The Brief
- Chicago Police Sgt. Hoyin Terry To uses his ability to speak Cantonese and Mandarin to better serve Chinatown residents and build trust in the community.
- His presence, along with other bilingual officers in the 9th District, is helping to reduce language barriers and encourage crime reporting.
- Violent crime is down significantly in the area, thanks in part to community policing and outreach efforts.
CHICAGO – The Chicago Police Department’s push to recruit bilingual officers is making a visible impact in Chinatown, where officers like Sgt. Hoyin Terry To are bridging language and cultural gaps in the community.
To, who grew up in Hong Kong, speaks both Cantonese and Mandarin and understands the nuances of the culture. His language skills help him build trust and encourage communication with residents who may otherwise hesitate to interact with police.
“I speak Chinese. I speak two dialects. I speak Cantonese and Mandarin. I understand the culture since I grew up in Hong Kong, when I was little,” said To, who is one of 13 Chinese-speaking officers in the 9th District.…