Distinguished Alumni
The Department of Justice Studies recognizes alumni who after graduating excelled in life, achieving distinction and enhancing the reputation of the Department through their exemplary career, contributions to their field, and/or contributions to the Department.
Roster of Distinguished Alumni
Wahid Kazem - B.S. Administration of Justice 1995, M.S Criminial Justice Administration 2002
Wahid was hired as a Santa Clara police officer in September of 1996 and has worked
a wide variety of assignments and positions over the course of his career. As a detective,
Wahid took a special interest in working cold case homicides. He is a past recipient
of the Silicon Valley Crime Stoppers Outstanding Service Award for his dedicated work
that led to the closure and successful prosecution of several cold cases, including
a well-known 1977 murder of a 17-year-old Santa Clara High School student. This investigation
was later featured on the Investigation Discovery television network show Murder Book.
Wahid was promoted to Assistant Chief of Police in June of 2020. As a police executive, he has commanded all major divisions of the police department and has served as the department’s Public Information Officer and as the Acting Communications Operations Manager overseeing the 911-Dispatch Center.
Wahid is a proud veteran of the United States Army, having served as a commissioned officer (through the SJSU ROTC program) until his Honorable Discharge in July of 2003. He is a graduate of the prestigious FBI National Academy held at Quantico, Virginia, and the Police Executive Research Forum’s Senior Management Institute for Police held at Boston University. He currently serves as a law enforcement liaison for the Bay Area team of the International Rescue Committee and is a past president of the Santa Clara Optimist International club.
An alumni of San Jose public schools, in November of 2023, Wahid was inducted into the Eastside Union High School District Hall of Fame.
Sean Washington - M.S. Justice Studies, 2007
Police Chief Sean Washington joined the Fremont Police Department in 1997 and worked several assignments gaining experience as a Detective, Field Training Officer, SWAT Team Member, Arrest Control Instructor, Driving Instructor, and member of the School Resource Officer Unit. Chief Washington was promoted to the rank of Sergeant in 2007, Lieutenant in 2011, and Captain in 2015 as commander of the Special Operations Division. He was appointed Police Chief on October 1, 2021.
As Police Chief, he is responsible for all aspects of the Fremont Police Department, including emergency services provided 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The Fremont Police Department has 319.5 full-time employees of which 199 are sworn positions. The Department is a full-service law enforcement agency and also provides some services by contract to other agencies.
Chief Washington is committed to ensuring FPD serves our community members with dignity, respect, and fairness. He remains actively involved in Special Olympics Northern California and other community-based events, such as hosting Shop With a Cop and mentoring local children. Previously, he also led one of the nation’s first Electric Patrol Vehicle Pilot Programs in 2019 when Fremont Police Department deployed its first fully electric-powered vehicle, a Tesla Model S 85, as part of its patrol fleet.
Chief Washington earned a Bachelor's degree (Criminal Justice) from California State University, Hayward in 1997 and a Master's degree (Administration of Justice) from San Jose State University in 2007. In 2015, Chief Washington graduated from the Police Officer Standards and Training (P.O.S.T.) Command College, Class #57.
Eric Tang - M.S. Justice Studies
Captain Tang was promoted to Captain in March 2022 and was the Commander of the Special Operations Division until January 2024. In January 2024, he rotated to oversee the Patrol Division.
Captain Tang joined the Fremont Police Department in 2002 as an Officer and was promoted to Sergeant in 2011. Capt. Tang has held numerous assignments including Burglary Detective, Sexual Assault Detective, and Gang Task Force Detective. After being promoted to Sergeant, he served as a patrol supervisor, Street Crimes Unit Sergeant, and Special Investigations Unit Sergeant. As a Sergeant, he also served as the SWAT Tactical Commander as well as the Acting SWAT Commander. He was promoted to Lieutenant in 2018 and served as a Patrol Watch Commander and then as the Investigations Unit Lieutenant.
Captain Tang is one of only five officers in the Department’s history to be awarded the Medal of Valor, which is the highest service recognition award for any member of the department who, at the risk of their own life, demonstrates extreme courage, bravery and devotion to duty in exposing themselves to grave danger.
