In September 1969, the Philadelphia Police Department ordered its Latino officers to practice marching and drilling for their participation in that year’s Puerto Rican parade.  After the practice session, held one weekend in the Police Administration parking lot, about 20 of the officers met at the home of Police officer Mike Deyne, in the 26th Police District, to discuss forming an association of Hispanic police officers.  This was the first official meeting of what was to become the Spanish-American Police Association (SAPA). 

Bylaws were written and the name of the organization was registered in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.  A logo, designed in honor of its founding members who with the exception of one were of Puerto Rican heritage, included the flags of the United States and Puerto Rico.  This logo was unanimously selected and approved by the general membership.

The Philadelphia Police department hired its first Latino officers in 1966.  They included Joe Martinez and Ramon “Speedy” Vargas (Class #180) and Nelson Rodriguez (Class #181).  Later on, the Police entrance exam was given in Spanish.  Taking the test and accepted into Class #182 were Jack Plaza, Carlos Pablos, Luis Matos, Santos Rivera, Juan Delgado, Carlos Rivera, Raul Quiňones, Luis Melendez, and Ruperto Figueroa.  When SAPA was founded in 1969, the Philadelphia Police department had approximately 25 Latino officers.  When the organization became known as SALEA, there were approximately 150 Latino Police officers.  To-date, there are approximaely 600 Latino Police officers in the department.

In 1983, SAPA’s membership felt that the name of the organization was limiting its efforts to grow and to recruit outside the Philadelphia Police department.  The driving force behind the reorganization and name change included Ismael “Jack” Plaza, Carlos Aquino, Dave Mendez, and Jose M.“Joe” Melendez.  SAPA’s membership unanimously approved the name change to attract a more diverse membership from the law enforcement community and agencies, including Federal agencies, as well as gain greater recognition within the law enforcement profession.  Thus SAPA became known as the Spanish-American Law Enforcement Association (SALEA).

The goal and mission of the organization have always been to unite Latino officers and to assist them in developing their law enforcement professional careers.  Additionally, the organization is committed to establishing and maintaining good relationships with community members.  Recruitment has always been one of SALEA’s main objectives.

Community involvement and volunteerism are other areas which the membership strongly supports.  Some of the community programs include donation of Thanksgiving baskets, Three Kings festivities, college scholarships, mentoring programs in local schools, adopt-a-school program, and neighborhood cleanups.  The organization has been very instrumental in resolving conflicts between community members and the Police.

Since 1998, SALEA, with financial support from the private sector, has been an active participant in the Spirit of Giving Christmas Program held annually at a different public school to teach children the importance of sharing with others and that Christmas is more than about receiving gifts.