NCAPOA.ORG
We are saddened, horrified, and angered by the Anti-Asian hate crime occurring in this country. Various news sources report that anti-Asian crime has increased by nearly 150% in major cities throughout the U.S. in 2020, and the disturbing and disgusting trend continues in 2021.
As law enforcement officers, we see the reports coming in first hand. As members of the Asian American Community, we hear about the unreported incidents, know friends and family who have been victimized, and know that targeted crime against Asians is not new.
Northern California and especially the San Francisco Bay Area is a rich and wonderful melting pot. We stand strong to protect all the communities we serve from hateful violent crime, but right now our Community needs help and a voice to condemn hateful violence against the Asian Community.
The violence must stop. There must be change. There must be prevention and justice.
-3/22/2021
Ronald Tsugio Tsukamoto EOW: 08/20/70
On August 20, 2020, it will be the 50-year anniversary of the End of Watch for Berkeley PD Officer Ronald Tsugio Tsukamoto. He was 28-years old and had only been with the Berkeley Police Department for 11 months. He had been raised by his family in a World War II internment camp and grew up locally. He was newly married and was the first Japanese American police officer in Berkeley, and his death — the first ever on the Berkeley force.
On August 20, 1970, at approximately 1:00 AM, Ofc. Tsukamoto stopped a motorcyclist for a traffic violation at University Avenue and McGee Street. Ofc. Tsukamoto decided not to issue the man a citation and they struck up a friendly conversation about politics and the Vietnam War. Soon after, another man showed up and joined the conversation. Without provocation, the second man pulled out a gun and fatally shot Ofc. Tsukamoto through his right eye and fled to a waiting vehicle.
In 2000 the Berkeley Police Department moved to 2100 Martin Luther King Jr. Way and named the new building “The Ronald Tsukamoto Public Safety Building”.
After Officer Tsukamoto’s death, a scholarship fund was started in his name. The Ronald T. Tsukamoto Memorial Fund provides scholarships to college students pursuing a career in law enforcement in need of financial assistance. In his memory, the scholarship award was established and, at the Tsukamoto family’s request, is administered and awarded jointly by the Northern California Asian Police Officers Association (NCAPOA) and Ronald Tsukamoto Memorial Fund. https://ncapoa.org/?page_id=159
It is important to remember Ronald Tsugio Tsukamoto, his life, his sacrifice and how he inspired those around him.
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Welcome to the official online site of the Northern California Asian Peace Officers Association, or NCAPOA! While most of the content on this site is restricted to members only, we encourage you to peruse our site to get a better understanding and appreciation of the contributions our members make to the community for the betterment of all.