A Celebration of Life for Papa/Uncle Mike

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A Celebration of Life in honor of Tualamasala Michael Sala is set for Monday, January 24, 2022 at the Lee Auditorium from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m.

“Family and friends of our Papa are all invited to join us to share, reminisce and celebrate his life,” says an announcement about the service.

Mike, as he was known to friends and colleagues, died Monday, January 17 in Portland, Oregon. He was 77.

He was one of the most well known figures in law enforcement in American Samoa and was in service to the government and people of American Samoa for 50 years.

Along with his illustrious achievements in law enforcement, Sala was well known in the community for his service as a member of the Lions Club of Pago Pago.

He was Deputy Commissioner of Public Safety for more than 20 years, during which he was appointed as the first executive director of the South Pacific Islands Criminal Intelligence Network, under the Association of Chiefs of Police of the Pacific.

Mike was also Director of the Office of Territorial and International Criminal Intelligence and Drug Enforcement (OTICIDE) for 22 years.

He was Director of the U.S. Pacific Sub-Bureau of INTERPOL for a decade.

When the American Samoa Department of Homeland Security was established, Mike was appointed as its first director.

He was a lifetime member of the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP), a Lifetime member, and Charter President of the Lions Club of Pago Pago and Founder of the Boys Scouts of America, American Samoa District Committee – Aloha Council.

It was his work as a member of the Lions Club of Pago Pago that Mike was extremely proud of and which endeared him to many.

He led the club in various projects with the LBJ Hospital, Health Department, public library and Hope House. An example is the free vision screening clinics for residents, including outreach visits to the islands of Manu’a.  These free screenings, surgeries and other medical treatment have helped thousands of local residents see better.

Mike was preceded in death by his wife Merle and is survived by daughter Jennifer and son Matthew and three grandchildren.