New York, NY —

The NYPD is preparing for the Muslim holy month of Ramadan by keeping the lines of communication open with the Muslim community, including some of its own officers. WNYC's Bob Hennelly has more.

REPORTER: This year, as in years past, the NYPD is offering the City's Muslim congregations additional support and protection during their month-long period of fasting and prayer.

Detective Ahmed Nasser leads the NYPD's Muslim Officers Association. He says the additional training non-Muslim officers get, can help them establish a better relationship with the neighborhoods they patrol.

NASSER: We tell officers that you have to be mindful that when you enter a house of worship, Muslims do kneel and bow and put their head on the floor, so it is required that you remove your shoes out of respect.

REPORTER: The NYPD held a seminar with Muslim community leaders yesterday, to discuss security during Ramadan, which is August 22nd through September 19th. For WNYC I am Bob Hennelly.