Scholarship
The Northern California Asian Peace Officers Association awards a scholarship in conjunction with the trustees of the Ronald Tsukamoto Memorial Fund in honor and memory of Berkeley Police Officer Ronald T. Tsukamoto to full-time college students interested in a career in the field of law enforcement and/or related fields with consideration to demonstrated financial need.
The Scholarship is provided in part by The Ronald Tsukamoto Memorial Scholarship Fund. The dollar amount awarded and the number of scholarships presented each year is determined by the NCAPOA Scholarship committee, (with the approval of the NCAPOA Executive board), and the trustees of The Ronald Tsukamoto Memorial Scholarship Fund.
Selection is bestowed to deserving full-time college students pursuing a career within the law enforcement field demonstrating financial need.
The selection process will be comprised of:
- Written Application
- Interview
Scholarships are awarded on a one-time basis per recipient. A scholarship recipient from any previous years may not reapply.
The NCAPOA Scholarship Committee’s decision is final and not subject to appeal by applicants. Click the below link for the 2024 Scholarship Application. Deadline to apply EXTENDED to March 16, 2024 (EOD).
About Officer Ronald Tsukamoto
Ronald T. Tsukamoto
Berkeley Police Officer, Badge #41
Date of Birth: July 29, 1942
Appointed: October 1, 1969
End of Watch: August 20, 1970
Officer Tsukamoto was born in Tule Lake, California. His family later moved to West Berkeley where he attended local schools and graduated from Berkeley High School in 1960. Officer Tsukamoto then attended college at Oakland City College, Contra Costa Jr. College and San Jose State University.
At 12:53 a.m., Officer Tsukamoto stopped a motorist for a traffic violation on University Avenue, west of McGee. Officer Tsukamoto decided not to issue a citation to the motorist and struck up a conversation with him. During this, a black male walked up to the pair and spoke with Officer Tsukamoto and the motorist. Without provocation, the male drew a gun and shot Officer Tsukamoto, fatally wounding him. The subject fled to a waiting automobile and this case remains unsolved. Officer Tsukamoto is buried at Sunset View Cemetery, El Cerrito, California.
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 NCAPOA and Ronald Tsukamoto Memorial Fund.
More about Ronald Tsukamoto