Sikh religious community brings faith-awareness to TPS

Toronto Police College unit commander Supt. Debra Preston thanked the World Sikh Organization (WSO) of Canada for playing a vital role in the development of the module.

http://www.torontonews24.com/toronto-news/18-community-and-events/967-sikh-religious-community-brings-faith-awareness-to-tps

TORONTO - Officers have partnered with religious leaders to create faith-based training for police personnel.

Uniform and civilian Service members are required to participate in online faith-based awareness training, as part of the Service’s commitment to deliver effective and professional policing. The training is designed to ensure police personnel do not inadvertently offend members of a faith by mishandling religious articles or ignoring customs.

The first interactive module – Sikh Religion: Items of Religious Significance – covers the background and significant articles of Sikh faith and Gurdwara protocol such as removing shoes and wearing appropriate headwear.

Toronto Police College unit commander Supt. Debra Preston thanked the World Sikh Organization (WSO) of Canada for playing a vital role in the development of the module.

“A number of the values held by Khalsa Sikhs, such as respect, mirror the core values of the Toronto Police Service,” said Preston.

“Our frontline officers will now have an enhanced awareness and knowledge of articles that hold religious significance in the Sikh community.”

Preston and Sgt. Paul Sidhu made a plaque presentation to the WSO on behalf of the Service, for their invaluable contribution to the training module.

“It was an honour to work with the police to develop this training module,” said WSO legal counsel Balpreet Singh, who received the plaque.

“Because of the size of the Sikh community in the Toronto area, it’s essential that law enforcement be aware of the significance of the Sikh faith in major institutions like the Toronto Police Service.”

The training is now available to all members through the Canadian Police Knowledge Network (CPKN).