Breaking the ice with warm conversations
By Sanaa Asif
July/August 2023
Uzmaa Iftekhar’s first interaction with the police was in 2010, when she was pulled over in Los Angeles. She was amazed by the officer’s professional demeanor throughout the entire situation and in the way he treated her. “He was kind, disciplined, and cared for my safety,” Iftekhar recalls. Little did he know that this interaction would inspire Iftekhar to pursue a career in law enforcement.
The Journey
Iftekhar decided to learn more about this profession and understand its values and goals. She started volunteering at the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department and would go on ride-alongs with officers. This provided her with an opportunity to ask questions about the department and the community while observing patrol duties.
“The more exposure I got on patrol, the more I wanted to be a police officer. Being an immigrant, I loved the fact that there are laws in place to protect us.” Iftekhar said. “However, at the same time, I used to get questions about my faith and I realized that some people have no idea! This is why I decided to pursue the profession – not only to be a good community officer, but also to educate others about my faith.”
After volunteering at the Sheriff’s Department, Iftekhar decided to complete an associate’s degree in criminal justice. She then took a 7-year hiatus to have her two children. In 2019, she returned to school to complete her bachelor’s degree in criminal justice, and completed her education by 2021.
Throughout her journey towards becoming a police officer, Iftekhar’s family was incredibly supportive. Her husband had always known about her passion for law enforcement and encouraged her to keep going. Her parents, knowing how committed she was, moved with her to Chicago when she was accepted into the academy. “Without family support in the crucial academy days, I would not be where I am today!” she added.
Visibly Muslim Police Officer
Iftekhar feels that Islam has given her more strength and power. “There have been times when people are stressed, but as soon as I walk in, my hijab becomes a distraction. They begin asking me questions – and I don’t mind at all. I’m asked if I feel hot in the head scarf, if it’s a cultural or religious thing, and if I have it in different colors,” she said. She uses this opportunity to spread awareness about her faith. She is happy to share what she knows about women empowerment in Islam, and the many rights Islam gives to women.
“Hijab has always been my identity. For all the times I’ve been harassed, I always came back stronger,” Iftekhar says. “Hijab led me to this journey because if people did not ask me about Islam, I wouldn’t have gathered the courage to be in this profession and inform people about my faith.”
The biggest challenge for Iftekhar was adjusting to her department which was mostly male-dominated. A lot of her co-workers were hesitant to talk to her because she was Muslim, female, and hijabi. However she insisted they reach out to her with any questions. She made herself approachable and opened doors to friendly communication. By breaking the ice, she feels her colleagues respect her faith and are often curious about different topics about Islam.
Iftekhar also feels that it’s important for people to remember not to judge the entire law enforcement community by the bad acts of some. This is a sentiment Muslims can relate to as well. “The majority of the work we do revolves around community-based policing which requires ethics and moral values,” she said. “If one person strays, it hurts the rest of the community as well. It does put a lot of stress on us when there is an incident involving a police officer versus a citizen and it’s all over the news.”
A Seat at the Table
Iftekhar hopes to influence many young Muslims to consider a career in law enforcement. Yes, it requires passion. It also requires mental, physical, and emotional strength because of the incidents encountered on a daily basis. However, Iftekhar chooses to look at it differently. She feels being a police officer can also bring a sense of peace. With every drunk driver taken off the road, and with every order of protection for a victim of abuse, the community can become a better place.
“That one thank you note from a child reunited with his parents or a hug from a domestic violence survivor gives you the strength to be back on the street and keep the community safe – every single day.”
Sanaa Asif, a sophomore at Hinsdale Central High School, is an avid reader and loves to write and learn about other people’s stories.
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