Indian-origin police officer turns into highest-ranking South Asian woman in NYPD

By Press Trust of India: Captain Pratima Bhullar Maldonado, an Indian-origin police officer, has flip into the highest-ranking South Asian woman throughout the New York Police Department, after her newest promotion to the rank of Captain.

Maldonado runs the 102nd Police Precinct in South Richmond Hill, Queens. She was promoted to the rank of Captain last month, CBS News reported on Monday.

The mother of 4 was born in Punjab and lived there until she was 9 sooner than transferring to Queens in New York.

“It feels like coming home. I spent more than 25 years of my life in this precinct when I was growing up,” Maldonado said.

South Richmond Hill is home to one among many largest Sikh communities throughout the nation.

“Going to the same Gurdwara that I did as a child, and now as a captain, I love it,” Maldonado said as she visited the gurdwara.

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She instructed CBS 2 her new place will help with group policing.

“There are language barriers, people who can’t speak the language, English is a second language. I’ve seen that firsthand growing up here,” she said.

Maldonado is the highest-ranking South Asian woman throughout the NYPD – a spot she was promoted to last month. But it wasn’t simple climbing the ranks, the report said.

“Getting out there and working, and protecting people that are cursing you out sometimes and not appreciating what you’re doing, but you still got to do what you got to do,” Maldonado said.

“It’s a big responsibility. I want to be a better and positive example, not only for my community, for other females, kids that see us every day. Because that would change their perspective of how they view law enforcement,” she added.

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According to the NYPD, of the division’s 33,787 members, 10.5 per cent are Asian.

“I feel extremely proud. It’s good to show other up and coming Asian, South Asian females that if you work hard enough you too can climb the ladder of success,” Maldonado said.

As New York City celebrates Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, Maldonado mirrored on her late father.

“My dad actually drove a taxi for many years. He supported us. He was a hard worker. He passed away in 2006, before I became a cop. He would have been so proud right now,” she said.

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