Behind the Badge
For Santa Ana Police Department Sgt. Daniel Baek, life has been a series of twists and turns that brought him to his law enforcement career.
As the saying goes, life is what happens when you’re making other plans.
“I got accepted into West Point Academy, which was always my dream,” he said. “I wanted a career in the military. But around this time, we had some family circumstances come up, and I chose to stay close to home. I thought I would still join the military eventually.”
Santa Ana Police Department’s Background Unit.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge
Baek attended UCLA, studying history and public policy. He thought law school might be his next step.
As his desire to remain close to his family grew more important, his military aspirations began to feel out of reach — but a serendipitous conversation with mentors from his church brought a new topic to the table: law enforcement.
“I didn’t know what cops actually did,” Baek said. “I thought they just wrote tickets. But they encouraged me to learn more and told me they thought it was something I’d be good at. So, I went to check it out.”
One ride-along later, Baek had found his passion.
Baek joined the Santa Ana Police Department at age 26 and has since built an 18-year career that has encapsulated the integrity, leadership, and service he admired about the military. Santa Ana PD’s commitment to structure, team environment, and reputation as the place where officers earn their stripes made it the ideal place for him.
“Everyone told me, ‘If you’re lucky enough to get hired at Santa Ana, you go,’” he said.
Santa Ana Police Recruiter Sgt. Daniel Baek.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge
Baek served 11 years on patrol. He worked graveyards and swing shift, and thrived under the pressure.
“This is the reason I became a police officer,” he said. “Patrol is the most dangerous, but important in policing. These police officers have to make the most critical decisions, often with the least amount of information. I’ve always believed it’s our best people who should be out on patrol.”
During his tenure in patrol, Baek joined the SWAT team, became a Field Training Officer (FTO) and later a Corporal, before landing his dream role as a Tactical Officer at the Police Academy.
“The drill sergeants are always sharp, in shape, squared away — I looked up to them,” he said. “It felt like a huge responsibility to train and shape the next generation and I was honored to be a part of it.”
He spent close to three years at the Academy before returning to Santa Ana PD to supervise the FTO program, overseeing how recruits transition from training into field work. Baek found a calling in mentorship. He knew firsthand how sometimes just one or two people who believe in you can change the course of a life.
Santa Ana Police Department Background Unit.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge
When he was asked to lead the Recruitment and Backgrounds Unit, Baek leapt at the chance to work with a team dedicated to finding the next generation of officers.
“When I applied, everyone wanted to be a police officer. It was hard to get a job, especially in a department like Santa Ana,” he says. “Now agencies are playing catch-up, but we still get great applicants, all of whom want to work hard, are mentally tough, and are drawn to our mission. We teach our recruits confidence, that they can make it through hard things.”
The Recruitment and Backgrounds Unit is made up of sworn and nonsworn team members, who all work hard to sift through background checks to find candidates to represent the police department.
“It’s a very extensive process. Everything is mandated by the state, and there are certain aspects that we have to follow,” said Steve Buchanan, an investigator with the unit. Buchanan has been with the department since 2015. “A lot of times people don’t know how much it is going to take to get hired, how long it can take, and how many moving pieces are involved. We talk to their families, former employees. Immediate family, neighbors … ex partners. We go down in the weeds.”
Santa Ana Police Recruiter Sgt. Daniel Baek.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge
Santa Ana PD now has a full-time recruiting team, and background checks are mandatory for anyone, whether sworn officers, dispatchers, interns, or even custodial staff.
“We’re looking for work ethic, team players, people who don’t need to be micromanaged. Above all, they have to be honest and trustworthy,” said Baek.
While his original career path may have taken a detour, he always wanted his life to be based on service.
“I always knew I never wanted a corporate job. I didn’t want to chase money. I wanted to serve, to wear the uniform with purpose,” he said.
Sgt. Daniel Baek of the Santa Ana Police Department, right, with the Background Unit.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge
