Commissioner of Public Safety, Le’i Sonny Thompson has a vision for improving and restoring integrity in police work, which he described as the most unappreciated and thankless job there is.
The Commissioner led a family picnic for DPS staff and their families at the Suiga ula o le Atuvasa yesterday.
Asked who was doing the policing and manning headquarters and substations during the outing, Commissioner Le’i said DPS hasn’t neglected their responsibilities.
He explained that officers work a 12 hours shift and those who had ended their shifts were at the picnic with their families. The rest were still working.
Le’i, who stepped into the commissioner’s seat in January spoke highly of his department.
He is aware of the negativity from the public toward DPS … especially towards police officers.
The commissioner concedes some of the criticism is warranted. He’s found a few people who are not qualified to be in the police force.
But he says overall, there are very good cops working with pride as protectors of the community and their properties.
Le’i said police officers can never be compensated enough as their lives are always on the line.
It is human nature to always react when expectations are not met, said the commissioner, and this has been the case with police work.
Asked about allegations that some police officers are involved with drugs, Le’i referred to the case of the Juvenile Detention Center guards now in court.
He said there is no denying that some are suspect.
However, he said the public needs to credit those who are honest and performing their duties well.
He added that the public can report to him officers who they think are involved in illegal activity.
As for suspicions of drug use, the Commissioner has put in place a drug Policy where any cop or DPS employee suspected of using drugs will be terminated.
He told KHJ News that suspects will be tested at the hospital and samples will be sent off island for confirmation.
The commissioner said that law enforcement is a very special profession and he’s seeing people who were meant for the calling and some whose performance he’s monitoring. He told KHJ News that police are underpaid.
Lei said there is no denying that times have changed and people are employing new and unprecedented methods of committing crimes.
It’s his goal to make sure that the police will be armed by the end of this year.
He said that while some members of the public are complaining and criticizing the police officers by pointing out their weaknesses there are elements of lawlessness in the territory and domestic violence is on the rise.
He also said some police officers are being victimized by members of the general public who are unfair in their criticism and not respecting cops.
The Commissioner said people need to work together with the police department as police officers are trained to communicate with members of the public with respect. More training is being planned and the Commissioner is getting assistance in this area from the Honolulu Police Department.
