Blake Chow
Encyclopedia
Commander Blake Chow was born and raised in San Jose
California
. After attending Archbishop Mitty High School, he went to Cal Poly San Luis Obispo and graduated with a degree in Business/Finance.
(LAPD) in 1990. After graduating second in his academy class, his first assignment was as a probation
ary officer in Pacific Division. He then served as an undercover and Special Problems Unit officer for three years in downtown Los Angeles, working out of Central Area.
in 1999. As a Lieutenant, Blake was assigned Pacific Area and was responsible for the Venice Beach Detail, which policed an area that is in the top 5 tourist attractions in Los Angeles
, easily drawing 100,000 visitor or more each weekend./ In 2001 he was transferred to LAPD's Risk Management
Division where he established the Categorical Use of Force and Non-Categorical Use of Force review sections. Both sections to this day are responsible for analysis and reporting of all LAPD uses of force.
and was assigned as the first Asian captain to preside over Central Area, which includes Chinatown
. He also became the highest ranking Chinese American
Officer in the LAPD, a distinction he still holds. In 2005 Blake was transferred to Los Angeles International Airport
Field Services Division. In this position, he was responsible for the general airport security and safety while working with the Transportation Security Administration
, FBI, ICE and LAWAPD. Later that year, Blake was promoted to Captain III and given the responsibility to start a new division. The new organization was called Real Time Analysis and Critical Response Division. RACR Division was organized to do three functions. First, to analyze crime city-wide on a real-time basis to look for patterns and make deployment recommendations. Second, to track the state of the City of Los Angeles. This included tracking all uniformed resources, the state of radio calls and other indicators to constantly monitor the state of the 500 square miles (1,295 km²) of Los Angeles. Third, RACR was designed as the Department Command Post and would be used to manage the city during major occurrences, whether they be natural or man-made. RACR was the first 24/7 fusion center in the city; possibly the western United States.
In 2007 Blake was assigned as the Area Captain at Hollenbeck Area, where he was instrumental in making inroads to community previously cut off from communication and participation in City government. Through the efforts of his employees, Hollenbeck Area reported record drops in the homicide rate; numbers which could not be replicated going back as far as 1975.
Later in 2008 he was transferred to Central Area. By this time, the downtown LA area had experienced a renaissance. This area had become a community of residents, businesses, visitors and workers, with a 24/7 agenda. In this position, Blake was responsible for the Staples Center
, LA Live, Fashion District, Jewelry District, Bank District, Historic Core, Little Tokyo, Chinatown, Arts District and Skid Row. During his tenure, working with the many community partners, Blakes employees knocked crime down almost 11 percent.
Later in 2010, Blake was transferred to Assistant Commander, Counter Terrorism and Special Operations Bureau. In this command he shares LAPD's counter terrorism programs, Bomb Squad, Hazardous Materials Team, METRO, SWAT, K9, Mounted, Air Support and Command Post.
Blake represents the FIRST Chinese American to be promoted to Commander in the LAPD's 140 year history. This year he was awarded the History Makers Award by the Los Angeles Chinese American Museum.
San Jose, California
San Jose is the third-largest city in California, the tenth-largest in the U.S., and the county seat of Santa Clara County which is located at the southern end of San Francisco Bay...
California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
. After attending Archbishop Mitty High School, he went to Cal Poly San Luis Obispo and graduated with a degree in Business/Finance.
Early career
In 1988 Chow joined the San Jose Police Reserves and began a search for a full-time job as a police officer. Chow joined the Los Angeles Police DepartmentLos Angeles Police Department
The Los Angeles Police Department is the police department of the city of Los Angeles, California. With just under 10,000 officers and more than 3,000 civilian staff, covering an area of with a population of more than 4.1 million people, it is the third largest local law enforcement agency in...
(LAPD) in 1990. After graduating second in his academy class, his first assignment was as a probation
Probation
Probation literally means testing of behaviour or abilities. In a legal sense, an offender on probation is ordered to follow certain conditions set forth by the court, often under the supervision of a probation officer...
ary officer in Pacific Division. He then served as an undercover and Special Problems Unit officer for three years in downtown Los Angeles, working out of Central Area.
Sergeant and Lieutenant
After a stint in downtown LA and as a training Officer in Rampart he was promoted to Sergeant and transferred to Southeast Area. After working as a field Sergeant in Southeast, he was assigned as a Vice Officer in Charge and eventually was promoted to LieutenantLieutenant
A lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer in many nations' armed forces. Typically, the rank of lieutenant in naval usage, while still a junior officer rank, is senior to the army rank...
in 1999. As a Lieutenant, Blake was assigned Pacific Area and was responsible for the Venice Beach Detail, which policed an area that is in the top 5 tourist attractions in Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
, easily drawing 100,000 visitor or more each weekend./ In 2001 he was transferred to LAPD's Risk Management
Risk management
Risk management is the identification, assessment, and prioritization of risks followed by coordinated and economical application of resources to minimize, monitor, and control the probability and/or impact of unfortunate events or to maximize the realization of opportunities...
