David Chong, outgoing White Plains public safety commissioner, reflects on lifetime of service
For Chong, a career in law enforcement and public safety is about showing up, especially on the city's darkest days.
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David Chong, the White Plains public safety commissioner for more than 45 years, sat down with News 12 to reflect on his lifetime of service.
For Chong, a career in law enforcement and public safety is about showing up, especially on the city's darkest days – including the COVID-19 pandemic, Hurricane Sandy and other major emergencies. He says his proudest achievement has been the growth of the department and the people he's met along the way.
"These folks show up…they put on their uniform, and they're out there going to places where other people would be running away from,” he said. “That's the magnificent part of being a part of public safety. They're special people.”
Chong started in law enforcement with the NYPD, recalling his success in taking down the Chinese American street gang known as the Flying Dragons.
He rose up through the ranks, spending 23 years with the department. On 9/11, Chong was at Ground Zero when the terrorist attack happened, working amidst devastation to rescue people. He was later diagnosed twice with 9/11-related cancer.
"I was given a year to live, you know? Pancreatic stage 4 cancer and they considered me a miracle person because I had it twice," he said.
Chong became White Plains deputy commissioner in 2002, Mount Vernon police commissioner in 2006, and in 2010, returned to White Plains.
"We've dropped crime basically every year, double digits, and this year, amazingly, triple digits. The Fire Department response time is about 2:30 minutes which is unheard of really, and I think the new administration is going to do very, very well with the department we've put together."
On his last day on the job, Chong says he'll be working the New Year's Eve celebration, making sure everything goes smoothly.
Mayor-elect Justin Brasch has named law enforcement veteran Wade Hardy to lead the department.
