150 Albanians Serve in New York Police

Meeting Monday evening at New York police department facilities they celebrated their commitment to maintaining order in the largest city of America.

As our correspondent Burim Gojuli reports from New York they said the Albanian-American engagement adds values to the American police.

Fifteen years ago, only 20 Albanian-Americans were part of the New York Police Department.

“We're 150 Albanian cops here today. We have come together to form a group <x1Illyrian Society” to keep it in mind and help each other every day. The great pride is that we are Albanians, we are celebrating here today because families taught us, to speak Albanian, that we are Albanians and to die Albanian”, Lutfi Dalipi, captain of New York Police, told Voice of America.

The number of Albanians was the reason for the holiday organised by the <x0->Illyrian Society”, in this American city.

In the first event organised at the New York Police headquarters by the association <x0...Illyria also spoke to New York Police Commissioner James O'Neill, who did not just thank the police for the service.

Thank you for your work on preserving city security. And family members here tonight, thanks for your support, because without that support, the job would be impossible. Every time your relatives in uniform leave home, you pray that they return safely from duty. Thanks for being here. And men and women in uniform, thanks for the work you do every day. You changed town”, New York Police Commissioner James O'Neill said in his speech.

The audience also greeted members of the New York Municipal Council, Mark Gjonaj.

There is no city more magnificent and no more wonderful police department than New York's. Albanians serving in it have a noble mission to protect this city. They are part of the largest and oldest police department in this country. And at the same time, they have our legacy pierced. In our blood and nationality, the red and black flag shows who we are... But there is no better color than that of the blue uniform that combines with our” flag, he said.

Attending the gathering was the first Albanian to take the title hat in New York Police, imam Tahir Kukaj. He said that Albanians' commitment to maintaining order in New York adds values to the city police.

“As Albanians, we are known for the pledge, which has its roots in faith, faith in God. Our neighbors in Europe are the first to recognize this quality of Albanians but also our Jewish brothers during World War II. Given the pledge, the only nation that saved them was the Albanian nation. Therefore, we are here to thank God for making us a special nation, coming and enjoying the quality of life and respect of the most wonderful nation in the world that is the American nation and for this group of ours to be part of the most wonderful police department on earth, that of New York”, said Capain Tahir Kukay.

Prices were also set aside for the most distinguished policemen of the year.

This award made me very proud, not only for Albanians of the <x1-cyllian Society” group, but it's a big price and a good symbol to have”, Amir Paul, a member of the New York Police, told the Voice of America.

Such organisations show that Albanians take important place in American society, another Albanian member of New York's police told Voice of America.

It's the first time we've organized this activity and God will do it another 100 years. Albanians come from various professions, such as lawyers, doctors, teachers. They say Albanians want to work only in construction or innovation, but there are also many Albanians who are policemen in different degrees. This is the first day of God's will that many more come after me, say Valdrin Nikqi, a member of the New York Police Department.

The Albanian-American ceremony was organised within the activities of the Albanian-American community on the occasion of Albania's 107th anniversary of independence.

Founded on May 23, 1845, the New York Police Department is the oldest and largest department in the United States.

Currently, more than 55 thousand employees are engaged, out of whom 36 thousand are in uniform. Every day they take care of the safety of over 8 million inhabitants of New York City.

This department is the main law enforcement agency and investigation into New York City.