Senior Police Liaison Ken Rong in Multicultural Month Spotlight

For Senior Police Liaison Officer (S/PLO) Ken Rong, empowering culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) communities with crime prevention strategies to protect their lives and residences is critical to his work.

"Crime prevention is one of the three key areas for Police Liaison Officers (PLO). I believe it hinges on fostering positive relationships and building trust within the community," S/PLO Rong said.

"As cultural experts, we help break down cultural and language barriers to ensure crime prevention messages are effectively communicated."

"We regularly host police reference group meetings with different communities to address concerns and enhance collaboration."

"Additionally, we run safety seminars on topics like home security, fraud prevention, and road safety to educate the community."

PLOs provide valuable insights into cultural practices that may influence policing strategies, helping to prevent conflicts and misunderstandings.

Engagement with vulnerable groups, such as recent immigrants and international students, is a key role of PLOs to ensure CALD individuals and communities know their rights and where to access resources.

Community policing and safety have always been a passion for S/PLO Rong. In 2003, while studying at university, he decided he wanted to pursue a career as a PLO.

"I recall watching the news and seeing a Cantonese-speaking officer from the Asian specialist unit asking the community for information to assist with a murder investigation," he said.

"Seeing this representation, in addition to being inspired by the great work of PLOs in my local community, made me want to be one of them."

S/PLO Rong joined the Queensland Police Service (QPS) as a PLO in the South Brisbane District (SBD) in 2008.

Since beginning his role, he was surprised at how many barriers and vulnerabilities he has discovered after deeply engaging with CALD communities.

"We proactively engage with CALD communities to address their concerns and build positive relationships," he said.

One of their strategies was to increase the accessibility of QPS messages to local communities.

The QLD E-Watch Chinese project was launched in 2018, and S/PLO Rong says the feedback has been overwhelmingly positive.

"This project meant QPS media releases and safety messages were translated into Chinese," he said.

"These are shared on popular platforms like WeChat, Facebook, and Little Red Book, becoming trusted sources for the community."

"Our work nurtures trust and confidence in the QPS so communities know who they can contact if they need assistance."

S/PLO Rong says while there have been many memorable moments throughout his 16-year career as a PLO, a key one stands out.

"About eight years ago, I worked with a victim of domestic violence, providing support and referrals that helped her break free from the cycle of abuse."

"She started a new, positive life and reengaged with her network and community."

"A few years later, we met again at a community event. She asked if I remembered her, and when I said I did, she told me how well she was doing and that she had been using the strategies I taught her to help her friends."

"She wanted to know how she could contribute more to the community, so I encouraged her to apply for our Volunteers in Policing (VIP) program."

"She did, and she's been a dedicated VIP ever since."

"It is rewarding to see the real difference I can make serving our local communities as a PLO, especially when I receive feedback that it has improved individual and community safety."

If you're interested in learning more about Police Liaison Officers, what they do, how they work with Police Officers, and how to become one, visit the Police Liaison Officer Careers Page or contact your local police station.