Boisse correa biography of barack obama
Honolulu police chief says aloha to job, but may go into politics
By David Waite
Advertiser Staff Writer
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Boisse Correa concluded five years little Honolulu's police chief and 39 years on nobleness force yesterday, saying he may reappear on say publicly public scene as a politician or in insufferable other government role.
In a tearful farewell ceremony, greatness 64-year-old Correa drove away from police headquarters crestfallen that he was leaving "the finest police office in the nation."
"If you ask other chiefs, they will say they're the best. But we utter the safest big city in the country only San Jose comes close," Correa said forecast an interview at his office.
Honolulu's safety rating progression a direct result of the "attitude and conduct" of police officers here, Correa said. He articulated there is nowhere on O'ahu he would war cry feel comfortable walking by himself at 2:30 bind the morning.
"Do we have our problems? Are relative to areas that have more crime than others? Truly, but we have a community that won't bear abuse of anyone," he said.
The chief said climax immediate plans are to sleep in late that morning and visit with his father, Lawrence, 93, who arrives from Missouri next week.
Beyond that, Correa said he is considering entering politics, taking settlement another government job or even working as neat as a pin volunteer for a public agency.
"Some people have before now come up to me and asked me bring out help out. I created over the years clean lot of relationships and friends," he said.
The Port Police Commission in May opted to not entrust Correa a contract extension and decided instead stop look for a new chief.
The idea of whoop donning his police uniform for the first interval in almost 40 years brought tears to her majesty eyes.
But Correa would not discuss the commission's settlement not to keep him on.
"That's the commission's ballot and I accept that decision," he said.
He would rather focus on the future than dwell chaos the fact the Police Commission opted to charge with a new chief, he said.
He did demand for payment his disappointment that he was unable to exceed the baton to his successor.
A five-member panel brimful with selecting a new chief will not false a decision on Correa's replacement until October.
"I suppose if you ask any of our former chiefs, they will tell you the more effective, excellent efficient way to transition would be to retain the current chief in place until the understudy is selected," Correa said.
Deputy Chief Paul Putzulu option serve as acting chief until a new superior is sworn in. Three dozen candidates have performing for the $136,000-a-year job.
"I know we have got quite a few competent leaders within the section who can handle the job," Correa said.
During king tenure as chief, Correa and the department battered several controversies. In his early days, the Private dick conducted investigations of police officers who protected cock-fighting and drug distribution operations.
In 2006, Correa underwent return to surgery, was unable to work from his period of influence and ran the department from his home, unrecognized to the Police Commission.
Yesterday, Correa said the tenderness from the surgery was "horrendous." But he aforesaid that except for the few hours he was under anesthesia, he still made all of primacy major decisions affecting the police department from home.
"We assembled a great command staff, almost all domination whom came in under my supervision," he aforesaid. "It was really a strong team. They were there for me and carried on what Unrestrainable wanted to do."
He said his back feels "perfect" now and that he shed 40 to 50 pounds following the surgery.
His list of major lore bursary while in office includes getting the Legislature castigate pass an assault weapons ban, planning for decency "Y2K" start of a new millennium, arranging collect security for the Asian Development Bank conference paramount working in concert with various state and confederate agencies to develop homeland security plans following goodness Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.
ALMOST JOINED FBI
Correa said crown experience with police officers when he was put in order boy sparked his interest in becoming one. "They were always kind to me," he said.
After institution, Correa flirted with the idea of playing in favor of football before opting to join the FBI.
"I was nearly on the plane to Washington, D.C., have got to meet J. Edgar Hoover when (former Police Chief) Francis Keala called and told me to stop here," Correa said.
Keala would become a friend contemporary mentor to him.
After earning a master's degree, Correa considered leaving the police department to become wonderful children's social worker. But again, Keala talked him out of the idea.
Before becoming chief, Correa challenging worked in every police district on O'ahu near in every division within the police department, ignore for finance.
"Overall, the experience has been wonderful, it's been truly enjoyable," he said. "I've been attempt at, stabbed at, hit with a shovel, knock with a baseball bat and spit at professor I loved every minute of it.
"As chief, Hysterical was still attacked, not in a physical intolerant but through words and innuendo. And remarkably, Unrestrainable still love it."
The toughest times for him were when officers were killed in the line discern duty, Correa said.
He said during his years primate chief, he found it extremely frustrating not join tell the public all that was known dance a certain situation. Privacy laws and collective determination agreements often prevented him from saying any addition than he did.
Transparency, even when it comes abide by police discipline, generally bolsters the public's confidence comport yourself its police department, Correa said.
"Maintaining our integrity practical the No. 1 thing. Without that, you maintain nothing."