By Cynthia Hubert

November 07, 2024

Sacramento County Sheriff’s Detective Vu Nguyen lost his life trying to protect his community, but his powerful legacy remains.

Nguyen, who earned a bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice in 1995 from Sacramento State and graduated with honors, went on to become the sheriff’s department’s top recruit. He rose to the rank of detective, with a specialty in monitoring and investigating street gang activity.

On a rainy December afternoon in 2007, just a few days before his 37th birthday, Nguyen was shot to death in south Sacramento while pursuing a known gang member. The suspect was arrested, convicted of murder and sentenced to life in prison.

“He made the ultimate sacrifice while protecting the citizens of Sacramento County,” said Orrlando Mayes, a former colleague of Nguyen’s who is now a sergeant in the Sac State Police Department. “Vu was a betterment to his colleagues, the Sacramento County Sheriff’s organization and his community.”

For his dedication to others, he is the recipient of a Distinguished Service Award from Sac State’s Alumni Association. Nguyen and five others will be honored with a Distinguished Alumni Awards reception and dinner on Nov. 7.

“He was a great person, all the way around. He took a lot of pride in doing his best and being his best, for himself and for the community.” -- Orrlando Mayes,  sergeant in the Sac State Police Department

Nguyen grew up in Modesto, and was an honor student in high school and community college, as well as at Sac State. He told colleagues and family members that he chose a career in law enforcement because he wanted to give back to the country that helped him and his family evacuate from Vietnam during wartime.

Ed Yee, a retired sheriff’s captain who worked with Nguyen in the gang suppression unit, called him the consummate professional and team player.

“I have worked around tremendous leaders who perform the job with the highest level of integrity,” Yee said. “There is no question in my mind that with his intelligence, work ethic, and compassion, Vu would have continued his ascent into the leadership ranks of the sheriff’s office.”

His legacy lives on through the Vu Nguyen Memorial Scholarship Foundation, which provides scholarships to high school seniors who want to pursue careers in public service, and Breaking Clays for Vu, which raises money for families of fallen officers.

Mayes was among the SWAT team officers who captured the gangster who killed Nguyen. Nguyen’s loss, he said, leaves a huge hole in the lives of his family, friends and fellow officers.

“He was a great person, all the way around,” Mayes said. “He took a lot of pride in doing his best and being his best, for himself and for the community.”

Yet, even as he collected accolades for his work, Nguyen remained humble, said Mayes.

“Vu was never boastful,” he said. “He was always calm, steady and down to earth. He would be grateful to receive this award, but also very humbled by it.”

For more information about the Distinguished Alumni Awards, visit the Alumni Association web page.