Regardless of which political party comes into power, the most concerning issue for Chinese Americans in the United States is community safety. On Wednesday, November 19th, the Chinese community in eastern Los Angeles County held a “Warmth Giving” event to express gratitude to the local police department for their hard work over the past year.
The Los Angeles Auxiliary Police Foundation (TACF) brought over sixty servings of Chinese-style lunches to the on-duty police officers on that day, which greatly inspired the officers. TACF President Guan Yixiu stated that police officers face dangers every day, so it is important to cherish their work and show appreciation on behalf of the residents.
The lobby of the Walnut City Police Substation was packed with Chinese residents that day. They mentioned that compared to the past few years, there has been a significant improvement in community safety, alleviating much of the mental stress for everyone.
Diamond Bar Mayor Deng Jiayou also participated in the consolation event. He mentioned that in the past few years, many police departments did not receive the necessary support, especially from the government, which led to budget cuts and decreased morale. He emphasized the importance of community support for police officers and how interactions like these before the year’s end can boost their morale.
Deng Jiayou believes that the key to curbing crime is strict punishment, so that criminals do not dare to commit offenses easily. The newly appointed Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman handles cases based on facts and law rather than ideology or “political correctness,” a practice that Deng Jiayou highly appreciates.
Ms. Liu Shaoli, a Chinese resident in Rowland Heights, mentioned that in her community of over three hundred households, the local security situation has greatly improved compared to the past few years when several neighbors fell victim to home invasions and robberies.
Mrs. Zhou, who resides in Diamond Bar, stated that the security in her area is relatively good, but the home invasions in Rowland Heights are unsettling since the two small cities are adjacent to each other with easy access. She expressed relief that this year has been much better compared to the past years, where living conditions were truly difficult.
Both women are relatively satisfied with the current state of security and have joined the TACF volunteer organization.
Mr. Lin, who lives in Walnut City, shared an incident where he had a flat tire while driving in the area and was assisted by patrolling TACF members. They helped push his car to safety, maintained traffic safety, and even helped change his tire, allowing him to quickly overcome the situation.
TACF was established in 2021, with its members primarily being local Chinese residents. They actively participate in community watch activities, organize seminars, donate to police stations, and improve local security conditions. In the past few years, due to limited funds and tight police manpower, along with the previous Los Angeles County Prosecutor’s insistence on a policy of “arrest and release,” street crime was rampant in the Los Angeles area, affecting Chinese communities as well, to the point that many Chinese residents were worried about being robbed while out shopping.
Last year, Hochman was successfully elected and took office immediately. He corrected the extreme policies of his predecessor George Gascón, increased prosecution efforts, and made offenders pay the price, significantly reducing crime rates. Chinese residents have once again regained their long-lost sense of security.
Steven Tousey, the Substation Chief of the Los Angeles County Police, stated that over the past year, crime rates in the three Chinese communities they patrol – Walnut City, Diamond Bar, and Rowland Heights – have significantly decreased. The crime rate in Walnut City decreased by over 30%, while Diamond Bar saw a decrease of more than 9%.
Tousey mentioned that large-scale mall robberies that previously occurred in Los Angeles City have not been seen in the Diamond Bar area, likely due to the absence of large shopping malls or centers. This year, 90% of crimes were property crimes involving breaking and entering, residential or vehicular theft. He emphasized that although he hopes for zero crime, this type of criminal activity will never fully end.
He stated that even with the decrease in crime rates, it does not mean that crime has been eradicated, so residents still need to remain vigilant; however, the active participation of TACF members in security activities makes him feel great.
People’s concerns are heavily influenced by social media. Tousey pointed out that social media spreads information rapidly, making crimes in one place instantly known nationwide, creating a perception of rampant crime, even though the local crime rates are already low.
In recent years, there have been frequent incidents of organized mall robberies by criminals around Thanksgiving in California cities, but such news has been scarce this year. Nonetheless, for the safety of residents during holidays, Tousey offered safety advice:
From now until early next year is crucial. He recommended bringing purchases home immediately after shopping, and when in parking lots, be aware of who else is present. If someone stays inside their car without getting out, it is suspicious behavior and should be reported to the police. Additionally, when walking in parking lots, do not look down at your phone; instead, pay attention to your surroundings as criminals may be planning to break car windows and steal belongings. Tousey also mentioned that criminals have confirmed that the first thing they look for when considering breaking into a car or home is eye contact made twice.