Columbus Mayor Michael Coleman says he supports the decision by Police Chief Kim Jacobs to ban officers from wearing headscarves for religious reasons. The issue came to light after Ismahan Isse, a Somali-American and Muslim woman, left the Columbus police academy in March because of the department's rule.
Coleman says when officers go out into the community they should be identified as Columbus police officers, not Muslim police officers or members of any other religions.
Jacobs said she likewise wants any officer responding to calls to be recognized as a Columbus officer "that doesn't turn anyone off."
Columbus has the second largest Somali population in the United States with approximately 40,000 residents.
Coleman says the city will try harder to recruit immigrants to the force.