 They work in every profession, work out in neighborhood gyms. They teach our children and raise their own. They are members of the Sikh faith, or more correctly pronounced the Sikh faith. Several thousand Sikhs live, work and worship in the Chicago area. Hello, I'm Chaplain Dean with the Chicago Police Department. In an ideal world, all encounters between the police and public would be marked by mutual respect and dignity. Each party would have an understanding and appreciation for the other's background, beliefs and values. In that spirit, we as police officers should do what we can to learn about the variety of customs, religions and nationalities that form the fabric of our communities. Today, let us take a closer look at the Sikh faith. Sikhism is a religion, not a nationality. It is a unique religion, a religion revealed by God through the Sikh gurus. It is not a blend of other faiths. I think that's probably the biggest misconception and if they knew what Sikhism is, it's very different than Hinduism or Islam. Guru Nanak founded Sikhism in Punjab, India, 500 years ago. Our founder Guru Nanak stressed very heavy on finding internal happiness, internal peace, living in the family life. Second thing he stressed on is to make your living through hard work. Sikhs dress distinctively. To be true to their religion, they must wear five articles of faith known as the Five Ks. Kir Pan, a small ceremonial sword. Kara, an iron bracelet. Kishara, long undergowns. Kanga, a wooden hair comb. And Kies, uncut hair. Kies' hair is long, unsure, uncut hair. We don't shave or we don't cut hair from any part of our body. There's a comb to keep our hair clean. Hair is not all over the face. It's tied up nicely, neatly, so it's not a hindrance in your day-to-day activity. Male Sikhs and some female Sikhs wrap their hair in turbans. This is not a fashion preference. It is a religious requirement. This is a part of my identity, my faith being a Sikh. So I have to wear it and taking it off would be like being covered, being going back on my word. We don't go out without covering our hair. Even inside the house, I keep it covered. Men are required to wear a turban. Women have a choice too, and not many do, but I choose to. The biggest misconception when they see somebody with a turban and they are just seeing a picture of Osama bin Laden or their followers out there, and then they think that, oh, maybe some way attached to them, which is not the case. As police officers, we need to be aware that the turban is not just a head covering or a hat. It is a revered religious symbol. Unless you are going to conduct a legally justified pat down or a custodial search, the turban should never be touched. In the event that you must conduct a pat down or custodial search, explain why you are doing it. If removal of the turban is required, allow the Sikh person to unwrap their turban in a private area unless there are overriding safety or security concerns. And somebody touching my turban or forcibly taking it off is like assaulting me or like insulting me and stripping me of my dignity and my honor. Just as a turban is a revered article of faith, so is the kurpan the ceremonial sword. Sikhs wear kurpans to symbolize their commitment to justice and human rights. Be aware that both state statute and municipal code dictate the legalities of carrying a kurpan. In short, state law and the municipal code allow a Sikh person to carry a kurpan, provided the kurpan is not carried in a threatening or menacing manner, that it is not carried with an intended unlawful use, and that the kurpan is not concealed on or about the person. Municipal code makes it unlawful for a person to carry a concealed knife with a blade longer than two and a half inches. While most kurpans have blades longer than two inches, most Sikhs wear the kurpan in a sheath openly suspended from the waist. If worn in this manner, the kurpan is not considered concealed, and so wearing the kurpan in this manner is within the law. The municipal code is more restrictive for those 18 years of age or younger. By law, those who are 18 and under are prohibited from possessing any blade two inches or longer in length, concealed or not. While we respect the laws of this country, Sikhs consider the kurpan an article of faith rather than a mere weapon. A Sikh wears the kurpan with absolutely no criminal intention. Be aware, those of the Sikh faith feel strongly about their religious right to carry a kurpan. We're working with law enforcement in Chicago as well as across the country to examine the law more closely so that we can see how we can reconcile the gap between the existing law and what we know is our fundamental religious right. As an American, I'm guaranteed the freedom of religion in the Constitution. That's the beauty of America. It's fluid enough to allow all religions the opportunity to practice their sacred beliefs freely. The Sikh faith incorporates a strong sense of social justice. The Sikh community is known for its willingness to work with police. It doesn't matter whether you're a Christian or a Sikh or a Hindu or anybody else. If suppose