Asian American Law Enforcement Association - National Capital Region

12/29/2021

It is with tremendous sadness that the AALEA-NCR board regret to inform its members here of the passing of Lieutenant Reggie Kim with the Pentagon Force Protection Agency on December 26, 2021.

Lieutenant Kim has been a long-time member of NAPOA and is widely known within the association as someone for all of us to aspire to. Lieutenant Kim has attended numerous NAPOA conferences and is well known in the larger AALE family. Lieutenant Kim is a very compassionate human being, who always believed in giving back, mentoring and sharing a laugh with those around him. Lieutenant Kim will be missed by all of us as an officer who fought for what he believed in, as a friend who shared joy with those around him, and as part of our Law Enforcement family.

Please keep Lieutenant Kim and his family in your thoughts during these difficult times.

Rest in Peace Reggie, we will maintain the watch from here.

06/08/2021

On Friday, we gathered to celebrate the distinguished career of MPO Keith Ahn and his 30+ years of dedicated service to the Arlington Community. MPO Ahn served in the Crime Scene Unit and his extensive knowledge of crime scene and evidence processing made him a natural leader and resource within the department. We wish him the very best in retirement!

06/02/2021

Our Agency seeks an exceptional candidate to serve as PFPA Director. This Tier 3 SES position is open from now until July 2, 2021. The PFPA Director serves under the authority, direction, and control of the Director of Administration and Management (DA&M).

The PFPA Director is responsible for overseeing force protection operations, to include law enforcement; chemical, biological, and radiological protection; security; threat management and emergency management of personnel, critical infrastructure, facilities, and other resources.

Carefully review the announcement to see if you qualify! http://go.usa.gov/x64yt

Learn more about our Agency by visiting www.pfpa.mil.

05/30/2021

Officer Richard Hua joined the Pentagon Force Protection Agency in 2016, after graduating from Rutgers University with a BA in political science and criminal justice.
Hua’s parents were born in #Taiwan, thus providing him a close connection to his #AAPIHeritage. Fluency in Mandarin has helped him stand out at the Pentagon, a hub of cultural diversity.
“I have been called on to be a translator; it is a unique contribution to my job, to be a police officer who can speak different languages. I feel great that my colleagues at the Pentagon can depend on me to support them in situations that require a Mandarin translator.”
Hua is in the right place to serve the Agency and U.S. Department of Defense (DoD), which hosts visitors and guests from all international backgrounds.
Hua also earned a MA of Professional Studies in applied intelligence from Georgetown University. A graduate of the Agency’s Aspiring Leader Program, Hua says his job has been “a great experience so far.” #AAPI #AAPIHeritageMonth

05/26/2021

Pentagon Force Protection Agency Chief of Police Woody Kusse chuckles fondly as he ponders his #AAPI heritage. “My father is second-generation Japanese, and my mother was born in the South-West tip of Virginia - coal-mining country; I am a result of their union!” By his own admission, Kusse has ‘the best job in the Agency”. As the top ranking police executive, he is at the nexus of all interactions – with the public we serve, the officers and with Agency leadership. If he could change one thing, it would be to spend more time with the officers, to enjoy their camaraderie and foster Esprit de Corps. Kusse is mindful of his responsibility to ‘shape the Force’ into the best and that his legacy will be reflected by the success of the Pentagon Police Division. Kusse joined the Agency in 2001 after serving nearly 24 years in the United States Air Force; he has been Chief Of Police since 2017. #AAPIHeritageMonth

05/23/2021

As we continue to highlight Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage month, we’d like to introduce you to Second Lieutenant Wahid Alam!

Lieutenant Alam grew up dreaming of becoming a police officer. His grandfather previously served as an Inspector for the Bangladesh Police, the officer in charge of all police operations within an administrative region in Bangladesh, a role that Lieutenant Alam has always been proud of.

Lieutenant Alam has been serving with the Fairfax County Police Department for 17 years. He began his career in the McLean District Station, working as a patrol officer on the evening shift, handling calls for service within the McLean, Vienna, Tysons Corner, and Falls Church communities. Lieutenant Alam also spent time as a School Resource Officer (SRO) as well as Supervisor of SROs, and supervised patrol squads at the West Springfield Station. He currently is assigned to the Planning and Research Bureau, working on policy management.

Lieutenant Alam’s advice for others considering joining law enforcement; “Law enforcement is very challenging, it requires much patience, and you’ll face many difficulties, but at the end of the day it’s a very rewarding career, and when you re-unite that lost child with their parents, console that victim of a crime, or genuinely make a positive impact in someone else’s life, you can rest peacefully knowing you served your community well.”

05/15/2021

As we continue to highlight Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage month, we’d like to introduce you to Officer Won Lee!

