As part of an on-going project to prevent hate-based crimes in communities, the Pennsylvania State Police announced a new addition to the pre-existing Heritage Affairs Section.
The section, which works with local law enforcement agencies to prevent and investigate hate and bias-related crimes, named four full-time Heritage Affairs Liaison Officers, or HALOS. These officers were hand-picked to oversee various parts of the state, and are divided into four sections: Western, Northeast, Central and Southeast.
Indiana County, as well as neighboring counties Westmoreland and Cambria, fall under the Central Heritage Affairs section, and Trooper Ismail El-Guemra was selected to oversee the area.
El-Guemra, who came to the U.S. from Morocco, will be in charge of bridging underserved communities by working closely with local police departments to prevent hate-related crimes, and to proactively increase community outreach.
Along with Trooper El-Guemra, Corporal Aaron Allen will oversee the Western section, Trooper Amanda Concha will oversee the Northeast section, and Corporal Timothy Green the Southeast section.
Breakdown of Section Liasions (from the Pennsylvania State Police):
Corporal Aaron Allen, Western Heritage Affairs Liaison Officer (Allegheny, Armstrong, Beaver, Butler, Clarion, Clearfield, Crawford, Elk, Erie, Fayette, Forrest, Greene, Jefferson, Lawrence, McKean, Mercer, Venango, Warren, and Washington Counties). Corporal Allen previously served as a patrol section supervisor and recruitment coordinator. He holds a master’s degree in criminal justice administration and management. A former college basketball player, Corporal Allen also coaches high school basketball.
Trooper Amanda Concha, Northeast Heritage Affairs Liaison Officer (Bradford, Cameron, Carbon, Clinton, Columbia, Lackawanna, Luzerne, Lycoming, Monroe, Montour, Northumberland, Pike, Potter, Snyder, Sullivan, Susquehanna, Tioga, Union, Wayne, and Wyoming Counties). Trooper Concha is a first-generation American citizen, growing up in a bilingual household with parents who immigrated from Ecuador. A graduate of Temple University, Trooper Concha volunteers with the USO. She joined the Pennsylvania State Police in 2017.
Trooper Ismail El-Guemra, Central Heritage Affairs Liaison Officer (Adams, Bedford, Blair, Cambria, Centre, Cumberland, Dauphin, Franklin, Fulton, Huntingdon, Indiana, Juniata, Mifflin, Perry, Somerset, and Westmoreland Counties). Born in Morocco, Trooper El-Guemra came to the United States as part of the Diversity Immigrant Visa program. He is fluent in four languages.
Corporal Timothy Greene, Southeast Heritage Affairs Liaison Officer (Berks, Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Lancaster, Lebanon, Lehigh, Montgomery, Northampton, Philadelphia, Schuylkill, and York Counties). A former firefighter and paramedic, Corporal Green became the first minority fire chief of Concordville Fire Company in Delaware County at the age of 24. He joined the state police in 2004 and previously served as the Troop K public information officer and community services officer. Corporal Greene is active in the department’s Camp Cadet program.
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