Commission Asked For More Police Chief Candidates

HONOLULU - KITV.com

After a selection committee selected the top four candidates the Honolulu Police Commission said four was not enough and wanted a broader field to choose from for the next Honolulu police chief.

The announcement came Thursday night after the candidates completed a series of assessments. The candidates were graded and ranked this week.

The commission asked for the next two top ranked candidates.

"When I had heard there were only four candidates we asked the list to be expanded," HPD Commission Chairwoman Christine Camp said. "In the past, there have always been four candidates that are sent up for final selection in our view we felt broader was better."

Four of the finalists come from within the Honolulu Police Department, including acting Honolulu Police Chief Paul Putzulu; Assistant Chief Delbert Tatsuyama, who oversees the department's administrative bureau; Capt. Louis Kealoha, of the juvenile services division; and Assistant Chief Debora Tandal, who heads HPD's support services bureau.

The two finalists from outside of Hawaii are Cmdr. Gary Yamashiroya of the Chicago Police Department with more than 20 years on the force and Cmdr. Harry Markely from the city of Phoenix Police Department. Markely is a graduate of Hawaii Loa College, which is now Hawaii Pacific University.

Camp said the initial four candidates weren't made official before requesting for more candidates but, "We didn't know the four names but I could guess a few."

"You did know the four names or you didn't know?" KITV reporter Shayne Enright asked.

"We didn't know all four names," Camp said.

"Can you tell us how many you knew?" Enright asked.

"It wasn't confirmed at the time," Camp said.

In the next step, the police commission will interview candidates and take testimony from the public and make its selection. Commissioners hope to have a chief selected by Thanksgiving.

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