>> reporter: after leaving hong kong at age 16, tommy ng grew up in brooklyn. still in school. >> my part-time job was delivering food. the first time, i didn't call the police, i just didn't know what to do. i felt helpless that i didn't speak the language. i didn't know the criminal justice system, how it works, how to report to the police department. >> how does that impact the way you talk to people who are victims of crime? >> oftentimes they don't feel comfortable talking to strangers or talking to -- speaking in another language. >> instead of feeling helpless, you became a police officer? >> absolutely. >> reporter: now, 25 years later, as head of the nypd asian hate crimes task force, he's teaching others to fight back. >> i want you to bring it back to your family members, teach your children, your elderly. >> reporter: through community engagement like this self-defense class. >> you want to feel confidence. you want to ensure you are empowering them. >> reporter: the task force, created last year, is comprised of 25 officers who speak 11 different l