Cop Stop: APA police honor heroes of integration
August 29, 2003
Lawbreakers watched their step last week as more than 300 representatives from law enforcement agencies around the world were in town for the 14th annual conference of the National Asian Peace Officer’s Association (NAPOA).
Mayor Willie Brown, acting-Chief Alex Fagan and Oakland Airport Federal Security Director and former SFPD chief, Fred Lau, were joined by top brass from local, state, national and international agencies at the Chinatown Holiday Inn — home of the Chinese Culture Center and former site of the Hall of Justice — for the opening ceremonies on Aug. 19.
Promoting diversity in law enforcement and the opportunity for departments to exchange ideas and philosophies, the conference recognized two pioneers: San Francisco native Herb Lee, the first Asian Pacific American officer to join the force, and Bob Koga, one of the first APA Los Angeles police officers.
“If you had thin skin you didn’t make it back then,” said the San Francisco-born Koga. “Luckily I could dish it out as well as I could take it.”
Lee, who was sworn-in in 1957, recalled the first time he sat down for assignment at police headquarters. One of the veteran officers yelled from the back, “Where’s that Chinaman?” Lee said he was humbled that day, but he went on to serve for over 30 years.
“I am so proud to have been a member of the law enforcement community,” Lee told the younger law enforcers during the opening ceremonies.
Assistant Chief Heather Fong, who joined the city’s department in 1977, said she might not have made it without the help of Lee, who worked with the Minority Recruitment division at the time, and Lau.
“He was like a guardian angel on my shoulder,” Fong said of Lee, who helped her through the entrance exam and physical fitness qualifications. “They were both like father figures to me.”
Gary Gee, BART chief of police, said that although NAPOA has made improvements in diversifying law enforcement nationwide by stepping up its outreach and recruitment efforts to hire more APAs, there’s still a lot of work to be done, especially with APA women.
“The biggest recruitment and retention challenge we have now is with APA women,” said Gee, who was appointed chief in December 2000 and has been with BART police since 1967. “In my department of 215 sworn personnel, there is one APA woman, Lt. Cynthia Lee. Hired in 1981, she was the last APA woman whom we hired as a police officer.”
Gee said factors such as family values, culture and social pressures of the women’s role contribute to the low numbers of APA females in law enforcement.
NAPOA serves as an umbrella organization for law enforcement associations around the country that promote APA hiring, promotion and community relations. However, the main purpose for the conference, according to Richard Hong of the NAPOA, was networking. The conference included a job fair, speeches and workshops oriented toward APA law enforcement.
“It’s important to have diversity in law enforcement because that way you’ll have people that can relate to the different communities that they serve,” said Gee. “You realize that there are cultural differences and you learn from peers, things that you may not get in the formal training.”
The opening ceremonies kicked off with the San Francisco Police Department Lion Dance Team, complete with traditional Chinese costumed lion dancers and drum and cymbal playing, performing for the good luck and prosperity of the conference.
Gee said he spent more time than he needed to at the conference because he wanted to encourage young APAs to go into law enforcement.
“I wanted to show that high-ranking APAs do exist in law enforcement,” Gee said. “I mentor people and tell them that there are jobs, careers and callings, and being a police officer was my calling.”
A third-generation APA, Gee studied journalism in college, and said his major helped him with writing good police reports.
“My parents were very supportive of me when I decided to become a police officer in the 1960s,” he said. “My grandmother discouraged me because she saw the abuse that the Chinese suffered by the San Francisco police during the turn of the century.”
There are roughly 450 APA officers in the SFPD, out of 2,400 officers, and of those, about 230 are in NAPOA.
Brown, along with Sheriff Michael Hennessey and representatives from the U.S. Postal Inspectors and Secret Services spoke at the opening ceremony, praising the organization for contributing to the integration of departments around the world. The mayor also encouraged the lawmen to enjoy San Francisco.
“Believe me the streets are safe, and if not, you’re armed,” he joked.
— May Chow and Ethan Fletcher
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