Muslim NYPD Officer Wins Temporary Relief Over Beard Length

Once again (see prior posting) the New York City Police Department's grooming rules are being challenged in court.  According to yesterday's New York Daily News, the NYPD on Tuesday imposed a 30-day suspension without pay on a Muslim officer who works as a law clerk for the Department. The officer, Masood Sayed, refused to shave his one-inch long beard. The NYPD had previously allowed him to wear a beard one millimeter in length, but said a longer beard would create problems with proper sealing of department-issued gas masks.  A federal district court yesterday, finding a likelihood of success by Sayed, barred the NYPD from taking further disciplinary action against him until a July 8 hearing.