Childhood friend explains why Andy Chan wanted to become a Philly cop
Philadelphia police officer Andy Chan means a lot to the Chinatown community and it’s not hard to find someone who knew him.
A childhood friend of Andy Chan sat down with NBC10’s Johnny Archer and shared Officer Chan’s story about why he became a cop.
“Kids were always mischievous. Andy Chan? No, none of that. Just good and pure,” Chan’s childhood friend John Chin said.
Those who knew Andy Chan when he was younger always knew that he would become a police officer one day, but it was one officer who patrolled in Andy’s Chinatown neighborhood when he was a kid who played a big role in his career path.
“Police officer Joe Louie was an established beat cop in Chinatown: Either walking or in his car. Anytime Joe Louie was around Chinatown, Andy Chan knew were to find him,” Chin explained.
Officer Louie would stop by Andy’s family’s restaurant that once stood at 10th and Race streets where a seafood restaurant stands today.
For 24 years, Andy Chan served Philadelphia as a police officer never forgetting where he came from.
“Andy didn’t patrol Chinatown but he was always in Chinatown. He grew up here. He goes to church here. He never left,” Chin said.
It was in 2019 when tragedy struck. Officer Chan was struck by a car while on patrol riding his motorcycle.
Then, for six years, Officer Chan suffered from very serious head trauma until he succumbed to his injuries and died on Dec. 2, 2025.
“We are grieving for Andy here in Chinatown but his impact goes beyond the police department. His impact goes across the region of Philadelphia,” Chin said.
Officer Chan embodied the true sense of law enforcement protecting and serving the community he loved and a community that loved him back.
“His goodness is pure and comes from his heart. I have not come across anyone like Andy Chan. The goodness that he has, the willingness to help people and just not saying no,” Chin said.
Officer Chan was 55-years-old and he leaves behind a wife and three children.
