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26-year vet of OC police dept to retire

November 20, 2015
Garden Grove Police Department Korean community liaison Yoo Tae-kyung will leave his post 26 years after entering the office in 1989.

Garden Grove Police Department Korean community liaison Yoo Tae-kyung will leave his post 26 years after entering the office in 1989.

By The Korea Times Orange County staff

A veteran Korean community liaison of the Garden Grove Police Department, Yoo Tae-kyung, will retire at the end of this month, ending a 26-year career at the Koreatown office.

Yoo said there were more disappointing moments than happy ones when looking back through the years.

“Children drowning, sudden infant deaths, the suicide of a Korean homeless person I had become close to,” he said. “I saw Koreans not fluent in English being accused as perpetrators when they were actually the victims, especially in traffic accident reports. During those times, I tried my best to correct mistakes.”

He said working in a Korean district meant that he would see Koreans bringing gifts after resolved cases or asking for forgiveness for accidents.

“These are things you do not see in American culture,” he said.

Some came to see him to complain about family problems, which ranged from gambling family members, extramarital affairs and misbehaving children.

“My biggest role was as a listener, and I offered my thoughts and advice to them,” he said.

He said he regrets not resolving more cases.

“I don’t know who is goingto take my place, but I want to let them know that the best gifts are the words ‘Thank you’ and a card,” he said.

Yoo started working at the office in October 1989.

He said he plans to attend Buddhist monk classes in Korea next year so he can return stateside as a missionary.