A decade ago, the number of Albanians in American law enforcement agencies was around 200.
In 2023, according to the "Albanian-American Law Enforcement Association," this figure has reached over 700.
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| Albanians part of American law enforcement bodies |
Voice of America spoke with some law enforcement officers in New Jersey and New York, who discuss the challenges of their careers and the importance of increasing the number of Albanian-Americans in blue uniforms.
34-year-old Vezir Sela began his career in American law enforcement agencies 15 years ago.
Today, he is an officer in the Bergen County Sheriff's Office in New Jersey, a high-risk job that is vital for the community's security.
Bergen County consists of 70 municipalities and is the county with the largest population in New Jersey.
"I never know where I'm going. It depends on the nature of the crime and the people. We must ensure that all equipment is functional. The body camera must be charged. Our cars are equipped with everything, from medical supplies, firearms, computers, and other things," says Officer Sela.
In an interview with Voice of America, the U.S.-born officer talks about the challenges at the beginning of his career when he was only 19 years old.
"I am the first in my family to become part of law enforcement. I didn't know what awaited me. I didn't know where I was getting into. In the police academy, I didn't know how to run or how to shoot a gun. It was a big challenge for six months. It took a lot of work and dedication. I had the mentality of a young man. But I am happy that I started my career at a young age," he says.
Years later, the number of Sela family members in American law enforcement agencies has increased.
Hadis Sela is a Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) officer in the Hudson County municipality in New Jersey.
While Adem Sela is a detective in the Prosecutor's Office in the municipality of Passaic in New Jersey.
"In general, there are six members of the Sela family who work in the police in New Jersey. We are in different municipalities. This is a professional job, it requires dignity and a lot of work. It's a job that is recognized, unlike other jobs, so respect is greater," says Officer Hadis Sela to Voice of America.
"It is a very important duty for us Albanians to show that we are hard workers. That we are ready to serve this country, the Albanian-American community, and other communities as well. We expect other Albanians to join law enforcement. As a workplace, it is a wonderful career, you meet many people, you deal with many things. No day is monotonous," says Albanian-American detective Adem Sela.
Increasing the number of Albanian-Americans in law enforcement agencies is one of the main goals of the "Albanian-American Law Enforcement Association," founded in 2019, an international organization that supports Albanians who want to pursue a career in American policing.
"Now we are like night and day. Before, when we needed experience or advice, we couldn't find it. Now it's very simple," says Elton Shametaj, the association's founder.
According to Mr. Shametaj, a decade ago, the number of Albanian-American police officers was around 200, but now that number has grown to over 700 members.
He says that approximately one in 30 members is a woman.
In general, according to Mr. Shametaj, the association has received about 2,000 applications from Albanian-Americans interested in joining law enforcement agencies.
"Thank God, here in America only the sky is the limit. We, like everyone else, are very integrated. Albanians used to complain before, but now Albanians are everywhere, in the White House, at the FBI, at the ATF (Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives), in the Department of Justice, Albanians are everywhere," says the founder of this organization, Elton Shametaj.
These law enforcement officers, although most of them were born in the United States, maintain strong ties with Albanian-Americans through participation in almost every community event.
"My father taught me not to forget our heritage, our country, and our traditions. To know your language because we are Albanians. Don't forget your origin, be with your country, and be together to progress as Albanians," says Albanian-American Azmi Toska, who has served as a police officer in Hudson County, New Jersey, for eight years.
According to them, with the increase in the number of Albanians in law enforcement agencies, the perception of American society about Albanians is changing.
"Every country has citizens who participate in various criminal activities. Albanians, in every movie we've seen, have been portrayed as criminals, which is not true. We are family people, hard workers. Engagement in law enforcement is a career we should be proud of. It requires courage, pride, and dedication," says Altin Çeloaliaj, a detective at the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey.
"All those epithets that were placed on us as Albanians, when we first came here, were simply of the moment. We are showing ourselves in these years to come who we really are. We are showing that we are law-abiding citizens, that we want good work, and that we want to do something useful," adds Besmir Sajdarasi, a police officer in Staten Island, New York.