Anti-Muslim Oklahoma Police Captain Refuses to Send Officers to Islamic Event at Mosque

[웃 910]

Oklahoma Police Captain Faces Disciplinary Action for Refusing to Attend Islamic Event

The Tulsa Police Deptartment is investigating a captain who refused an order to assign officers to attend an upcoming Islamic event because he said it would violate his religious beliefs.

Capt. Paul Fields was reassigned after he refused to order officers under his command to attend the Islamic Center of Tulsa’s Law Enforcement Appreciation Day, a spokesman for the department said.

“It is my opinion and that of my legal counsel that forcing me to enter a Mosque when it is not directly related to a police call for service is a violation of my Civil Rights,” Fields wrote in an internal police department memo obtained by Fox News.

“I have no problem with officers attending on a voluntary basis; however, I take exception to requiring officers to attend this event,” Fields wrote in an e-mail to his superior officer obtained by Fox News. “I believe this directive to be an unlawful order, as it is in direct conflict with my personal religious convictions.”

Tulsa Police Chief Chuck Jordan told FOX23-TV the event was about community relations, not religion.

“This was not religious,” he said. “I would never assign a police officer to participate in religious service,” he told the TV station. “This is about a group who bonded together because of their religion. We are not going there because they are Islamic. We are going there because they are Tulsa citizens.” However, according to a promotional flyer, the Islamic event included not just food and entertainment, but “presentations” on “beliefs, human rights, and women.” They would also be able to watch a Muslim prayer service and take a tour of the mosque.

“It’s up to you,” the flyer stated.

Ibrahim Hooper, the spokesman for the Council on American-Islamic Relations, called the incident an example of “anti-Muslim bigotry.”

“It’s a symptom of the unfortunately rising level of anti-Muslim sentiment we have in our society,” Hooper said. “It sends a message of marginalization that somehow Muslims aren’t part of American society.”

Hooper said he was satisfied with the way the police department handled the matter but said the incident signals a bigger issue.

“When somebody feels empowered to say ‘I’m not going to take part in a community outreach event at a mosque because I basically don’t like Muslims,’ it’s all part of that rise in Islamophobia in our society,” he said.

Gary Allison, a professor at the University of Tulsa College of Law, said the case poses a dilemma.

“It is true that individuals have their own religious beliefs and that they come to their workplace with their own religious beliefs,” Allison said. “The question is, how far can an employer go to require people to go against their religious beliefs for something to do the job that they are supposed to do?”

http://www.foxnews.com/us/2011/02/23/oklahoma-police-captain-refuses-attend-islamic-event/?test=latestnews

[luckytxn 2,265]

If it is voluntary then he has the right to refuse.

[Dakine10 5,452]

If it is voluntary then he has the right to refuse.

If he refused an order, it probably was not voluntary. That's why they call it an order.

[^_^ 5,021]

[Usui Takumi 1,562]

He was supposed to order some of his force to go correct? He himself wasn't required to attend...or at least that is how the article is written. Also, it looks like any officer who was ordered to attend was to be there as a law enforcement representative in the community, not to engage in worship correct?

If a community event is planned at location, can a civil servant refuse to attend based on the location alone?

[^_^ 5,021]

I am thankful local PD doesn't pull ####### like this when it's time to do crowd and traffic control at the local masjid during ramadan. Although I do hear the township makes the masjid pay for the extra hours.

Edited February 24, 2011 by \

[^_^ 5,021]

I just went on their website and turns out they're having a "Stop Islamophobia" event. What's the point of such an event at an Islamic masjid? It's not like Islamophobes will be there.

[sandinista! 1,816]

if the captain doesn't want to go, don't go. but his religious beliefs don't get to dictate whether or not he follows orders involving the officers working under him, especially when the orders come from someone higher on the food chain than him. what if some of his officers wanted to follow orders by attending? through no choice of their own, they've become insubordinate to their police chief, because they have a retard for a captain. ibrahim hooper needs to cool his jets though. the last thing this captain deserves is attention or martyrdom over this #######. don't make him a hero for throwing a hissy fit.

[sandinista! 1,816]

I just went on their website and turns out they're having a "Stop Islamophobia" event. What's the point of such an event at an Islamic masjid? It's not like Islamophobes will be there.

sometimes weirdos show up at stuff like that. anti-gay protesters show up at pride events, etc. but yeah, it's pretty pointless to think anyone's mind is going to be blown at one of these events, and they'll have an epiphany right there on the spot.

[ready4ONE 5,400]

Doesn't sound like Officers to be ordered to go were being asked to go perform traffic and crowd control i.e. standard Police duties. It sounds like the invitation to be appreciated by the Mosque, likely made to the Chief, became an Order for underlings to attend so the PD could appear PC.

[luckytxn 2,265]

If he refused an order, it probably was not voluntary. That's why they call it an order.

No kidding but the article said both. That it was voluntary and then that he was asked to go. I reread it after drinking some coffee and the mosque seems to be the one that said voluntary but his higher up told him to send some officers. He refused on religious grounds as they were going to have religious ceremonies also. If it was a voluntary thing then he should refuse if he wants. Of course if he is being sent to do crowd control and it is an official act and he refuses then he should be fired.

[Ban Hammer 13,527]

gotta love those mandatory fun meetings.