Officer Lee was born and raised in South Korea. After graduating elementary school, he moved to United States with his family. Officer Lee graduated high school and enlisted in the U.S. Army in 2012 where he served as active-duty soldier. After separating from the military, he came back to the Northern Virginia area and started attending Northern Virginia Community College. Although he was pursuing a degree for Information Technology, he still dreamed of serving the community. Since he spent most of his life in Fairfax County area, he applied to become a police officer in Fairfax County.

Officer Lee graduated from our Criminal Justice Academy in August of 2020 and has been assigned to Franconia District Station’s midnight squad. Officer Lee is a certified Language Skills Support Unit officer (LSSU) for the Korean language and has been assisting many Korean community members who need translation.

Officer Won Lee’s advice for others considering joining law enforcement; “Law enforcement is a career where you can make a positive impact on the community. Become a police officer and make a difference in your community.”

05/15/2021

Lt. Andrew Suh

Lt. Andrew Suh

05/12/2021

Yesterday morning, Stockton Police Officer Jimmy Inn responded to a residence for a report of a domestic disturbance. Jimmy walked up, knocked and stepped to the side. A voice on the other side could be heard saying “Hey, police”. In a cold and calculated act, the man opened the door and shot the officer numerous times at point blank range. A backup unit pulled up just as the gunman was standing over the fallen officer. The suspect raised his weapon and began shooting at the patrol car, which prompted that officer to return fire from the front seat of his vehicle. The suspect went back in the house, emerged moments later with his 8-year old son and started to violently strangle the boy. A civilian bystander heroically tackled the suspect, which allowed the boy to free himself from harm’s way. The officer then shot and killed the male, ending his rampage. Jimmy was rushed to the hospital where he succumbed to his wounds.

Officer Jimmy Inn was a 6-year veteran of the Stockton Police Department and leaves behind three children, including a 7-month old son. Officer Inn was assigned to the Field Operations Division and was also a proud member of the department’s honor guard. The well-liked and highly respected officer was remembered for heaving a heart of gold, and was the very definition of what a police officer should be. Jimmy was 30-years old.

05/09/2021

As we continue to highlight Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, on this Mother’s Day we’re introducing you to Police Officer First Class Emmilie Sanchez-Cherry.

Officer Sanchez-Cherry was born in the Philippines but was raised in Fairfax County since she was 4 years-old. After graduating high school in Reston, she briefly went to college before deciding to enlist in the United States Army. She spent 8 years in the Army, living in Germany, then Iraq where she served in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

After returning to the area, she applied to several police departments and was offered a job with the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority Police Department. She loved her job and knew law enforcement was for her. She saw other opportunities with the Fairfax County Police Department and decided to apply. She was hired with our department in December of 2014.

Officer Sanchez-Cherry is currently the Community Outreach Officer at the McLean District Station, working alongside a crime prevention officer to find opportunities for community engagement. When Officer Sanchez-Cherry is not at work, she enjoys spending time with her two beautiful daughters.

Officer Sanchez-Cherry’s advice for others considering a career in law enforcement: “Law enforcement can be a thankless job at times but it’s not about the “thank yous” received. It’s about making a positive impact in someone’s life or in the community that are most important.”
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#FCPD #AAPIHeritageMonth #HappyMothersDay #BeFCPD #WomenInLawEnforcement #Dedication #Service #Volunteer #Police #LawEnforcement #Fairfax1 #FlightMedic #FirstResponders #FairfaxCounty #FairfaxVa

05/09/2021

Happy Mother’s Day!!

Happy Mother’s Day! Whether you have little ones, adults or children that have gone before you – we know your love never fades, nor does ours for you. Thank you for your devotion.
A mother is she who can take the place of all others but whose place no one else can take.” —Cardinal Mermillod
Pictured is Community Engagement First Sergeant Kitchens and her amazing children

05/07/2021

Congratulations to all!

Good News of the Day:

Sheriff Darren Mark Popkin is pleased to announce that effective June 06, 2021, the following MCSO staff will be promoted:

Lieutenant Sung Lee to the Rank of Captain
Sergeant Cynthia Defriece to the Rank of Lieutenant
Sergeant Nathan Fee to the Rank of Lieutenant
Sergeant James Johnson to the Rank of Lieutenant
DSIII Jason Boylan to the Rank of Sergeant
DSIII John-Luke Espinas to the Rank of Sergeant
DSIII Jose Rodriguez to the Rank of Sergeant
DSIII Robert Strong to the Rank of Sergeant
DSIII Michael Trigiani to the Rank of Sergeant

Please join Sheriff Popkin in congratulating these newly promoted supervisors in their new positions and assignments.

05/07/2021

Timeline Photos

MPD’s Asian Liaison Unit and Second District Patrol kicked off Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month with a visit to the Chinese American Museum. Members participated in a Chinese tea ceremony, interacted with Asian buisnesses owners & community members, and provided support on how to report crimes. We look forward to more events in celebration of AAPI culture.
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#DCPolice #ALU #AAPI #LawEnforcement #Community #washingtonDC #District #MPD #ExcellenceIsTransferrable #HereToHelp #PublicSafety

05/05/2021

Calling all leaders between the ages of 18 and 24 in the Metro Washington area!

