Phan Ngo
Sunnyvale Department of Public Safety
Sunnyvale, CA USA
"It’s not a destination, it’s a journey. If you’re curious and you want to continue to learn and grow, then you’re going to be successful at whatever you want to do."
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Phan's work combines: Government, Law, and Helping People
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Day In The Life
Skills &
Education
Advice for getting started
While going to school for criminal justice, we were discussing the barriers that Vietnamese-Americans might face when considering becoming police officers. I was taken aback by some of the things the other students were saying. I took it as a challenge and decided to apply to the San Jose Police Department. I proceeded to build a 26-year career with the department.
Here's the path I took:
High School
Bachelor's Degree
Criminal Justice Administration
San Jose State University
Graduate Degree
Criminal Justice
Boston University
Certification
Leadership and Character in Uncertain Times
Harvard Kennedy School
Certification
Negotiation Strategies: Building Agreement Across Boundaries Program
Harvard Kennedy School
Life & Career Milestones
My path in life has been direct
1.
I was born in Vietnam and fled with my family to the United States when I was eight years old.
2.
I earned my bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from San Jose State University.
3.
While in college, I was taken aback by the reasons my peers thought Vietnamese-Americans wouldn’t make good police officers.
4.
I took that as a challenge and applied to the San Jose Police Department.
5.
I then built a 26-year career with the police department, starting as a police officer and working my way up to deputy chief of police.
6.
I now work as the director of public safety for the Sunnyvale Department of public safety, where I oversee our officers performing police, fire, and emergency medical services.
Defining Moments
How I responded to discouragement
THE NOISE
Messages from Peers:
Vietnamese-Americans don't communicate well and don't have good command presence, so they don't become police officers.
How I responded:
While going to school for criminal justice, we were discussing the barriers that Vietnamese-Americans might face when considering becoming police officers. I was taken aback by some of the things the other students were saying. I took it as a challenge and decided to apply to the San Jose Police Department. I proceeded to build a 26-year career with the department.