Lieutenant Manmeet Colon, a Sikh woman officer of Indian descent, has been appointed as the Assistant Chief of Police (ACP) in Connecticut, USA. She holds the distinction of being the first-ever person of Asian origin to hold this position in the department.
Manmeet Colon: First Indian Sikh ACP In US
In the presence of a large gathering, including friends, family, and coworkers from the city and police department, Lt Manmeet Colon was sworn in as the third assistant police chief of the city - marking the first appointment of an Asian as the department's second-in-command. Colon aspires to encourage other individuals of Indian-American background to pursue law enforcement careers by setting an example.
Colon mentioned that she belongs to a Sikh family and is proficient in Punjabi. Furthermore, she expressed her deep pride in her cultural heritage.
‘The department's mission and values are of utmost importance. To me, it is crucial to uphold fairness and impartiality. My personal background, morals, as well as family traditions and values are integral to my contribution to the table. It is pleasing to have a designated spot for me to contribute,’ she elaborated.
Colon, aged 37, has been appointed unanimously by the Board of Police Commissioners in New Haven for his previous experience as a lieutenant at the internal affairs office, as per The New Haven Independent report.
She recently joined David Zannelli and Bertram Ettienne as part of the top team in the department which was referred to as the 'dream team' by Chair Evelise Ribeiro of the Board of Police Commissioners.
Ribeiro characterized the ceremony that took place on Friday as a milestone, indicating that Colon, a 15-year veteran of the NHPD who was born in Mumbai, India, and migrated to the United States with her family at the age of 11, has been appointed as the department's second assistant chief of color and first Indian assistant chief.
Throughout her career with the NHPD, Colon has advanced in rank and held various roles.
She worked in patrol, as a detective in the special victim's unit, as a sergeant directing the robbery and burglary squad, as a lieutenant and district manager for Newhallville and Dixwell, and most recently as the chief of the Internal Affairs division.
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