WASHINGTON (JTA) — An Orthodox Las Vegas police detective will be allowed to wear a beard and head covering on duty.
Steve Riback, who had sued the police department for religious discrimination, also will receive a financial settlement of $350,000.
He will be permitted to wear a neatly trimmed beard no more than a quarter-inch long and a baseball cap with the police department logo or no logo at all, according to media reports.
Riback had sued the department in 2007 after he moved from working undercover to a desk job. His supervisors told him to shave his beard and remove his head covering.
As part of the settlement, Riback agreed not to seek a promotion or transfer for at least two years. He also will have to file a new religious accommodation request if he transfers to a section of the bureau that does not allow hats or beards.
