A special thank you to Anh Luc. I first met you on 18 December 2008, when you approached me on Attestation Day. As the first Vietnamese police officer in Australia, you were an inspiration to me. Little did I know that, by joining the blue family that day, I had also become a member of IVLEA 🤣
On a serious note, you joined the NSWPF at a time when the Vietnamese community faced significant challenges. Negative media coverage surrounding gangs, drugs, and violence often overshadowed the many hardworking and law-abiding Vietnamese immigrants who contributed so much to Australia.
Through your professionalism, leadership, and compassion, you helped change that narrative. You built bridges between police, the community, emergency services, and other policing nations. You also showed many officers of Vietnamese, Asian, and culturally diverse backgrounds that they, too, could serve and make a difference by joining the force. Well done to you and the IVLEA committee, Det. Sgt. Luc Nguyen 🙌 🫡 🚨