Det. Ronald S. Bongat, Vice President Asian American Law Enforcement Association

By: Ryan Tejero

 

times when we need to feel secured about ourselves and the community, we always think about the significant role of our law enforcement officers. Little do we know that we have a growing number of Asian Americans or Filipino Americans, in particular who are working in the field of law enforcement. Here in the Midwest and Great Lakes Area, we have many Asian Americans who have bonded among themselves since 1983, and expanded their membership to include both local and federal employees of law enforcement agencies. The Asian American Law Enforcement Association (AALEA) is a not-for-profit organization, which represents Asian Americans in law enforcement in Chicago and the Midwest – Great Lakes Area. Since its inception, this organization has maintained its main purpose to develop and promote a greater degree of understanding and cooperation between the Asian American community, and our respective law enforcement agencies. The group encourages the recruitment, hiring, and promotion of Asian Americans in all areas of law enforcement, as well as provide networking and training for its members. More specifically, AALEA was organized to assist in the civic advancement and cultural development of the Asian American communities by organizing activities or events that are complements with the policies of various law enforcement agencies that members are representing. Currently, AALEA is a fast growing organization with approximately over 200 members from the Chicago Police Department, Cook County Sheriff’s Department, Illinois State Police, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, and other law enforcement agencies at the federal, state and local levels. Filipino American Det. Ronald Bongat who is AALEA’s Vice President said that, “Asian Americans in law enforcement agencies are an ‘invisible minority,’ where too often, we are blended in and unrecognized. AALEA hopes that through our active involvement in the community, our high degree of professionalism will be acknowledged and the advancement of Asian Americans in law enforcement will be realized.” AALEA provides its members plenty of training and networking opportunities. AALEA is a member of the National Asian Peace Officers Association (NAPOA) and therefore members of AALEA by proxy are also members of NAPOA. NAPOA, in partnership with one of the local chapters, hosts a training conference each year in a different city. As a member you can take advantage of this opportunity and register at a discounted price. Just like any socio-civic organizations, AALEA holds annual picnics, with fun activities for members and their families and friends. They also organize annual golf outings and dinner meetings. Last October 18th, AALEA awarded two students with the Trooper Chong S. Lim Scholarship Award at its Annual Awards Banquet. Each student submitted an application for the award along with an essay focusing on how Asian American community can strengthen their relationship with law enforcement. The money raised for these scholarships were generated from AALEA’s fundraising events, such as the golf outing held at Carriage Greens Country Club this year. Additional information about this organization can be found in their website at www.aalea.org. They have also a facebook page under Asian American Law Enforcement Association. Detective Ronald S. Bongat is currently assigned to the Investigations Unit of the Oak Park Police Department since 1999. His previous assignments include being a member of the SWAT Team, Firearms Instructor, Department Instructor, Member of the Illinois Homicide Investigators Association and Investigator at the West Suburban Major Crimes Task Force. Det. Bongat was the past president of the Filipino American Police Association of Illinois. He migrated to the US in 1973, at that time, he was about three years old, by parents Romeo and Cyril Bongat (deceased). His family hails from Camarines Norte. Det. Bongat invites interested Asian Americans who are in the field of law enforcement to consider membership in AALEA. and help the organization achieve more projects that benefit the Asian American community here in Chicago and the Midwest – Great Lakes Area.

AALEA’s VP Detective Ronald Bongat.

 

Group photo (L-R): AALEA’s active members: Norman Kwong, Ronald Bongat, Rodger Germino, and Thomas Freitag – AALEA’s President.