A SF Chinatown birthday party hosted by police officers

(SAN FRANCISCO) A surprise birthday party was hosted by police officers in Chinatown on September 24 for the 63-year-old victim who was abandoned by her family in July.

The thoughtfulness from Officer William Ma who is a young beat officer patrolling Chinatown for a few years, has touched other police officers and members of the community who knew about his plan.

The unnamed victim used to live in the Tenderloin and was abandoned by her family in Chinatown in early July. The victim speaks only Chinese and needs to rely on her walker to move around. Ma is a Chinese-speaking officer who was asked by the station to handle the case about the abandonment back in July.

Ma was not only handling the case, he was also spending numerous hours looking for permanent housing for the victim. Finally he was able to find an apartment by making so many phone calls and the support of the community. The victim has lived in Chinatown since then.

“All grandmas are my grandmas," Ma was featured and honored in July in the Bay Area Proud, a television news project to honor individuals who have devoted themselves to serving the community.

"I remember the victim's birthday when I was helping her in July. I knew that she would be alone by herself on her birthday," said Ma. So Ma spent his own money to arrange a big dinner for the victim in the Capital Restaurant in Chinatown.

Ma also told his plan to other officers that resulted with 30 motorcycle officers to join him by riding their motorcycles to Chinatown and wished her well on an unforgettable birthday. Many of the motorcycle officers were not on duty and were wearing plain clothes to come to Chinatown.

The birthday party was not only to surprise the victim. It also surprised Ma himself that 30 officers joined him for the birthday party. "Compared to the victim, I am in a much better situation. I only pay for the dinner that I can afford to let her feel the warmth from the community," said Ma.