Captain Tang has a Bachelor of Science Degree in Criminal Justice from Long Beach State University. During this time, he interned with the Long Beach Police Department. He also obtained an Emergency Medical Technician certification from Orange Coast College. He also has a Master of Science Degree in Administration of Justice from San Jose State University. Prior to working for Fremont PD, he was a Deputy Probation Officer with Alameda County, specifically assigned to the Fremont area. While in graduate school, he worked for an advocacy group on criminal justice reform focusing on research and community based approaches to policing.
He was born and raised in Southern California and his favorite sports teams are the Los Angeles Lakers, Los Angeles Dodgers, and the previously known Los Angeles/Oakland Raiders. He is married with 3 children, and his wife is a Fremont Unified School District Teacher. His extended family was raised in Fremont and continue to live, work, and attend schools in our community. In his spare time, he enjoys playing basketball, working out/running, and planning/vacationing in Hawaii.
Karla Padilla - B.S. Justice Studies, 2017
Karla Padilla graduated from San Jose State University with a B.S. in Justice Studies
in 2017. During her time, she was actively involved in student leadership groups,
including Alpha Phi Sigma and the Justice Studies Task Force. She then earned her
M.S. in Social Work at San Jose State University in 2020. Karla is in the process
of obtaining her Clinical Social Work license through the Board of Behavioral Services.
Currently, Karla works as a forensic social worker at the Public Defenders Office
in Santa Clara County, where she is able to combine her passion for criminal justice
and social work. Karla conducts extensive biopsychosocial interviews and provides
mitigation reports to the court to humanize and potentially reduce her client sentences
and/or identify alternative mental health and substance use treatment to reduce recidivism.
She provides services to juveniles, adults, and mentally ill persons who are involved
in the criminal justice system.
Stan Bielous - B.S. Justice Studies, 2017
Stan Bielous graduated from San Jose State University with a B.S. in Justice Studies
and a minor in Forensic Studies in 2017. He then obtained an M.S. in Forensic Science
from Syracuse University, along with advanced certificates in Medicolegal Death Investigation
and Firearm and Toolmark Examination. During his time at both institutions, Stan was
heavily involved in student leadership groups including Alpha Phi Sigma, The Justice
Studies Task Force and Delta Alpha Pi.
Since graduating, Stan has worked as a Medicolegal Death Investigator for multiple Medical Examiner’s offices. He is a well-rounded investigator, having conducted investigations in many different climates and jurisdictions. He has a particular interest in unidentified remains and has worked closely with NAMUS, DHS and the FBI on cold cases. He is driven by helping families find answers during difficult times and works under the motto “Every scene, every time.” as he believes ethical, efficient death investigation is an essential service in every community.
Rosa Vega - B.S. Administration of Justice 2000
Rosa Vega received her Master's of Science degree in Criminal Justice Administration
with a concentration in Forensic Science Administration from Loyola University New
Orleans and a Bachelor's of Science degree in Administration of Justice with a minor
in Physical Anthropology from San Jose State University. Rosa is a Diplomate Registered
Death Investigator through the American Board of Medicolegal Death Investigators.
In September 2022, she was appointed as the Coroner for a well-established and reputable
California Coroner's Office. Rosa is dedicated and passionate about the Medicolegal
field. She is an experienced Investigator who has personally investigated over 3,000
deaths including mass shootings, airplane accidents, child deaths, and homicides.
In 2017 Rosa was awarded San Jose State University's Department of Justice Studies
Distinguished Alumni award.
Samantha Peek - B.S. Forensic Science 2012
Samantha Peek is a San Jose State University graduate with a Bachelor of Science in
Forensic Science Concentration in Chemistry. She obtained her Master's Degree in Business
Administration from Arizona State University. She completed an internship with the
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives researching explosives and fire
debris analysis. She later worked as a Lab Assistant for the Santa Clara County Crime
Lab.
Currently, she is the Chief Executive Officer and a Certified Fire Investigator for her company, Fire Investigation Industries, where she completes fire investigations, conducts training for law enforcement and fire departments, and researches fire and explosives. She has been a fire investigator for 9 years and has conducted over 400 fire investigations. She is currently teaching as a lecturer at San Jose State University.
