Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — After unanimous confirmation by the Senate (16-0), Acting Commissioner of Public Safety Ta’aga Sa’ite Moliga headed to the House for two days of confirmation hearings. 

Faipule spent little time questioning Ta’aga’s experience and credentials. Having served eight years in the U.S. Air Force and accumulating over 20 years of service in the American Samoa government in various capacities, the Manu’a high-ranking orator was lauded as a qualified and fitting candidate for Commissioner.

Ta’aga retired from DPS as a commander, and served in various roles in government, including head of the Marine Patrol Unit, Warden of the Tafuna Correctional Facility, and Director of Administrative Services. He also served as a representative in the House and was a Senator in the previous legislative term. 

Members of the House were given the opportunity to greet and address the acting Commissioner and to offer any questions.  

Ma’oputasi Representative Trude Ledoux-Sunia asked whether there were any programs set in place for the community to assist the 129 police officers in facilitating their work. Ta’aga responded that there were programs implemented in the past but that he did not know why they had ceased to operate.

He further noted that the police department has its own drug prevention program servicing the youth, the schools, and the territory. The acting Commissioner also stated that the Community Affairs liaison was the primary channel through which the public could communicate with the police. 

Sa’ole representative Dr. Va’asa Simanu was satisfied with Ta’aga’s credentials, but brought up questions about whether the police substation serving her district would be reopened in February and if the Search and Rescue in ‘Au’asi could be extended to include Aunu’u. 

Ta’aga noted the importance of the Community Affairs liaison in addressing the concerns of the public and in working together to with community to bring about solutions.

Vice Speaker of the House, Fetui Fetui, Jr, made an inquiry about the recent drug raid involving a police officer and why the officer was not terminated instead of being transferred to another department. 

Ta’aga responded that the matter was still under investigation and that the officer in question was still subject to due process.

Ta’aga emphasized his commitment to upholding the law as Commissioner of Public Safety, regardless of his familial and other personal affiliations. 

“When it comes to this work, I do not have any family, siblings, or friends,” he stated and “I will not avoid enforcing the law.”