David Chong, whose United States Asian American Law Enforcement Foundation sponsored the trip, has "the foresight and commitment to see the value in connecting law enforcement with the many diverse communities we serve," Kugler told Daily Voice.
"Our hope is to foster and enhance relationships as we collaborate issues that are plaguing our communities around the globe," added Montclair State University Police Chief Paul Cell.
For his part, Chong said such trips create “a feeling of trust between the different countries and their agencies.”
The group was meeting Monday in Sofia with a high-ranking representative of the Bulgarian National Police and with another on Thursday at the International Operational Cooperation Directorate within the Bulgarian Ministry of Interior.
Additional meetings were scheduled held through the week.
The USAALEF "was established with the goal to promote and create networking relationships between the United States law enforcement community and other countries respective law enforcement agencies," Chong said.
Over the past seven years, Chong's group has traveled to the Dominican Republic, Korea, China, Thailand, Vietnam and Cambodia, while hosting law enforcement from other countries in the U.S.
USAALEF "facilitates events that foster mutual understanding, cooperative interaction and highlights awareness of the special needs of all minority communities," he said.
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