Rev. Miguel Angel Contreras - the founder of the Federal Hispanic Law Enforcement Officers Association has been employed with the United States Department of the Treasury since 1988 in different capacities, where he rose from being a street criminal investigator to become the head of an Office of Internal Affairs. Previously, he was a special agent with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco & Firearms, the Immigration & Naturalization Service, and the Defense Investigative Service. In December 2001, Rev. Contreras celebrated with honorable distinction his 20th anniversary of Federal Law Enforcement Service. Before joining the Federal Government, he was a police officer with the City of Lansing (Michigan) Police Department. Born and raised in Mexico, Rev. Contreras immigrated to the United States at age 12 and worked the farm fields of Arizona and California as a field laborer.

In 1975, he enrolled at Arizona Western College and in 1977, he obtained an AAS degree in Law Enforcement. Rev. Contreras moved to Michigan where he attended his criminal justice administration studies at Michigan State University's School of Criminal Justice where he met and became a close personal friend of the late Dr. Robert C. Trojanowicz, professor, author and believed to be the principal founder of Police Community Policing. Rev. Contreras attended graduate studies at the University of Leicester, Scarman Centre for the Study of Public Order in England and at Michigan State University’s School of Criminal Justice, East Lansing, Michigan where he obtained his BA in 1980, an AA in Business from the Lansing Community College, Lansing, Michigan in 1979.

During his professional career, Rev. Contreras has received the following certifications:

Ordained Minister by the American Evangelical Christian Churches, the United Christian Faith Ministries, and the Universal Priesthood of Christ Jesus;

Diplomate of the American Board of Law Enforcement Experts (DABLEE) by the American College of Forensic Examiners;

Certified Protection Professional (CPP) by the American Society for Industrial Security;

Certified Security Supervisor (CSS) by the International Foundation for Protection Officers;

Certified Protection Officer (CPO) by the International Foundation for Protection Officers,

Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE) by the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners.

Rev. Contreras has served with distinction as a member of the Board of Trustees/Directors with the following non-profit social and professional organizations: Catholic Community Services, Yuma, Arizona, Cristo Rey Community Center, Lansing, Michigan, the North Lansing Community Association, Lansing, Michigan, the Michigan Economics for Human Development, Grand Ledge, Michigan, and the Lansing Mayor's Police and Community Advisory Board, Lansing, Michigan. He is an active member of the American Academy of Forensic Sciences, the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners, and the American Society for Industrial Security. He is a former member of the International Association of Chief of Police, the Customs National Hispanic Agents Association, the American Society of Criminology, the International Society of Crime Prevention Practitioners, the Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences, the American College of Forensic Examiners, Communications Fraud Control Association, the National Association of Hispanic Federal Executives, the Western Society of Criminology, and the American Correctional Association.

Rev. Contreras has chaired and participated in workshops and seminars for a number of professional organizations as well as for colleges and universities in the United States, as well as abroad. During his professional and educational career, Rev. Contreras has received numerous acts of commendations, honors and awards