Red County, California

From the good folks at the Cypress Police Department:

On October 28, 2009 Cypress Police Chief Mark Yokoyama was honored by the Golden West College Foundation with the 2009 Alumni Pillar of Achievement award, along with three other community members and alumni. This award was initiated by the Golden West College Foundation on its 25th anniversary in 1991 to honor past alumni who have achieved notable recognition in their field of endeavor. The award ceremony was held in the college Courtyard of Honor that will also display the likeness of Chief Yokoyama. In attendance were college President Wes Bryan, members of the Board of Trustees, and other elected officials and staff members from Golden West College Criminal Justice Training Center.

Chief Yokoyama was nominated for this award by Golden West College Dean and Director of the Criminal Justice Training Center Ronald Lowenberg recognizing Chief Yokoyama’s long time commitment and expertise in Community Policing that has built relationships and professionalism in the industry.

Chief Yokoyama, born and raised in the City of Los Angeles, has been in the police service profession since 1986 when he attended the Police Academy at Golden West College graduating as the Honor Recruit. After a short stint as a Reserve Officer with the Tustin and Laguna Beach Police Departments, he worked for the La Palma Police Department for twelve years progressing through the ranks working various field and administrative assignments. In 1999, Chief Yokoyama joined the Newark Police Department in the San Francisco Bay area as a Police Lieutenant and was promoted to Police Captain in 2002. Having served as both the Operations and Services Division Commander for the Newark Police Department, he has been credited with implementation of Community Oriented Policing, building and repairing community relations, developing police technology, and personnel development.

In 2003, Yokoyama returned to Southern California joining the Cypress Police Department as a Police Captain and was promoted to Chief of Police in 2008. During his tenure, Chief Yokoyama has continued his interest in developing police community relationships, has instituted technology initiatives, and has furthered the implementation of contemporary policing philosophies and other crime fighting strategies.

Chief Yokoyama holds an Associate of Arts degree from Golden West College in Police Administration, a Bachelor of Arts degree in Public Administration from the University of La Verne, and a Masters of Arts degree in Behavioral Science from Cal State Dominguez Hills. He currently is attending the University of Southern California working towards a second Masters Degree in Executive Leadership. He is also a graduate of the FBI National Academy in Quantico, Virginia, L.A.P.D. West Point Leadership program, P.O.S.T. Command College, P.O.S.T. Supervisory Leadership Institute, and the University of Southern California Delinquency Control Institute. Chief Yokoyama has been a community college and police academy instructor and advisor since 1990 training over 10,000 police recruits, students and professionals across the state and is currently an adjunct faculty member at Golden West College and Fullerton College.

We salute Chief Yokoyama with this very prestigious 2009 Alumni Pillar of Achievement award.

Congratulations to Chief Yokoyama and the Cypress Police Department.