About 8 percent of the New York Police Department’s 36,000 members are Asian American officers, NBC New York reports.
The inclusion of more Asian Americans in the department is a considerable feat. In 2012, VOA News reported that American police forces were struggling to recruit the Asian American officers they needed to serve the country’s growing Asian immigrant communities.
According to NYPD Chief Thomas Chan, there were only 30 Asian American officers during his early days on the force. Chan is now the highest ranking Asian American member on the force.
According to NBC New York, the NYPD now hopes to spread Chan’s story in order to recruit other officers. Chan believes the recruitment of more Asian American officers might break down language barriers that make it difficult for officers to better serve their communities.
“When people need assistance, it’s not a matter of what ethnic background the officer is,” Chan told NBC New York. “But it certainly does help when the officer speaks additional languages.”