LAPD Captain Blake Chow - Central Area's First Commanding Officer of API Descent

Los Angeles Police Department News Release
NR09091ks

From Street Officer to Commanding Officer

Los Angeles: Captain Blake Chow has been assigned to Central Area as
the first Commanding Officer of Asian descent in Downtown Los Angeles,
in the history of the LAPD. He is also the highest ranking Chinese
American officer in the Department.

Captain Chow has an interesting and varied life story. He is a third
generation Chinese American whose grandparents immigrated to America in
the early 1900s from Southern China. He grew up in San Jose California.

Chow*s father, an engineer by trade, died when he was only
17-years-old, but the legacy of a hard working family gave Chow a strong
work ethic and determination to fulfill his dreams. Chow*s mother was
a teacher and is credited with instilling in him the drive to persevere
and to succeed.

After graduating from college, Chow entered the work force, but found
little satisfaction in his job. Inspired by shows like *Hill Street
Blues,* Chow joined the San Jose Police Department Reserves. Finding
that he enjoyed his work as a reserve more than he enjoyed his paying
job, he began pursuing a career in law enforcement.

As a brand new Los Angeles Police Officer, Chow*s first tour of duty
in Central Area began in 1991. Over the next few years Chow worked
various jobs including foot beats and special units that targeted
violent crimes, property crimes, and narcotics. It was during these
early years that Chow realized that policing required community
involvement to be effective. During the course of the next ten years,
Chow honed his community policing skills and continued to promote up the
Chain of Command.

In May of 2003, Chow was promoted to Captain I and began his second
tour of duty in Central Area as the Commanding Officer of Patrol
Division.

In early 2009 Chow was promoted to Captain III, making him the
Commanding Officer over Patrol, Detectives, Gangs, Community Relations,
Safer Cities Initiative, Vice and Narcotics, and making it his third
tour of duty in Central Area.

Chow said, *I have had the unique opportunity to see the Downtown
area in many phases, from the civil unrest that marred many areas of our
City, to reemergence, and to the renaissance that is now taking place.
I am committed to forging strong partnerships with the residents,
businesses, and every entity that calls Downtown home. I know that the
key to making Downtown better and safer is a good relationship with our
partners in the community.*
####

CINDY J. SHIN, Sr. Communications Deputy
Office of L. A. City Attorney Rocky Delgadillo

800 City Hall East
200 North Main Street
Los Angeles, California 90012

Office (213) 978-2702
Cell (213) 276-0003
Fax (213) 978-2093
E-mail cindy.shin@lacity.org