KRMG News yesterday reported that the Tulsa (OK) police department has reassigned a police captain and begun an internal investigation after the captain refused to instruct his officers to attend an upcoming Law Enforcement Appreciation Day sponsored by a local mosque. The event will feature food, meeting of local Muslim leadership and an opportunity to watch the afternoon prayer service. Officers object to being required to attend a religious event. KRMG separately reports that Police Chief Chuck Jordan will attend the event. Jordan says that community policing is part of the department's mission. He emphasized that members of the mosque deserve equal treatment and respect by the police.
UPDATE: New American (2/23) reports that Tulsa police captain Paul Fields, the officer who refused to instruct his officers to attend the event, now will file a lawsuit alleging interference with his 1st Amendment rights of association and religion. The police department says "the Police Department and the Islamic Society of Tulsa very deliberately arranged attendance so that officers need not participate in any religious discussion or observance that would create any discomfort or inconvenience for them."
