QUINCY, MA – As the sound of the National Anthem echoed over the terrace at Presidents Golf Course, The Quincy Police Honor Guard stood presenting the colors before The Massachusetts Latino Police Officers Association for their annual awards dinner.
Formed in 2012, The MLPO was created to represent officers of Latino descent on a “mission is to create a professional association that provides support, advocacy, and individual professional development to its members.” On a quiet fall evening, officers from across the state in five categories were recognized for their service in a ceremony that has accomplished just that.
“Community engagement and performance of police duties go beyond putting on the uniform. They are humanizing the profession, and breaking the barriers that have kept us from truly helping people in the past,” explains Yessenia “Jessie” Gomez, Massachusetts Latino Police Offers Organization President.
Hosting the event was Oscar Margain from NBC10 Boston, who praised community efforts of the nominated. “The more latinos we have here in New England, which continues to grow, more police officers with latin backgrounds are necessary. People who speak the language, people who understand the culture, and can be again that link between law enforcement and society so we can all prosper and grow together.”
Sharing her inspiring story, DEA Supervisory Special Agent Catherine Agudelo detailed her journey into law enforcement. Born in Columbia, Agudelo’s family migrated to the United States when she was very young. Determined to succeed, Agudelo worked hard to break the stigma surrounding those of Latin descent in her community, and was ultimately accepted to college in Tallahassee before taking on her first position in Georgia as a contract translator for the DEA. Her path then took her to work as a Spanish-speaking deputy at a local sheriff’s office following her graduation from the Police Academy, before moving on to become part of a plainclothes narcotics unit. From there she succeeded on to Quantico and was hired by the DEA in Puerto Rico, before describing a bittersweet journey to work in Bogata, Columbia. “It was a place my family fled from because of the violence and lack of opportunities,” Agudelo recalled. “I’m very proud to serve as the first Latina in the New England Division of Supervisory Special Agent.”
Gomez says it’s stories like Agudelo’s that inspire others and help to build and maintain diversity within the field of law enforcement. “It’s because of officers like them that we have new generations coming in to the field. They’re seeing someone who looks like them, the work they’re doing and it’s letting them know that there’s so much more you can do when you become an officers.”
The list of award winners is as follows:
Community Service Award
Officer Nashley Gonzalez, Babson Police Department
Life Saving Award
Officer Andressa Rosa, Franklin Police Department
Mentorship Award
Lieutenant Carmelo Ayuso, Massachusetts State Police (retired)
Leadership Award
Officer Angelica Guerra, Cambridge Police Department
Officer of Year Award
Officer Alfonso Manzueta, Framingham Police Department
To learn more about The Massachusetts Latino Police Officers Association, visit their website.
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Emmalyn Reid 