Lieutenant Gun Lee, who is responsible for detective training at the Fairfax Police Training Academy, has assured a delegation from the Pakistani American Business Association that the Fairfax Police will provide full protection to members of the Muslim and Pakistani community living in the area in the aftermath of the Fort Hood shootings. The eight-member Pakistani American delegation was led by the Association's chairman, Siddique Sheikh.

Lieutenant Lee told the delegation that as a responsible official of the Fairfax County Police Department, he would ask all members of the community to report any hate crime taking place in the name of the Fort Hood shootings. He said that they were the act of an individual and it would be wrong to link the shootings to any religion or culture, assuring greater protection to the Pakistani Americans living in the county against any hate crimes. He mentioned that a large number of South Asians lived in Fairfax County, yet there were just five police officers of South Asian origin in the local police force; if South Asians joined the police force, they would have an excellent opportunity for greater interaction with the local people, which would lead to even greater understanding and social harmony. He added that he was thankful to the Pakistani American delegation for visiting their office and offering their cooperation to make the neighborhoods safer.

Dwight L. Bower, Director of Recruiting and Testing at the Fairfax County Police Academy, who was also present at this event, said the department wants to recruit people from other communities, but that it seems that South Asians are more inclined towards IT, engineering and legal professions. He said the police department offered excellent opportunities for a decent living and for serving the community, adding that Fairfax County police was a top ranking department nationwide. "By joining the department, you will not just control crimes in your communities, but also give greater protection to your own community."

While welcoming the delegation, John Kapinos, Strategic Planner for the Fairfax County Police Department, said that there was a gulf between the police and the Pakistani American community, attributing it to a lack of contact between the two sides. That's why, he said, the police chief had proposed the formation of an advisory council which would have representation from all the communities living in the county. He assured that there was a greater realization within the department regarding lack of contact with the immigrant communities and hoped that the advisory council would go a long way in promoting understanding of different communities. He pointed out that Fairfax police, in collaboration with other state agencies, had organized a seminar for immigrant communities three years back, but not too many people showed up. Things have changed now, he said, and the level of communities' interest in the police department is visible. He expressed hope for a further increase in the police department's partnership with immigrant communities.

Major Edwin C. Roessler Jr., Director of the Fairfax County Criminal Justice Academy, provided details of the training and leadership programs. He invited Pakistani Americans to join the police in any capacity and build a relationship that will help make Fairfax County a safer and more secure place to live.