[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 168 (Monday, September 27, 2021)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1030]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        HONORING ANTHONY J. WONG

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. DWIGHT EVANS

                            of pennsylvania

                    in the house of representatives

                       Monday, September 27, 2021

  Mr. EVANS. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor an influential and 
dedicated gentleman from Philadelphia, Anthony J. Wong, a devoted 
public servant, and former Philadelphia Police Chief Inspector who died 
on September 8, 2021 at the age of 93.
  Anthony J. Wong was born in Philadelphia on April 17, 1928 and was 
the only child of Chinese immigrants who owned a restaurant in 
Chinatown. After high school, he joined the Army and served in the 
World War II Occupation Forces in Europe. He also served in the Korean 
War. In the Army, he served in counterintelligence, as interrogator, a 
translator, and in the military police.
  Inspector Wong dedicated his life and career to this country and to 
the city of Philadelphia. He joined the Philadelphia Police Department 
in 1953 after serving in the U.S. Army. At that time, he was the sole 
Chinese American officer on the force. He retired from the police force 
in 2003 as the highest-ranking officer of Asian American descent.
  While in the Philadelphia Police Department, Mr. Wong served in 
several units, including in narcotics, vice enforcement, and patrol. He 
twice led the Training Bureau and commanded the Community Relations 
Division and the Patrol Bureau, which encompassed emergency planning. 
His last assignment was as Commanding Officer of the Police Training 
Bureau at the Police Academy.
  Mr. Wong was well rounded and highly respected by many. A man with 
many talents, he spoke multiple languages. He attended the University 
of Vienna in Austria, the Fels Institute of Local and State Government 
at the University of Pennsylvania, and the Universal School of 
Languages and Translation Bureau.
  Additionally, Mr. Wong was a college adjunct professor. He taught 
criminal justice, criminal investigation, and laws and procedures at 
the Community College of Philadelphia. He was fluent in German and used 
his skills to help Jewish concentration camp survivors who relocated to 
Philadelphia.
  Furthermore, he was very active in his community. He was a founding 
member of the Philadelphia Chinatown Development Corp. (PCDC), which 
was founded in 1969 after the Chinatown community in Philadelphia began 
fighting plans to demolish Holy Redeemer Catholic Church and School to 
build the Vine Street Expressway. Although he was a police captain and 
could not partake in the street protests, he attended meetings and 
offered his expertise. He was also on the board of the On Lok House, an 
apartment building for low-income senior citizens. According to Cecilia 
Moy Yep, the PCDC founder, Mr. Wong was ``very faithful to Chinatown. 
He was active in the meetings, particularly on the On Lok House. That 
was his baby.''
  As evidenced by his historic career Anthony J. Wong, dedicated his 
life to advocating and improving the lives of others. He was a model 
public servant. The 3rd Congressional District of Pennsylvania extends 
gratitude to Mr. Wong for his dedicated support and service to the 
Chinatown community and the city of Philadelphia. And offer sincere 
condolences to his family and friends on his passing.

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