Overview:
A retired U.S. veteran and law enforcement officer has come home to serve — Rallen Ngiraidong was sworn in July 14 as director of Palau’s newly established Office of Professional Standards, a Ministry of Justice office aimed at strengthening integrity and public trust in law enforcement.
By: L.N. Reklai
KOROR, Palau — The Ministry of Justice has hired Rallen Ngiraidong, a retired U.S. military veteran and former U.S. law enforcement officer, to lead its newly created Office of Professional Standards.
Ngiraidong took the oath of office July 14 to head the office, which operates under the Ministry of Justice.
The office is tasked with developing and establishing professional standards and guidelines for the Bureau of Public Safety, promoting professionalism in law enforcement services, and serving as a liaison with the public on matters involving officer conduct.
Minister of Justice Jennifer Olegeriil said the office will strengthen public trust in law enforcement.
“By developing those standards, it will help build integrity and trust in the community … and help us do a better job in providing the most important service, working with our community to keep our citizens safe,” Olegeriil said.
She said the standards will cover “standards of policing, training, capacity development … and institutional capacity.”
Olegeriil said Ngiraidong brings extensive experience, knowledge and a strong sense of commitment to the role. He retired from the U.S. military in 2017 and holds a bachelor’s degree in business and cybersecurity, along with a master’s degree in business. Before returning to Palau to take the position, Ngiraidong served as a police officer in Corpus Christi, Texas, according to Olegeriil.
“We are blessed to have him, a Palauan who went and served, got his schooling, got his experience and decided to come home for lesser pay to come and serve,” Olegeriil said, adding that she hopes more Palauans living abroad will follow his example.
Ngiraidong said he is committed to doing his best to train officers and provide them with the tools and resources they need to succeed.
The Office of Professional Standards was first introduced under former Vice President and then-Minister of Justice Uduch Sengebau-Senior. The office was created by Executive Order No. 462, which reorganized the Ministry of Justice. Its mandate includes developing professional standards for the ministry and collecting and addressing allegations of misconduct by law enforcement officers.
