My husband David and I were guests at the City of La Palma’s 38th Annual Neighborhood Watch Appreciation Banquet on February 20, 2025, at the La Palma Community Center.
I was a Block Captain for Suffield Street from the time Neighborhood Watch started in the 1980’s until about 2020. We were honored to be invited, and we enjoyed seeing the La Palma Police Honor Guard Explorers present flags. We joined in saying the Pledge of Allegiance to the United States. We heard Mayor Mark Waldman and La Palma Police Chief Joe Guerrero honor and thank the 2024 Neighborhood Watch Board members. He also thanked the new 2025 Neighborhood Watch Board members, many of whom served in 2024. We all enjoyed the delicious meals prepared by Chef Ernie Rahm of ERJ Catering. It was a wonderful celebration thanking the volunteers of La Palma’s Neighborhood Watch!
While enjoying our dinners, we had the opportunity to meet one of the new young officers in the La Palma Police Department, 29- year-old Andrew Kim. He joined our table and sat next to my husband David. Andrew said he remembered carrying one of the flags at a Neighborhood Watch dinner years ago and proceeded to tell us his story of how he started as a La Palma Police Explorer and became a Police Officer
Andrew lived in La Palma and attended Los Coyotes, Elementary School, Walker Jr. High School, and Kennedy High School.
- He started as a La Palma Police Explorer in 2011, and worked his way up the ranks from Corporal, Sergeant, and Lieutenanat to become Captain of the Explorer Program. He was Explorer of the Year in 2013, 2014, and 2015 for the City of La Palma. He also received the Orange County Law Enforcement Explorer Advisor Association (OCLEEAA) Golden Explorer Award in 2014 and 2015In 2014, he was hired by La Palma Police Department as Police Services Aide/Parking Control Officer.
- He became a full-time Police Officer in 2019 and made hundreds of arrests. Over the next two years, he worked several collateral assignments, including Explorer Advisor, Volunteers in Policing (VIP) Advisor, Drug Recognition Expert (DRE), Range Safety Officer, Narcan Instructor, and Terrorist and Cyber Liaison Officer.
- In 2016, he was promoted to Civilian Investigator where he did Crime Scene Investigaton (CSI), Crime Analysis, Property and Evidence, and wrote for The Source newsletter.
- In 2017 and 2018, he was the La Palma Police Department’s Services Division Employee of the Year.
- In 2019, he was promoted to Police Officer Recruit and sent to the Golden West Police Academy.
- In 2020, Andrew received the LPPD DUI Award and the MADD Award for making the most DUI arrests.
- In 2022, Andrew transitioned and became a part-time Reserve Officer because he was needed to assist his family’s business after Covid-19.
- In 2023, he worked for the City of Corona in the City Manager’s Office while also serving as a Police Reserve Officer in La Palma and managing his family’s business.
- In 2024, he joined the City of Montebello and currently manages their Grants and Special Projects, while continuing to work as a La Palma Police Reserve Officer and assisting his family business.
- In 2024, Andrew received his 10- Year Service Pin as a City of La Palma employee.
- Andrew continues to work part-time for the La Palma Police Department. As a La Palma Police Reserve Officer, Andrew typically comes in and works patrol weekly.
- My husband and I were impressed learn about all of Andrew’s achievements as a La Palma Police Explorer and as a La Palma Police Officer. In addition to his police work, Andrew said that he earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice from CSULB, a Master’s Degree in Criminology, Law and Society from UC Irvine, and a Ph.D. in Public Administration from Liberty University in Virginia, online, while working multiple jobs and studying for his degree. The Ph.D. in Administration probably helped to prepare him for his jobs in Corona and Montebello and an Administrator’s job in the future.
- Andrew’s parents must be proud of all that Andrew has accomplished so far in his life. His former teachers in La Palma’s schools will probably be happy to learn all about Andrew’s educational and professional accomplishments. The La Palma Police Department is to be congratulated for helping to educate and prepare Andrew to do outstanding police work to protect and serve the residents of La Palma.
My husband and I wish Andrew continued success with all the work that he chooses to do, and happiness with his wife, Sophia, and nine-month-old daughter, Hazel!