Terry Hara
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December 25, 1957
Terry Hara | |
|---|---|
 Official portrait, 2008 | |
| Deputy Chief of the Los Angeles Police Department | |
| In office April 7, 2008 – January 31, 2015 | |
| Chief | William Bratton |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Terry Saburo Hara December 25, 1957 |
| Police career | |
| Department | Los Angeles Police Department |
| Service years | 1980–2015 |
| Rank |  Deputy Chief |
| Awards | Order of the Rising Sun |
Terry Saburo Hara (born December 25, 1957) is an American law enforcement officer who served as the Los Angeles Police Department's first Asian-American deputy chief, and its first Japanese-American captain.[1][2][3][4]
Hara is a third generation Japanese American born in Long Beach, California to Toshio and Yoneko Hara. Toshio was a Terminal Island fisherman, uprooted from his community and incarcerated during World War II. Terry now serves as president of the Terminal Islanders Association in honor of his family's history.[5][6]
Hara earned a bachelor of science in Criminal Justice from National University, and is a graduate of the Senior Management Institute for Police Program from Boston University.[7]
Career
Serving as a Police Explorer with the Long Beach Police Department as a youth, Hara credited his Explorer coordinator, Officer Robert Schroeder, for encouraging him to become a police officer.
During his 35 year long career, he served as an undercover narcotics and motor officer, in the Detective Support Division with the bomb squad, Asian Crime Investigation Section, Fugitive Warrant Section, Special Investigation Section, Criminal Conspiracy Section, FBI task force on violent crime, Audit Section, Criminal Investigation Section on counter-terrorism, and Career Criminal Apprehension Section. He commanded the Personnel and Training Bureau, Training Group and Training Division, Southeast and Wilshire Divisions, and served as the Deputy Chief and Commanding Officer of the West Bureau.[8]
As the highest ranking former motor officer in LAPD's history, the LAPD built a custom Harley Davidson Electra Glide FLHTP painted with his name and two stars on the front fender in honor of the LAPD motor unit's 100th anniversary in 2009.[9] Upon his retirement, it was taken out of service and donated to the LAPD Police Museum.[4]
Hara's ribbon bar indicates participation in the 1984 Summer Olympics, the 1987 Papal visit by Pope John Paul II, the 1992 Civil Emergency, the 1994 Northridge earthquake, and the 2000 Democratic National Convention.[10]