Police Leaders of Tomorrow is our week-long program designed to reach out to a diverse group of high school and college students considering a career in law enforcement.

Classes will be held Monday through Friday June 14-18, 2021 from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at the Public Safety Headquarters in Fairfax, Virginia (June 14, 15 and 18), and at an alternate location on June 16 and 17. Due to COVID restrictions, in the event an alternate location cannot be secured, the June 16 and 17 classes may be conducted remotely.

Please submit your application by May 17, 2021. To apply and for more details, please see our web site: https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/police/servicesiz/plot

05/02/2021

AAPI heritage month recognition to fellow LE family!

We’re kicking off Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage month by highlighting some of our diverse officers! Today, we’re introducing you to Sergeant Ali Sepehri.

Sergeant Ali Sepehri was born and raised in Tehran, Iran. After finishing high school, he moved to Virginia and stayed with family. He became a volunteer EMT and a firefighter while attending Northern Virginia Community College. He transferred to Virginia Tech and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering. While in Blacksburg, he volunteered with Blacksburg Rescue Squad and worked for an EMS transport team while taking classes. Sergeant Sepehri’s heart was always at being a first responder and to “run in when everyone else was running out.”

His dream was to become a flight medic onboard of Fairfax One, the police helicopter. He applied to the Fairfax County Police Department and became a police officer right before graduating from Virginia Tech.

Sergeant Sepehri has been serving with the FCPD for 14 years. He began his career in McLean District Station and was assigned to a midnight squad. He transferred to the Helicopter Division and was able to fulfill his life-long dream of becoming a flight medic. Once promoted to Sergeant, he went to the Mount Vernon District Station for a short time prior to being transferred to the Safety Officer Section. He is currently working as a safety officer, handling COVID-19 exposures and serving as the Department’s infectious control officer. Sergeant Sepehri also assists the operational safety officers and the Department’s lead safety officer. Sergeant Sepehri continues to serve the Helicopter Division as a supplemental team member and helps the Department’s Civil Disturbance Unit.

Sergeant Sepehri’s advice for others considering joining law enforcement; “Law enforcement is a career not a job. Become a police officer to make a difference in your community. Enjoy the ups and downs as you go through them and rely on your family’s support.”

Stay tuned as we continue to highlight our officers throughout the month of May!
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#FCPD #AAPIHeritageMonth #Dedication #Service #Volunteer #Police #LawEnforcement #Fairfax1 #FlightMedic #FirstResponders #FairfaxCounty #FairfaxVa

04/02/2021

Car rams into police at Capitol barricade; officer killed

Car rams into police at Capitol barricade; officer killed

01/20/2021

Congratulations to Corporal Kyu Lee for his professionalism and dedication to the community.

On Saturday, Cpl. Kyu Lee was recognized by the Korean Society of Maryland for his work while assigned as HCPD's Asian Community Liaison in 2020.

The certificate reads: ...in appreciation of the resources and time that was contributed to make an important and positive difference in Maryland by providing leadership and outstanding volunteer service, provided to Korean American community in 2020.

Presented by President - Tae Soo Lee and Chairman - Se Yong Chang

10/01/2020

Fairfax County Police Department

The Public Safety Cadet Program is a national non-profit organization that is dedicated to preparing future leaders and those interested in law enforcement. We are looking for recruits between the ages of 14-20 who want to learn about public safety, leadership, and service!

Join us for our First Nighter, October 5th, 2020 at 7pm for more information!

Zoom Link: https://fairfaxcounty.zoom.us/j/91821098983

There will be a presentation about what the Public Safety Cadet program is about, what it takes to join, what the next steps are and how we can all benefit. We hope to see you then! For more information on the Public Safety Cadet Program, visit the website below.

https://publicsafetycadets.org/
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#FCPD #FairfaxCounty #PublicSafetyCadets #PSC #Recruiting #Leadership #Dedication #LawEnforcement #YouthPrograms

09/22/2020

Rockville City Police Department

Congratulations to Corporal Jonathan Lee who received a Meritorious Service Citation during the Rockville Public Safety Awards ceremony. On July 24, 2019, Cpl. Jon Lee assisted with serving a search warrant in reference to a human trafficking investigation. Cpl. Lee is a patrol officer, but he was requested for the assignment because of his Chinese-language translation abilities, and without hesitation he agreed to assist.

In many of such cases, the human trafficking victims are in fear and do not trust authority or the services the government is offering to assist them. It is rare that victims agree to use provided services.

Cpl. Lee provided translation while interviewing six victims. Two of them elected to get help and utilize services. It was the direct result of Cpl. Lee building a rapport with the victims and helping them understand that police were there to help them.

Without the abilities, care and compassion of Cpl. Lee, the victims would not have had the ability or desire to get the help they so desperately needed and we are pleased to honor you with a Meritorious Service Citation. #rcpd #publicsafetyaward