Former police recruit Chance Johnson accused the Gary Police Department (GPD) in Indiana of discrimination after they allegedly fired him for refusing to cut his hair for religious reasons, according to ABC 7 Chicago.
Johnson is a follower of the Rastafari religion and does not cut his hair in accordance with his faith, according to an interview with ABC7 Chicago. He claimed that the chief of police gave him a 24-hour ultimatum in July to cut his cornrow braids or walk days following his swearing in ceremony. (RELATED: Trump-Appointed Judge Rules Blue State Cannot Discriminate Against Colleges Requiring Religious Test)
A commander allegedly told Johnson in July that the chief took issue with his hair. “I said, ‘OK sir. I had no idea this could be a problem, but I do have a religious accommodation form.’ He just said, OK, I’ll talk to you after the ceremony,” Johnson said.
However, he was allegedly informed by the chief during a meeting about his hair roughly a week later that he had 24 hours to cut the braids. “He said that the state of Indiana, they don’t have to accommodate religious requests,” Johnson told the outlet.
The former recruit said he wants the police department to face accountability for the alleged discrimination and would like to have his position back, though not if it means cutting his hair.
“It’s nice, neat and professional-looking,” he said. “I don’t think anybody should be terminated for their religious beliefs, especially when it’s not doing harm to anybody around them.”
A man says he was fired last month from the Gary Police Department because of his hair. https://t.co/Rlkzsw1Csa
— ABC 7 Chicago (@ABC7Chicago) August 28, 2025
Johnson alleged that the chief told him the rule was a matter of safety but failed to answer when asked why female officers are allowed to have longer hair, according to ABC7 Chicago. Johnson claimed the GPD fired him the following day and has not heard from the department since.
“[T]he city of Gary can confirm this is a personnel matter that we are reviewing,” a city of Gary spokesperson said. “We are committed to fair treatment of all employees and compliance with applicable employment laws.”
The GPD and the City of Gary did not immediately respond to the Daily Caller’s request for comment.