Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — Senate President Tuaolo Manaia Fruean raised serious concerns about the legality of recent officer promotions in the Department of Public Safety (DPS) during Tuesday morning's session. 

During the Police Academy graduation ceremony, these promotions were announced publicly, generating excitement among the officers and the community.

However, it has been revealed that the promoted officers have not yet received the salary adjustments that typically accompany their new ranks.

Tuaolo emphasized that if these officers are not compensated in accordance with their promotions, it could violate established legal protocols.

He has called upon Senator Olo Uluao Letuli, the Chairman of the Senate’s Public Safety Committee, to convene a formal hearing. This hearing would investigate the situation to ensure that all promotion processes and associated salary adjustments comply with local laws and regulations, thereby safeguarding the integrity of the DPS.

Senator Olo urged the Senate Secretary to schedule a hearing on this matter for next Wednesday and to have Police Commissioner Taaga Saite Moliga attend to provide testimony.

In October of last year, the Police Commissioner announced the completion of an organizational chart outlining the appropriate promotions for police officers based on their years of service and experience at the 30th Police Academy graduation. 

Commissioner Moliga stated that the new organizational chart identifies long-overdue promotions for police officers. The lack of promotions had prompted some officers to leave the force in search of better job opportunities and pay.

He emphasized that the chart specifies which officers are to be promoted to their rightful ranks based on their years of service to the people of American Samoa.