Asian Pacific Voices: Exploring Community, Culture, and Service with San Diego's Finest - 4 X 35

Lieutenant Taerance Oh has served with the San Diego Police Department for over 21 years. Originally from Seoul, South Korea, he immigrated to the U.S. at age three and grew up in Los Angeles. A former United States Marine, Taerance is a 3rd-degree black belt in Tae Kwon Do and enjoys coaching martial arts. He has held various roles within the department, including Patrol Officer and SWAT Operator, and currently works in the Leadership Development Unit. Taerance is actively involved in community service and has held leadership positions in several organizations, including the National Asian Peace Officers’ Association. In his spare time, he enjoys traveling and playing golf.

Sergeant Lem Sainsanoy is a dedicated officer with the San Diego Police Department, serving for 25 years. A Cambodian refugee who settled in San Diego in 1980, he graduated from Miramar College and the San Diego Regional Police Academy. Currently, he works in the Multi-Cultural Community Relations Office, assisting Asian and Pacific Islander communities with criminal investigations, translations, and crime prevention. Fluent in Cambodian, Laotian, and Thai, Sgt. Sainsanoy also serves as the Historian for the Pan-Pacific Law Enforcement Association and mentors teens through the San Diego Asian Youth Organization. He is the first Cambodian officer to achieve the rank of Sergeant in the department.

In this episode of Asian Pacific Voices Radio, host Joanne Whitlock engages with Sergeant Lem Sansonoy and Lieutenant Terrence Oh from the San Diego Police Department. They share their personal journeys into law enforcement, highlighting the importance of community outreach and building trust within diverse communities. The conversation explores the challengIes and successes of their roles, the impact of their backgrounds on their work, and the significance of mentorship and education in policing. They discuss various outreach programs and the evolving role of community relations in law enforcement, emphasizing the need for continuous improvement and connection with the community.