Kenneth Kwok - M.S. Justice Studies 2006
Kenneth Kwok graduated with a Master’s in Justice Studies in 2006. He joined the
Fremont Police Department right after graduation and has been with the department
for 18 years. Kenneth attended the San Jose Police Department Academy as an “allied
agency” and graduated in the winter of 2006. His collateral assignments as an officer
included Field Training Officer (FTO- 9 years), SWAT Technology Officer (9 years),
Crime Scene Investigator (CSI- 5 years), Detective (1 year of financial crimes, 2
years as sexual assault/child abuse), Defensive Tactics instructor, explorer advisor
(5 years), and peer mentor. In 2016, he was one of the department’s first UAV pilots.
In 2019, Kenneth was promoted to sergeant, and he is currently assigned to the Professional Standards and Accountability unit.He is also the Special Investigator to Chief Sean Washington (another SJSU J.S. Alumni) and the supervisor of the UAV unit. Kenneth helped implement an experimental program known as Drone as First Responder (DFR), making the City of Fremont the only city to have a joint Public Safety Drone Program.
Virginia Montelongo - B.S. Criminal Justice 1989, M.S. Criminal Justice Administration 2002
Virginia Montelongo is a lecturer in the Department of Justice Studies. She is a native
of San Jose City, was a field worker in our "Valley of Heart's Delights," and lived
with and through many of the changes that have occurred in Santa Clara County. Virginia
is an alumnus of San Jose State University, where she earned her Bachelor's Degree
and Master's Degree in Criminal Justice (with an emphasis on Female Offenders). She
is a lecturer in the Justice Studies Department. She is also an Associate Faculty
at Evergreen Valley College (EVC) in the Administration of Justice Department for
the past thirteen years. While at EVC, she created the curriculum for three classes
she teaches "Women and the Criminal Justice System" and “Probation, Parole, and Intermediate
Sanctions.” The third class she created is “ Introduction to Public Safety Community
Service Officer,” which is part of a statewide four-course Badge Certificate, “ Certificate
of Achievement in Community Service Officer.” Virginia is a retired Santa Clara County
Deputy Probation Officer with 29 ½ years of service. She supervised juveniles and
adults in controlled environments and the community. She created and taught an 8-hour
certified course, “Female Offenders,” for the Probation Department for Probation staff
to gain an understanding of the gender-responsive services and needs of female offenders.
Virginia also held the assignment of Court Officer in the Proposition 36 Drug Court.
Eric Kwong - B.S. Forensic Science 2015
Eric Kwong is a lecturer teaching Forensic Science Applications and Crime Scene and Evidence Photography. He graduated San Jose State University with a Bachelor's Degree in Forensic Science and later earned his Master's Degree in Forensic Science at the University of Strathclyde in the United Kingdom.
Dina Kameda - M.S. Justice Studies 2006, M.A.
Dina Kameda earned a B.A. in Psychology (1995) with minors in English Literature and Sociology and M.A. in Counseling Psychology (1996) from Notre Dame de Namur University. She worked for several years as a Senior Research Analyst including EMQ Children and Family Services, Stanford University, and the Palo Alto VA Hospital. In 2006, she went on to earn a M.S. in Justice Studies (formerly Criminal Justice Administration) from San José State University.
Dina has been teaching in the Department of Justice Studies since the spring of 2007, and is currently a Senior Lecturer. She was awarded assigned time for Exceptional Levels of Service to Students AY 2018-2019, AY 2019-2020, AY 2020-2021, and AY 2023-2024. Dina serves as the Faculty Advisor for the Iota Chapter of Alpha Phi Sigma at SJSU, and is a member of several committees including: the Lecturer’s Development Committee, Justice Studies Scholarship Committee, and the Justice Studies Undergraduate Curriculum Committee. She has also served as an academic advisor since 2021.
Susie Rivera - M.S., J.D.
Sheree Martinek - M.S. Justice Studies 2013, M.P.A.
