Crime & Safety

Korean Translator, 13-Year Veteran of Fort Lee Police Department Honored

Fort Lee Police Chief recognizes PO Anthony Kim with "Chief's Award" for February.

Police Officer Anthony Kim, a 13-year veteran of the , has been named the “Chief’s Award” recipient for the month of February, Fort Lee Police Chief Thomas O. Ripoli recently announced.

Born and raised in South Korea, Kim immigrated to the U.S. in 1985 with his family and is “proud of being one of the first Korean-speaking officers employed by the Fort Lee Police Department,” according to a police spokesperson, who said Kim currently serves the department as a Korean language translator.

Kim began his career as a Fort Lee police officer in 1999, serving initially in the Uniform Patrol Division, and has worked on all shifts in the department since, police said. 

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In 2006, Kim was assigned to the Community Policing Division and has “assisted in or performed various assignments,” including the Citizen’s Police Academy, Junior Police Academy, bicycle registration for Fort Lee children, crime prevention presentations and the installation of child safety seats for residents, according to the Fort Lee Police Department.

Ripoli also lauded Kim, an original member of the Fort Lee Police Honor Guard, for successfully completing the Cop Card Program for elementary students in 2007.

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Just three years after immigrating to the U.S. with his family, Kim joined the United States Marine Corps, serving as an official translator for his unit while on active duty. He was involved in the joint military exercise with the Republic of Korea Marine Corps, is a veteran of Operations Desert Shield/Storm during the Persian Gulf War in 1990 and was honorably discharged in 1992, according to the police department.

Kim subsequently attended Contra Coast Community College in California before joining the Fort Lee Police Department.

Ripoli began honoring members of his department with the monthly Chief’s Award shortly after he took over as police chief as a way to recognize officers for their “positive contributions to the police department and to the Borough of Fort Lee.”

“Officer Kim looks forward to new experiences that each day brings,” said a police spokesperson.


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