May 18, 2023
1 min read

Meet the Indian-American woman cop, highest-ranking South Asian in New York

Maldonado is now the NYPD’s first female South Asian captain..reports Asian Lite News

Indian-American Captain Pratima Bhullar Maldonado has become the highest-ranking South Asian in the New York Police Department (NYPD), a position she was promoted to last month.

Maldonado runs the 102nd Police Precinct in South Richmond Hill — home to one of the largest Sikh communities in the US — and is now the NYPD’s first female South Asian captain, CBS News reported.

The mother of four lived in Punjab until she was nine before moving to Queens.

“It feels like coming home. I spent more than 25 years of my life in this precinct when I was growing up,” Maldonado said, adding that her new role will help with community policing.

The top-ranking cop told CBS News that it wasn’t easy climbing the ranks.

“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 said.

According to the NYPD, of the Department’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 told CBS News.

Remembering her father, Maldonado said he drove a taxi in the US for many years to support the family.

“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.

Earlier this year, Lt Manmeet Colon, a 37-year-old Indian-origin Sikh woman officer, assumed charge as the assistant police chief in the state of Connecticut, becoming the department’s first-ever second-in-command of Asian descent.

ALSO READ: Quad meet cancelled after Biden calls off Australian trip

Previous Story

Digital transformation key in India-EU trade ties: Goyal

Next Story

US court okays extradition of 26/11 attack accused Tahawwur Rana to India

Latest from -Top News

WUC Intensifies Global Call for Uyghur Justice

WUC delegation undertook a week-long advocacy tour in Germany, where it met with Turkish NGOs and community leaders….reports Asian Lite News The World Uyghur Congress (WUC) has published its monthly brief, strengthening

India Urges Bangladesh to Act on Minority Attacks

MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal urged the Yunus government to probe extremist attacks on minorities….reports Asian Lite News India on Friday criticised recent comments by Bangladesh’s Home Advisor Jahangir Alam Chowdhury, asserting that

Jaffar Express Targeted Yet Again

blast happened at a distance of one kilometre from the Sultan Kot railway station….reports Asian Lite News At least seven injured as blast hits Quetta-bound Jaffar Express in Sindh’s Shikarpur district. Shikarpur

India to Join G20 Energy Talks in South Africa

The meeting is being hosted under South Africa’s G20 Presidency in the country’s KwaZulu Natal province…reports Asian Lite News Union Power Minister Manohar Lal will represent India at the G20 Energy Transitions
Go toTop

Don't Miss

Biden holds talks with Ukraine’s foreign, defence ministers

They discussed “further efforts to help Ukraine defend its territory”

New US sanctions target Russian access to battlefield supplies

The new measures also are designed to “reduce Russia’s revenue