AAPI

1870: The Naturalization Act allowed any "free white person" who had been living in the United States for at least two years the right to citizenship. The Act extended naturalization rights to "aliens of Africian nativity and to persons of African descent." However, the law denied the ability to becoming a naturalized citizens to all other groups of non-whites, particularly Asians.

1917: SDPD hires Special Policeman Thomas Ah Quin as its first AAPI officer.

1962: SDPD hires Rufino "Junior" Yaptangco as its first Filipino American police officer.

1985: 43-year-old Trung Nguyen became SDPD's first Vietnamese officer when he graduated the police academy In June 1985.

May 1987: SDPD starts its first "Indo-Chinese Service Officer" academy. The graduates, consisting of Vietnamese, Lao, Hmong and Cambodian officers, would go on to serve in Multi-Cultural Storefront.

AAPI stands for Asian American & Pacific Islander; a diverse umbrella term covering over 50 ethnic groups with roots for the entire Asian continent - including East, Southeast and South Asia - and the Pacific Islands of Melanesia, Micronesia and Polynesia. AAPI Heritage Month is celebrated in May to honor their history and contributions.

1st and highest ranking Lao Lieutetant Dan Sayasane

Deputy Chief Rudy Tai is of Japanese Hawaiian descent. He is was the second highest ranking member of the SDPD prior to his February 2026 retirement.