Play Audio taaga-vote
(Transc.) Fruean: 16 le ioe toalua le faatasi mai ma ua pasia le Tofa Taaga e avea ma Komesina o leoleo o le malo Amerika Samoa. Translation: 16 yeses, 2 absences and Talking Chief Taaga is approved to be the Commissioner of Police for the American Samoa Government.
Senate President Tuaolo Manaua Fruean announcing the confirmation vote for High Talking Chief Taaga Saite Moliga to serve as Commissioner of Public Safety. The Senate confirmed Taaga by unanimous vote, 16-0, Wednesday morning.
At the start of the confirmation hearing, the chairman of the Senate Public Safety Committee, Sen. Olo Uluao Letuli said when they learned of Taaga’s selection for the position of Commissioner they believed it was a fitting appointment. He didn’t think senators would have any questions for the nominee. But Senate President Tuaolo Manaia Fruean said this was a confirmation hearing, and this was the opportunity to pose questions to the nominee.
Among questions that the Senate President asked Taaga: Why police were not enforcing the law that roadside fundraisings should be 50 feet away from the road, whether the substations at Fagaitua and Leone will be reopened, his thoughts about bringing back departments such as Search and Rescue, Fire and the Territorial Correctional Facility under DPS; and the authority for police officers to carry weapons.
Taaga said that by the end of next month, the substations at Leone and Fagaitua will be reopened. He said though there are not enough resources and personnel, with 20 police officers having resigned during the last administration, the substations need to be reopened to allow for faster response to incidents on the eastern and western end of the island.
Regarding roadside fundraisings like car washes, Taaga said over the weekend he had observed groups that were in violation of the law regarding distance from the main road, and had explained to the groups that they have to follow the law. He said he has also addressed enforcement with police.
Taaga indicated his preference for Search and Rescue and the Fire Division to be brought back under DPS. He said this would allow for better coordination in response. He also pointed out that the personnel in these divisions are police officers and they can help with police work.
As for the Territorial Correctional Facility Taaga said it can remain as a department on its own.
Regarding weapons, the acting Commissioner said that past commissioners had a policy allowing policemen to carry weapons, however, there is no legal authority allowing this under the law. He revealed that DPS no longer has an armory and officers have taken weapons home. He said there are no records of officers that weapons were issued to. Taaga said he has started an inventory of weapons, vehicles and other DPS equipment.
Tuaolo, a former Commissioner, advised Taaga to restore DPS to the high standard that it was before.
Senator Magalei Logovii opined that bringing the departments of Search and Rescue, fire and corrections back under DPS would save money, as currently the government is paying the salaries of directors of these three departments rather than paying the salary of the Commissioner as before.
Magalei pleaded with Taaga to pay overtime for police, and upgrade their salaries. 
Senator Gaoteote Palaie said in the recent elections, people called for change. He asked the acting commissioner what changes he planned to make. Taaga said his duty is to protect the public and enforce the law. He said, as a matai, he would use his cultural role to liaise with the community, and call upon traditional leaders to help maintain peace and prevent crimes such as drug use in their villages.
Senator Togiola Tulaofno impressed upon the acting commissioner the need to identify the whereabout of weapons that DPS purchased or were confiscated. He recommended that a search be conducted for any weapons that were issued to police and taken home. Togiola observed that while there’s concern about drugs, the entry of prohibited weapons including assault weapons, is alarming. He said the number of prohibited and unlicensed weapons in the territory far outnumbers licensed weapons.
Togiola, whose first job after graduating form high school was a police officer, also urged the acting commissioner to upgrade the salaries for police. Taaga advocated that the salaries of police officers should be standardized and set by law. He said if the entry salary is $18,000 that should be strictly applied, and promotions should then be based on the rank of officers. He said DPS had 11 majors, 12 or 13 captains, and about the same number of lieutenants. What he found interesting was that all of the promotions on record were effective on the same day.
He believed that standardizing the salaries of police officers and basing salaries on rank, can stop favoritism where the commissioner would bring in his own people, and promote them after a short time over long serving officers.
