The Sacramento Police Department swore in its first ever Asian American Chief of Police Monday on an interim basis.
Deputy Chief Brian Louie, 57, will take the reigns from Sam Somers Jr., who retired last Friday after leading the department since 2013, according to the Sacramento Bee.
Louie, who’s been with the force for 36 years, has held positions ranging from student trainee to deputy chief, the role he’s had for the last nine years where he oversees the Office of Specialized Forces. Louie took the helm just one day before mayor-elect Darrell Steinberg was sworn in and will hold his title until a suitable replacement for Somers is found.
“I look forward to the challenges that face our city and our organization, and I’ll tell you right now, I’m up for that challenge,” Louie said to the Sacramento Bee.
Louie not only holds a Master’s Degree in Emergency Services from Cal State University Long Beach, he is also a graduate of the FBA National Academy and has nearly worked every assignment possible for the Sacramento PD, according to a news release.
Georgette Imura, who serves on the Council for Asian Pacific Islanders Together for Advocacy and Leadership board, said to Fox 40 that seeing Louie in this position makes her and the AAPI community proud.
“The (Asian-Pacific Islander) community, we have been such an integral part of the city for such a long time, but it’s taken us a long time to come into our own and see some of our own community people in positions of leadership,” Imura said to Fox 40.
Louie’s promotion comes in the midst of a string of burglaries that have targeted Asian American business owners in Sacramento, prompting him to immediately call for a community meeting to find a solution.
“Brian was instrumental in bringing not only Chief Somers, but also the Sacramento Sheriffs department in bring them to that meeting to address those issues,” Imura said.
(Photo: Mayor Pro Tem Larry Carr)
