Corporal Han Cho of the Garden Grove Police Department, who passed away in a car accident on August 7, has been identified as the stepson of Pastor Young Deuk Chung, who serves as the president of the Orange County (OC) Old Timers Fellowship.
Chung spoke to the Korea Daily in a phone call on August 9, saying, “I raised Han since he was 11 years old. He will be 50 years old in October, and he left like this.”
“I witnessed many Garden Grove and Santa Ana police officers blocking the road and accompanying him from UC Irvine Hospital to the OC Coroner’s Office. The Garden Grove Police Chief (Amir El-Farra) expressed their readiness to assist with the funeral arrangements,” Chung shared. “It was comforting to think that this recognition was a result of the hard work and community service he had undertaken in Garden Grove.”
According to Pastor Chung, Corporal Han Cho had been planning to retire in December.
“He exhibited a free spirit from a young age, but he was a diligent worker in all his pursuits. He also had a passion for sports. He participated in the LA Marathon several times and was an avid enthusiast of triathlons,” Chung reminisced.
Chung mentioned that his son’s remains are expected to be released from the coroner’s office on August 15, with the finalization of funeral arrangements to follow.
Kyusung Lee, a member of the OC Old Timers Fellowship and former chairman of the Korea Sports Association in the USA, who shared a close bond with Corporal Han Cho, extended his condolences to Pastor Chung, stating, “Had I known that he would pass away so soon, I would have met him more frequently.”
Meanwhile, on August 9, the Garden Grove Police Department expressed its grief on Facebook, saying, “Garden Grove PD would also like to thank our community members, public service partners, and friends for the overwhelming messages of support in the past few days. Corporal Han Cho was not only our beloved friend and brother, he was an integral part of the Garden Grove community.”
The Garden Grove Police Association also announced that the Association of Orange County Deputy Sheriffs (AOCDS) has established a Memorial Fund on behalf of Han Cho’s children, Christian and Kaitlyn. All proceeds, totaling 100%, will be directed towards a trust in their names. To contribute, visit http://aocds.org/donate-to-corporal-han-cho/.
L.A. County Sheriff’s Department Officer David Lee expressed, “The Korean American community was shocked and saddened to hear the news.” He had met the deceased at a Korean American job fair around seven or eight years ago. Lee continued, “Han Cho had a deep affection for the Garden Grove Police Department, where he diligently served. He was steadfast in his commitment and was generous in offering guidance to his junior officers.” Lee emphasized Han Cho’s role as a dedicated family head and a mentor.
A police official who had collaborated with the deceased for over two decades conveyed on social media, “His camaraderie with his colleagues will be remembered throughout my life,” adding, “He was not only an exceptional police officer but also a true friend.”
Han Cho initiated his journey at the Garden Grove Police Department as a Police Recruit on June 19, 1995, and he graduated from the police academy on December 8, 1995. Throughout his career, he undertook various assignments, including patrol officer, Gang Suppression Unit, Career Criminal Apprehension Team, and Neighborhood Traffic Unit. Han Cho was also an esteemed member of the Hostage Negotiation Team for more than 24 years. He progressed to the rank of Master Officer in 2006 and then to Corporal in 2022.
Meanwhile, as of 4 p.m. on August 10, the GoFundMe website (www.gofundme.com/f/han-cho) has collected a total of $53,438.
BY YEJIN KIM [kim.yejin3@koreadaily.com]
