By The TimesLedger
Where is Solomon when you really need him?
We are watching with keen interest to see how the courts will resolve the lawsuit brought by Amric Singh Rathour, 26, a lifelong Queens resident, who was fired from his job as a traffic agent because he refused to trim his beard and remove his turban.
Rathour, who lives in Ozone Park, is one of the thousands of American Sikhs who have a found a home in Queens. He claims that his dream has long been to be an officer with the NYPD. That dream crashed to the ground on Aug. 27, 2001 when he said he was fired because he would not conform to regulations that require traffic agents to wear a uniform cap and to trim beards to no more than one inch in length.
Rathour has filed a federal lawsuit, claiming that he was fired by the city in essence because of his religious beliefs. Sikh men are expected to wear the turban and grow a full beard. He is charging the department with religious discrimination, harassment and negligence.
Rathour’s supporters say Sikh traffic agents in London have for years been allowed to keep their turbans and beards without compromising their ability to perform their duties. Indeed, as long they are clearly recognized as law enforcement officers, they would probably function just as well in New York City.
Even so, there is a larger principle at stake here. The Police Department is a “uniform” agency. The uniform lets the public know that the person wearing it has certain authority and the Department has the right to determine what that uniform should be.
Working for any of the uniform agencies is not an entitlement. If religious practice conflicts with uniform or other requirements, it is reasonable to ask the person to work someplace else. What will happen if a Buddhist monk wants to join the force and wear his traditional robe? Or, and this has happened elsewhere, what about the Pentecostal woman who wants to be a cop but insists on wearing a dress instead of uniform slacks?
Religious freedom must be balanced against the obligation of local government to promote public safety. To force the department to change its uniform code to accommodate Rathour would be a mistake.
