After her recent promotion to the rank of Captain by the New York police department, the Indian-origin police officer Pratima Bhullar Maldonado became the first police officer to have the highest-ranking South Asian woman.Maldonado, the mother of four moved to Queens in New York when she was 9, from Punjab. She was promoted to the rank of Captain last month and runs the 102nd Police Precinct in South Richmond Hill, Queens. Notably, South Richmond Hill is the home to one of the largest communities of Sikhs in the country.As per sources, Maldonado said that her new role will help with community policing. She also said that it feels great, to visit as Captain, the same Gurudwara that she used to visit during her childhood. She also said, “It feels like coming home. I spent more than 25 years of my life in this precinct when I was growing up.”She also discussed the language barriers that she came across during her tenure. It was not easy to climb to the rank for her, she disclosed.“Its a big responsibility. I want to be a better and positive example, not only for my community, but for other females, and kids that see us every day. Because that would change their perspective of how they view law enforcement,” she added.According to the New York Police Department, currently, they have 33,787 members, out of which 10.5 percent are Asian.Maldonado also said, “I feel extremely proud. Its 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.”
