It would be a mistake if the Department of Public Safety were to close down the Criminal Investigation Division (CID) — that is the heart of any police station, says former Commissioner of Public Safety, William Bill Haleck, after hearing rumors then current Commissioner Save Liuato Tuitele has threatened to dismantle CID. The former Commissioner says he was taken aback when he was informed and stated that every police department across the country has a CID and this is a must and to be without it would be disastrous.

Haleck reached out to Samoa News after reading the article about the jury that convicted one of the defendants in the armed robbery that occurred in May 2014 at the 24-hour store in Faga’alu, Gold Conda — one of the cases he cites as an example of the type of work done by the CID.

The case Haleck is referring to is ASG vs Samuel Wright who was found guilty on all three charges of first-degree robbery, unlawful use of a firearm and stealing. The verdict was rendered following a three-day trial with the government calling five witnesses including the lead investigating office, Detective Filemoni Amituana’i.

Haleck told Samoa News that this case was among the difficult cases that CID investigated during his tenure and to hear of the conviction was a relief. “It wasn’t an easy case, the men wore masks and a gun was used, this the first time that an armed robbery had occurred on island, as this is what we see in the movies and I was so surprised that it happened, but it did and having a conviction. I commended CID for all their hard work, from the CID Commander, to all the detectives and the lead investigator Amituana’i (Filemoni) for keeping us safe.”

Without these police officers who are CID detectives, who is going to do follow up to thoroughly investigate crimes that have been committed he asked?

He further pointed out that officers assigned to CID are experts and are the best in their field. “Officers develop skills while becoming experts in CID in solving rape, homicide, burglary, robbery, amongst many other cases assigned,” he said.

CID is a specialized Division within a Police Department he told Samoa News and further stated that CID investigates all case assigned to them usually generated by Patrol and Traffic Field officers and they follow up all the leads in trying to find suspects involved in the crime.

According to Haleck, patrol officers are like a rough carpenter, doing the initial police report and handling the initial crime scene, while CID officers are like finish carpenters, they review all initial police reports and further investigate to identity suspects.

Efforts to reach Commissioner Save for comments over the weekend were unsuccessful as of press time. The rumor Haleck was referring to was reported on KHJ radio that said, “Commissioner of Public Safety Save Liuato Tuitele has threatened to close down the criminal investigation division of DPS if he doesn't see satisfactory results from the unit in solving crime.”

BACKGROUND

In January 2015 while Haleck was off island for a funeral, Gov. Lolo Matalasi Moliga appointed Vaimaga Maiava as Deputy Commissioner and Tauese Va’a Sunia as the Chief of Police. Upon retuning from his trip Haleck tendered his resignation and Lolo immediately appointed Save Liuato Tuitele as acting commissioner at the time.

Haleck had told Samoa News that he resigned for personal reasons, especially to spend more time with his family. Haleck visited them over the Christmas holidays and reached the decision to step down.

“I want to spend more time with my family — with how many days left in my life given to me by God,” he said, adding that he has been traveling back and forth to the territory for several years now including the last two years when he was police commissioner. “So I thought now would be the best time to be with my family, instead of spending more time away from them.”

Sadly shortly after his resignation Haleck’s son Sheldon Paul Haleck died while in police custody in Honolulu in March 2015. In February of this year, three police officers with the Honolulu Police Department (HPD) asked the federal court to  “dismiss with prejudice” a civil lawsuit filed by Haleck along with Sheldon’s wife and other relatives in a lawsuit they filed Oct. 20 last year. As yet no resolution of this case has been released to the public.