LAST February 2010, Captain Peter Decena left the San Jose Police Department after more than 30 years of law enforcement experience to take on the new challenge of being San José State University’s new Chief of Police. As commander of Bureau of Investigations before becoming Chief of Police, Decena is the highest-ranking Filipino American in San Jose’s law enforcement agencies.
"Getting the job was great," Decena said in the University newspaper. "It was close to a dream job. The timing was perfect. I had graduated from State many years ago. I’m really excited to be part of the UPD again."
Decena, who planned to become a teacher after graduation, soon ended up on the police force. He became a patrol officer for the University Police in 1980. Two years later, he joined the SJPD. He started on patrol and worked on various special assignments, working his way up the chain of command.
In 1994, Decena was promoted to sergeant and supervised patrol officers, the Intelligence Unit, the Violent Crimes Enforcement Team, SJPD’s Special Operations Division’s Mobile Emergency Response Group and Equipment (MERGE) Unit and the Bureau Field Operation Street Crimes. He was promoted again to lieutenant six years later, where he became the Patrol Watch Commander and became a captain in 2008.
"I feel really good about coming back. It’s like I’m closing a circle, coming back home," said the new Chief of Police
( Published June 2, 2010 in Asian Journal Los Angeles p. B3 )
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