Newly assigned Taichung Police Chief Frank Chiu (邱豐光) has vowed to make a difference for the city in terms of public order and crime rates.
“I shall do my best,” Chiu said.
The 1.85m-tall officer, who could very well be the nation’s tallest police chief, made the remarks after being informed that he had been made Taichung’s chief of police on June 3.
The new chief was nicknamed “Boss Chiu” (邱霸子) by his co-workers because of his leadership qualities and larger-than-life appearance.
Chiu, 55, graduated from the Central Police University’s Department of Criminal Investigation in 1978. He has served in different positions in law enforcement ever since. He also possesses a master’s degree in criminology from National Taipei University.
In addition to his expertise in criminal investigation, Chiu’s background has also earned him many promotions. He has been a favorite with both Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) and Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) politicians.
Chiu’s uncle is Chiu Lien-hui (邱連輝), a DPP heavyweight and former Pingtung County councilor and legislator, while Legislator Chiu Yi-ying (邱議瑩) is also one of his relatives. His close connections with the DPP made him one of former president Chen Shui-bian’s (陳水扁) favorite officers, with Chen at one point planning to promote him from deputy captain at Taipei City’s Criminal Investigation Corps (CIC) to either the captain of the force or one of the captains of the Special Police Forces.
Frank Chiu was also former National Police Agency (NPA) director-general Hou You-yi’s (侯友宜) long-time deputy and always assumed Hou’s previous position whenever Hou was promoted.
The new Taichung police chief entered the spotlight in November 1997, when he arrested and escorted Chen Chin-hsing (陳進興), one of the chief perpetrators of the kidnapping of entertainer Pai Bing-bing’s (白冰冰) daughter Pai Hsiao-yen (白曉燕), out of South African military attache Alexander McGill’s residence in Beitou (北投), Taipei City, after a 25-hour hostage crisis.
He declined special promotions several times, choosing instead to follow a regular and routine promotional system within the police force.
His low profile and hard work were also noticed by President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九), who succeeded Chen as Taipei mayor in 1998. Frank Chiu’s efforts as captain at the CIC were noted and commended by Ma when he was mayor.
WIFE
Frank Chiu’s wife, Chang Fang-chen (張芳珍), was his classmate at the academy and is also a senior officer at Taipei City Police Department’s Wenshan Second Precinct (文山二分局).
“He is a man of ambition, but he chooses to attain his goals using regular routes,” a senior Criminal Investigation Bureau (CIB) officer who has worked with Frank Chiu for more than a decade said on condition of anonymity. “I am not surprised he was promoted.”
The officer described Frank Chiu as “a big man with a girl’s heart,” someone who acts and moves like a brave man with a detailed plan that comes from careful consideration.
“He always knows what he is doing and always does things right and well,” he said. “I am quite confident he can do something for Taichung.”
During Frank Chiu’s 32 years of service in the force, his first job with administrative responsibilities was head of Taipei City Police Department, Wanhua Precinct’s (萬華分局) Investigation Section. He was also assigned and promoted to head the CIB’s Sixth Division, was a deputy captain and captain at Taipei City Police Department’s Criminal Investigation Corps, a CIB spokesman, Hsinchu City police chief and CIB deputy commissioner.
NPA Director-General Wang Cho-chiun (王卓鈞) said Frank Chiu’s promotion was his idea, a decision that was endorsed by Taichung Mayor Jason Hu (胡志強).
“[Frank] Chiu’s promotion has nothing to do with politics,” Wang said. “I am expecting him to take advantage of his expertise in criminology to fix the city’s major [crime] problem.”
MOST QUALIFIED
Former Taichung Police chief Hu Mu-yuan (胡木源), who is now head of the Special Police Force’s Third Headquarters, said being Taichung police chief was not an easy job, but that Frank Chiu was the most qualified candidate.
“I wish him luck,” Hu said.
Frank Chiu said his only response would be to work harder.
“Hu is an old friend and an old partner in the force. I will continue and finish what he started,” he said.
Taipei has once again made it to the top 100 in Oxford Economics’ Global Cities Index 2025 report, moving up five places from last year to 60. The annual index, which was published last month, evaluated 1,000 of the most populated metropolises based on five indices — economics, human capital, quality of life, environment and governance. New York maintained its top spot this year, placing first in the economics index thanks to the strength of its vibrant financial industry and economic stability. Taipei ranked 263rd in economics, 44th in human capital, 15th in quality of life, 284th for environment and 75th in governance,
The Sports Administration yesterday demanded an apology from the national table tennis association for barring 17-year-old Yeh Yi-tian (葉伊恬) from competing in the upcoming World Table Tennis (WTT) United States Smash tournament in Las Vegas this July. The sports agency said in a statement that the Chinese Taipei Table Tennis Association (CTTTA) must explain to the public why it withdrew Yeh from the WTT tournament in Las Vegas. The sports agency said it contacted the association to express its disapproval of the decision-making process after receiving a complaint from Yeh’s coach, Chuang
Control Yuan Secretary-General Lee Chun-yi (李俊俋) tendered his resignation last night, admitting that he had misused a government vehicle, as reported by media. His resignation was immediately accepted by the Control Yuan. In a statement explaining why he had resigned, Lee apologized for using a Control Yuan vehicle to transport his dog to a pet grooming salon on May 20. The issue first came to light late last month, when TVBS News reported that Lee had instructed his driver to take the dog to the salon. The news channel broadcast photos that it said were taken by an unnamed whistle-blower, which purportedly showed the
A former officer in China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA) who witnessed the aftermath of the 1989 Tiananmen Square massacre has warned that Taiwan could face a similar fate if China attempts to unify the country by force. Li Xiaoming (李曉明), who was deployed to Beijing as a junior officer during the crackdown, said Taiwanese people should study the massacre carefully, because it offers a glimpse of what Beijing is willing to do to suppress dissent. “What happened in Tiananmen Square could happen in Taiwan too,” Li told CNA in a May 22 interview, ahead of the massacre’s 36th anniversary. “If Taiwanese students or