minimum
selection and training standards for California law enforcement. The more
than 600 participating agencies now have easy access to this educational
tool to ensure their officers understand Sikh culture and how to better
interact with the Sikh American community.
“We are pleased to partner with POST as
they continue to provide diverse resources and best practices for
California’s law enforcement community,” said SALDEF Board Member Kavneet
Singh. “Cultural awareness training breaks down barriers of communication,
leads to better policing, and creates a stronger relationship between law
enforcement officers and the communities they serve. This is especially
important in California as it has both the oldest and largest Sikh
population in the country.”
SALDEF would like to offer special thanks
to “R.C.” Smith for his leadership and partnership in this initiative and
hopes that this collaboration serves as a model showing the need for and
benefit of collaboration between law enforcement and the Sikh American
community.
If you would like to work with your local
law enforcement department on a similar initiative, please contact SALDEF.
Further information on the SALDEF program
can be found at
http://www.saldef.org/program-areas/education/lepp/