Captain Sanford names Yat H. Lam to the Taraval Police District Community Advisory Board as the Chinese Community Liaison Ambassador.

On Monday, August 30, 2010, Captain John Sanford, Jr. of the Taraval Police Station named Yat H. Lam as the Chinese Liaison Ambassador for the Taraval District. Captain Sanford held his first Chinese Community Relations and Public Safety meeting with the Chinese community on Tuesday, August 17, 2010. “I know there is a need to build relationships with the Chinese community, but before I can do that, I must gain their trust and confidence,” says Captain Sanford.

According to Captain Sanford, Yat Lam showed up to the meeting and was a willing participant to help out his community and volunteered to translate. “He has very special skills that I lack (joked Captain Sanford) he is able to speak in Cantonese and Mandarin.” Captain Sanford knew it was a “No-brainer” and he had to have this young energetic community member stay active and assist him with engaging a community that historically have had barriers sealing a solid relationship between the police and Chinese community. After the first meeting, Captain Sanford and Yat Lam spoke in detail and decided to stay in contact and discuss concerns that they both share regarding the Chinese community. Their fate was sealed after a long meeting they had at Taraval Station on Monday, August 30, 2010.

Captain Sanford believes that Yat Lam will be a viable member of the Community Advisory Board and a great pick to serve as a Chinese Community Liaison Ambassador here in the Taraval district. The two discussed many things, and the visions appear to match according to Captain Sanford. “I believe that collectively we can influence, inspire, engage and build trust in the targeted community,” said Captain Sanford.

Captain Sanford and Yat Lam have rolled up their sleeves already and preparing to dig into a process they know will be challenging, but yet very gratifying. The two will attend their first Community Advisory Board meeting on Wednesday, September 1, 2010 and quickly start preparing for the next Chinese Community Relations and Public Safety meeting at Lincoln High School on Tuesday, September 21, 2010 @ 5:30 p.m.