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

Activists Targeted Again in Balochistan

The Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC) on Tuesday condemned the enforced disappearance of Baloch leader Ghani Baloch, blaming Pakistan’s Law Enforcement Agencies and Frontier Corps….reports Asian Lite News The Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC),

Islamabad-Ankara-Baku Axis Sharpens Against India

Both Turkey and Azerbaijan have openly expressed solidarity with Pakistan and backed Islamabad in its military standoff with India, this month….reports Asian Lite News The evolving alliance between Islamabad, Ankara, and Baku

India Targets Pak Terror Ties in Guyana

The delegation met the Guyanese President, Mohamed Irfaan Ali, who had hosted a dinner to celebrate friendship and shared aspirations between the two nations…reports Asian Lite News Congress leader Shashi Tharoor, currently

EU Vows US Trade Deal

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen phoned Trump on Sunday, after which he agreed to postpone the planned tariff increase until July 9….reports Asian Lite News The European Commission remains “fully

ASEAN Unveils 2045 Vision

ASEAN leaders formally adopted the ACV 2045 and its strategic plans across four pillars: political-security, economic, socio-cultural, and connectivity…reports Asian Lite News The Kuala Lumpur Declaration on ASEAN 2045 — a strategic
Go toTop

Don't Miss

India plans to use N-energy to achieve net zero emissions

Atomic Energy Commission Chairman Ajit Kumar Mohanty shared India’s ambitious

Modi Meets Herzog, Stresses Humanitarian Aid

The PM reiterated the need for continued and safe delivery