The Director of the Department of Search and Rescue Utumoe Alefosio denied claims in a letter signed by employees of the Marine Patrol Division that a federal grant specific for boating safety was used to pay overtime for department personnel.
A December 20 letter by the Marine Patrol employees which was sent to senators was the subject of a hearing by the Senate Public Safety Committee, chaired by Sen. Olo Uluao Letuli on Thursday.
The letter asked that Marine Patrol be transferred back under the Department of Public Safety because according to the employees they could no longer work in a “toxic environment” and they wanted to carry out their duties as law enforcement police officers.
Among the employees claims’ was that the director had verbally appointed Misifoa Umi to head the Marine Patrol Division.
They said that Umi had given instructions to have one of the Marine Patrol boats, Siren, to be stationed in Aunuu with a jet ski. They felt that if the Siren is stationed in Aunuu it will leave just the 21 foot Zodiac to serve the entire islands of Tutuila and Manu’a.
Utumoe explained at the hearing that since being appointed as department director in February of last year he has tried to establish good rapport and team work among the divisions under the department. He said while there were improvements with the other divisions, he observed that Marine Patrol was not fully on board with these efforts. He told senators that Umi is a US Army retiree with experience as a fishing boat owner and transportation between Auasi and Aunuu. Umi is now the Project Coordinator for the Department of Search and Rescue.
The department’s deputy director Mosese Lomu is overseeing the Marine Patrol Division.
Alefosio told senators that the Siren is still based at the Marine Patrol headquarters at Fagatogo, and not permanently stationed in Aunuu.
He denied that grant funds have been used to pay overtime costs as the letter alleged. He said the department has not been able all due overtime and employees will take compensatory time instead.
Asked how he feels about Marine Patrol being transferred under DPS, the director said from his experience when he worked at DPS, the focus of the department was police work and the Fire and Marine Patrol divisions did not get the same attention. From talking to employees, he said they are happy that they can now focus on the missions and fields for which they are trained and not be called to assist with police work from time to time.
Senate President Tuaolo Manaia Fruean said from his reading of the letter, the Marine Patrol employees were not happy with the director. He asked Alefosio why that was.
According to the director, the letter surfaced a week after he had reassigned the Marine Patrol Division Chief and he suspects the letter stemmed from the reassignment. He told senators often times this individual did not follow instructions and was uncooperative. He met with the Marine Patrol chief and impressed upon him the need for the department to work in unity. But there was no change. He said after an employee made a complaint against the Marine Patrol Chief he made the decision to reassign him.
Senators Utu Sila Poasa, Gaoteote Palaie, Muagututia Tauoa and committee Chairman Olo advised the director to work together with employees and it’s up to him as director to resolve any differences with the employees. At the same time they said he should not be afraid to make decisions for the betterment of Marine Patrol services for the territory.
