The Las Vegas Sun reports: A Metro Police officer, with the help of the American Civil Liberties Union, has filed a lawsuit alleging that his department violated his civil rights by forbidding him from growing a beard and wearing a Yarmulka.

Detective Steve Riback, a 10-year Metro veteran and an Orthodox Jew, said he was sad and frustrated. “There is no reasonableness on the part of the department,” Riback said. “They’re just digging their heels into the ground whether they’re right or wrong.”

Riback was ordered to shave his beard in late November. Metro allows beards only for medical reasons or for undercover work. The beard had not been a problem for the three years that Riback worked undercover in the vice unit ; but he switched to the quality assurance office, which reviews Metro policies.

He removed the beard but requested a religious accommodation. Metro had not mentioned the yarmulke Riback wore to work, but in his request, he also sought permission to continue wearing the covering.

After a month without a decision from the department, Riback filed a complaint asking the Nevada Equal Rights Commission to mediate the dispute. Metro declined mediation and soon after denied Riback permission to grow a short beard or wear a head covering of any type.

Riback’s lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court Tuesday, asks for an injunction ordering Metro to allow Riback to grow a beard and wear a hat before the case goes to trial.

Under federal law, employers must make “reasonable accommodation” for employees to practice their religion so long as it is not an undue hardship for the employer.

Riback said this week that he hopes that before the case goes to trial, the department will yield by crafting policy to accommodate religious beliefs.

LVS