Ed Tracey, a San Leandro police captain and a longtime Oakland police veteran, went home with the Lord on April 14, 2015 after having cancer for six years. He was 45.

Capt. Tracey died in his Danville home while surrounded by his family, including his wife, Anna; their daughter, Chelsea; and his twin brother, Martin Tracey.

Capt. Tracey joined the San Leandro force in 2012 after serving for 19 years in Oakland, where he rose to the rank of captain. He previously served as a BART police officer and a Union City police cadet and reserve officer.

Acting Oakland police Lt. Alan Yu — president of the Oakland Asian Police Officers Association, which Capt. Tracey helped found — said Capt. Tracey "cared about not only his family, but his police family. He was always like a big brother, at least to me. He mentored everybody that he could get his hands on."

Yu said he was amazed when Capt. Tracey showed up in full uniform, on his day off, to help staff a police booth at a community event.

Capt. Tracey oversaw body-camera programs for both the Oakland and San Leandro departments. In December, he started "Santa on Motors," in which officers escorted Santa Claus through the city to meet with underprivileged families and give them gifts.

San Leandro police Lt. Robert McManus said Capt. Tracey was "truly a person who cared about the people he worked with and the people who worked for him. He took great pride in serving the community of San Leandro. He will be greatly missed."

San Leandro Police Chief Sandra Spagnoli said, "Ed was a dedicated public servant and highly respected in the law enforcement profession across California and the United States. Ed's passing will leave an irreplaceable void in the leadership ranks in the department. We are thankful for his service, leadership, friendship and optimistic spirit."

As an Oakland police officer, Capt. Tracey received the medal of merit for his role in saving a suicidal man on a highway overpass in 1997. In 2010, he was awarded the Career Achievement Award from the Asian Gang Investigators Association of California.

Capt. Tracey was in charge of the department's SWAT and traffic units in 2009, when four police officers were shot dead by 26-year-old parolee Lovelle Mixon in East Oakland. He weathered accusations that he had dodged a chance to lead what became an ill-fated raid seeking the killer of two motorcycle officers, saying he chose to be with the officers' families at the hospital.

Other police commanders launched the raid that resulted in the deaths of two SWAT officers and Mixon.

While off duty, Capt. Tracey enjoyed being with his family, working out as part of the CrossFit program, racing motorcycles and flying planes.

A native of Hong Kong, Capt. Tracey came to the United States at a young age and became a citizen in 1981. He earned a bachelor's degree in criminal justice and law enforcement administration and a master's degree in public administration from California State University East Bay in Hayward. He also graduated from the FBI National Academy.

Ed was a wonderful father, husband, brother and friend. He is truly a blessing from God and is very much missed.