somebody is harming you and you are in need, it is my duty to help you. I tell my son 18 years old, in fact, when September 11 happened, my first reaction was, in case need be, he will be in the military. He will be in the army in case that needs to be because this is our country now. People of the Sikh faith reject the caste system of India. To discourage elitism, Sikhs share the same last names. Any born Sikh, a male member has a name, Singh, and the ladies, girls, have a name, Kaur. Singh means a lion or a tiger, and all females to kaur, K-A-U-R, which means princess and lioness. And the purpose of that was eliminating caste system so that everybody has that same name, and they're all at the same level. Unlike those from some religions, those in the Sikh faith, male and female, consider the handshake an entirely acceptable form of greeting. The Sikh faith views men and women as equals in all aspects of their professional, personal and spiritual lives. According to the instructions in the Sikh faith, women are treated equal, they should be treated equal, they are created equal and they are equal partners. There is really nothing that limits women from doing anything in our religion, socially, culturally, religiously. I'm blessed to have my own domain, my own business, where I can really have the flexibility of being a professional, being a productive member of the society, yet being a mother, which is the most important role. Like everyone else, Sikhs struggle to meet the demands of the modern American family. We are like any other parents, we want the same things for our kids. We want them to have a good upbringing, go to good schools, a good education, for them to be good contributing citizens of the country. Just what any other parent would want of their children. Day to day activities, yes, it's a typical family you'll find anywhere. Sure we do all those things, we have birthday cakes, our children goes to Chuck E. Cheese and all those McDonald's and all those places we go. You know, there's no difference. Many Sikh homes have a room set aside for prayer, where they keep the Sikh holy book called the Guru Granth Sahib. When responding to a call at a Sikh home, be respectful of this room. Should you need to enter this room, unless there are overriding safety or security concerns, remove your shoes. Also, officers should avoid contact with the holy book. We have a prayer room in the Arta house. It's one exclusive bedroom which is kept away from the rest of the traffic and we go inside with the shoes removed and so on. The Sikh place of worship is called the Gurdwara. If during the course of an investigation, please visit a Gurdwara, be aware that this too is a Sikh holy place with certain customs and sensitivities. And whenever anybody who enters the Gurdwara, we request that they do few things. Number one is that they remove their shoes. Number two, they cover their head. Number three, they should not smoke and you do not touch the holy scriptures. That's very important. Most Gurdwaras have services every day. Sunday services are well attended. Services are followed by a community meal called lungar. Any person of any faith is welcomed in a Sikh Gurdwara. The Sikh ideology does not condone religious or cultural prejudices in any form. Our religion does state that all religions have a place in the world. They all are equal. Nobody is superior. Sikh practice, respect and tolerance of all others is something they expect in return. We're all humans. We should be relating to one another and we believe in one God and God unites us all. You can consider me like somebody in your neighborhood, next door neighbor, someone, a colleague at work, another person at school sitting next to your class. The only difference is I look a little different because I have a beard and I have a turban. Let's take a moment to conclude and to review some of the highlights of the Sikh faith. The 5 K's of Sikhism are sacred to Sikhs. Turbans are a revered article of faith. Unless a search is legally justified, avoid touching a turban and refrain from asking a Sikh to remove his or her turban. Should there be a need for a legally justified search, if possible, allow the Sikh to remove his or her turban in private. 6 K's, small ceremonial swords. As long as they are worn suspended from the waist and are not concealed, the caring of a K is legal for those older than 18 years of age. For those 18 years and younger, the khipan blade must be less than 2 inches in length. Shaking hands is not offensive to Sikh men and women. It is an acceptable way to greet people. Keep in mind two special places for those of the Sikh faith. The Gurdwara, a place of public worship, and the special room in a private home where the Sikh holy book is kept. Typically, visitors to these holy places are asked to remove their shoes and wear a head covering. All of the people we encounter on a daily basis expect to be treated with dignity and respect. Those who practice the Sikh faith are certainly no exception. It is our hope that this video will serve to enlighten and foster a new awareness and understanding. Thanks for watching.