A Chinese-American lieutenant from Taishan, Guangdong, who has served in the New York City Police Department (NYPD) for 18 years, Zhong Jianping, was officially promoted to a probationary captain during a promotion ceremony at the New York Police Academy on August 30. He joyfully expressed that his achievement today is all thanks to the support of his wife and family! The Asian American Police Executive Association (AAPEX) congratulated Zhong Jianping on his promotion, adding another member to the ranks of Asian-American leadership in the NYPD.
Zhong Jianping received his primary education in China before immigrating to the United States with his family from Guangdong at the age of 11. He then completed his education in the public school system in Brooklyn, New York. Zhong Jianping attended New Utrecht High School and obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in Information Systems from Stony Brook University in New York.
After working in the private sector for 2 years, Zhong Jianping made the decision to join the NYPD in January 2007. He was assigned to the Transit Division of the department for 5 years, and in August 2012, he was promoted to the rank of sergeant. During his tenure, he served as a patrol sergeant at the 66th precinct and as the commanding officer of the NYPD Brooklyn Criminal Court. In August 2018, Zhong Jianping was promoted to lieutenant and currently serves as the commanding officer of the borough court in Brooklyn.
Over his 18 years in the NYPD, Zhong Jianping successfully demonstrated his leadership skills in coordinating operations between the court and external agencies. He looks forward to continuing his career in law enforcement within the Criminal Justice Bureau or other departments of the NYPD after his promotion to captain.
Although Zhong Jianping’s parents initially hesitated due to safety concerns, they eventually supported his decision to join the police force. Through the elite management system of the NYPD, he successfully passed promotion exams, securing the benefits and job security that come with being a police officer.
During the ceremony on the 30th, Hugo Mo, chairman of the AAPEX Advisory Committee and honorary president, personally congratulated Zhong Jianping. Mo mentioned that since Zhong Jianping is an immigrant from Taishan, he is fluent in Mandarin, Cantonese, and Taishanese.
In a statement, AAPEX highlighted the growing trend of Asian Americans and other minority groups following in the footsteps of early Irish and Italian immigrants by joining the law enforcement field. The NYPD has become one of the most diverse law enforcement agencies in the United States, with minority groups making up the “majority” of the department.
“His promotion (Zhong Jianping) is a testament to the increasing number of Asian-American officers in the NYPD over the past decade. They are either immigrants or children of immigrants, almost all first-generation police officers. AAPEX welcomes Lieutenant Zhong Jianping to join its ranks – since its establishment in November 2019, AAPEX has doubled its membership from 21 to 57 members, consisting of current and retired officers with ranks of captain and above,” the statement read.