Division where he established the Categorical Use of Force and Non-Categorical Use of Force review sections. Both sections to this day are responsible for analysis and reporting of all LAPD uses of force.
Captain
In 2003 Blake was promoted to CaptainPolice captain
- France :France uses the rank of capitaine for management duties in both uniformed and plain-clothed policing. The rank comes senior to lieutenant and junior to commandant....
and was assigned as the first Asian captain to preside over Central Area, which includes Chinatown
Chinatown
A Chinatown is an ethnic enclave of overseas Chinese people, although it is often generalized to include various Southeast Asian people. Chinatowns exist throughout the world, including East Asia, Southeast Asia, the Americas, Australasia, and Europe. Binondo's Chinatown located in Manila,...
. He also became the highest ranking Chinese American
Chinese American
Chinese Americans represent Americans of Chinese descent. Chinese Americans constitute one group of overseas Chinese and also a subgroup of East Asian Americans, which is further a subgroup of Asian Americans...
Officer in the LAPD, a distinction he still holds. In 2005 Blake was transferred to Los Angeles International Airport
Los Angeles International Airport
Los Angeles International Airport is the primary airport serving the Greater Los Angeles Area, the second-most populated metropolitan area in the United States. It is most often referred to by its IATA airport code LAX, with the letters pronounced individually...
Field Services Division. In this position, he was responsible for the general airport security and safety while working with the Transportation Security Administration
Transportation Security Administration
The Transportation Security Administration is an agency of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security that exercises authority over the safety and security of the traveling public in the United States....
, FBI, ICE and LAWAPD. Later that year, Blake was promoted to Captain III and given the responsibility to start a new division. The new organization was called Real Time Analysis and Critical Response Division. RACR Division was organized to do three functions. First, to analyze crime city-wide on a real-time basis to look for patterns and make deployment recommendations. Second, to track the state of the City of Los Angeles. This included tracking all uniformed resources, the state of radio calls and other indicators to constantly monitor the state of the 500 square miles (1,295 km²) of Los Angeles. Third, RACR was designed as the Department Command Post and would be used to manage the city during major occurrences, whether they be natural or man-made. RACR was the first 24/7 fusion center in the city; possibly the western United States.
In 2007 Blake was assigned as the Area Captain at Hollenbeck Area, where he was instrumental in making inroads to community previously cut off from communication and participation in City government. Through the efforts of his employees, Hollenbeck Area reported record drops in the homicide rate; numbers which could not be replicated going back as far as 1975.
Later in 2008 he was transferred to Central Area. By this time, the downtown LA area had experienced a renaissance. This area had become a community of residents, businesses, visitors and workers, with a 24/7 agenda. In this position, Blake was responsible for the Staples Center
Staples Center
Staples Center is a multi-purpose sports arena in Downtown Los Angeles. Adjacent to the L.A. Live development, it is located next to the Los Angeles Convention Center complex along Figueroa Street. Opening on October 17, 1999, it is one of the major sporting facilities in the Greater Los Angeles...
, LA Live, Fashion District, Jewelry District, Bank District, Historic Core, Little Tokyo, Chinatown, Arts District and Skid Row. During his tenure, working with the many community partners, Blakes employees knocked crime down almost 11 percent.
Commander
In 2010 Chief Beck promoted Blake to the Rank of Commander. He was assigned Operations-Central Bureau which had command of 6 Divisions. They are Central, Rampart, Hollenbeck, Newton, Northeast and Central Traffic Division. The general population of these areas is about 180,000 and is policed by about 1,300 officers.Later in 2010, Blake was transferred to Assistant Commander, Counter Terrorism and Special Operations Bureau. In this command he shares LAPD's counter terrorism programs, Bomb Squad, Hazardous Materials Team, METRO, SWAT, K9, Mounted, Air Support and Command Post.
Blake represents the FIRST Chinese American to be promoted to Commander in the LAPD's 140 year history. This year he was awarded the History Makers Award by the Los Angeles Chinese American Museum.
Sources
- http://www.ladowntownnews.com/articles/2009/03/20/news/doc49c42953a8e1f973868080.prt*
- http://www.lacp.org/2009-Articles-Main/022609-CaptainBlakeChow.htm
- http://www.camla.org/pressreleases/2010/chow.pdf
- http://www.napoaonline.org/11.html
- http://blogdowntown.com/2009/02/4094-lapd-central-division-awards-ceremony-scene
- http://www.labusinessjournal.com/news/2010/feb/01/new-spin-fighting-illegal-discs/
- http://asamfiles.blogspot.com/2009/03/lapd-captain-blake-chow-central-areas.html
- http://www.ladowntownnews.com/articles/2009/05/15/news/doc4a0deb8a151bb029468818.txt
- http://www.ladowntownnews.com/articles/2009/12/11/news/doc4b0db3584a3e7239791951.txt