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New Texas Sheriff Reaches Out To Sikhs In Light of Recent Incident

By Howard M. Friedman

Friday's Houston Chronicle reports on efforts by Adrian Garcia, the new sheriff-elect of Harris County, Texas, to reach out to the local Sikh community after Sikh Coalition criticized the handling of an incident by deputies under outgoing sheriff Tommy Thomas. In the incident, members of a Sikh family called 911 to report a Nov. 26 burglary. The family charges that when deputies arrived, instead of investigating the complaint, they became alarmed at the kirpan (ceremonial dagger) worn by Kawaljeet Kaur. Other deputies arrived and began handcuffing and cursing family members. It is alleged that one deputy made reference to the "bombings in Bombay" that had just taken place. The Sheriff's Office is currently investigating the incident, and Internal Affairs Division has already met with the family.

Full post as published by Religion Clause on December 14, 2008 (boomark / email).