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Some re-assignments by police commission cause concern in ranks

New Warden Commander Falana’ipupu Taase Sagapolutele and the new Chief of Police, Major Pouu’amea Tuaolo-Supapo
Woman police officer assigned to be new Chief of Police — A First
ausage@samoanews.com

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — Several senior police officers within the Department of the Public Safety (DPS) have voiced their concern and disappointment over recent personnel changes within the department — namely, the appointments of Major Poua’amea Tuaolo-Supapo as the new Chief of Police and Deputy Commissioner Commander Falanaipupu Taase Sagatolutele to be the new Warden of the Territorial Correctional Facility (TCF).

Of note, Major Tuaolo-Supapo is the first female to hold the position of Chief of Police.

According to several DPS employees including senior police officers, the new changes not only violate standard procedures within the department but also violate local statutes concerning the reassignment of employees.

In an exclusive interview with the new Police Commissioner, Lefiti Aitulagi F. Pese at his office yesterday morning, he told Samoa News that the appointment of the two new Deputy Commissioners and the Chief of Police is at the discretion of the Police Commissioner.

THE COMMISSIONER’S MEMO

In a memo issued on Friday, Mar. 12, 2021, Lefiti advised that the following Uniformed Officers shall be re-assigned to serve in the indicated capacities, to be effective on Monday, Mar. 15, 2021.

“I am confident that these assignments shall enhance, advance and further improve the function of the departments to better serve and protect the people of the territory. I also trust and believe that these leaders shall faithfully and diligently provide their expertise and skills to the advancement of their respective new positions for the continued success of the police force,” Lefiti said in the memo.

Additionally, in recognition of the dedicated, good and longstanding, service of the women in police uniform, Lefiti stated, “I am pleased to take this opportunity to make special acknowledgement and to announce the selection of the first woman to be appointed as the Chief of Police for American Samoa DPS. Her commitment and dedication to the sworn oath of office is hereby recognized, enabling her to rise from within the ranks to obtain this prestigious recognition.”

According to the personnel changes, Major Tuaolo-Supapo is now selected to be the Chief of Police; Falana’ipupu is assigned as Warden of the TCF; Major Pierre G. Clemens is assigned to be the Coordinator for the Transnational Crime Unit (TCU); Major Pulefano Tuufuli is assigned as the Training Coordinator; Captain Polofa’asoa Pese will Command the Fagaitua Substation and Captain Sonny White is assigned to Marine Patrol and will report to Major Malaefono Faimasasa for assignment.

Another change is that Mrs. Salana Tulafono shall be re-assigned as the Division Head/ Financial Manager for the department. Furthermore, Mrs. Freda Tualaulelei is assigned to serve as the Manager for the Records Division.

Other changes within the department include the appointment of Commander Terry Letuli and Commander Foifua Foifua as the two new deputy police commissioners.

Commander Letuli is the deputy commissioner for the Administration side, while Foifua is the deputy commissioner for the Operations side of the department.

COMPLAINTS FROM DPS EMPLOYEES

The new DPS personnel changes have angered many senior police officers. They believe that the changes violate the department’s standard procedures and local law.

For example, they say the position of chief of police must be advertised so that all qualified personnel get the chance to apply.

For the re-assignment of the former deputy police commissioner as the new TCF Warden, some police officers describe it as a demotion. The reason they consider this change as a demotion for the former deputy police commissioner is because the law is very clear regarding a reassignment.

They cited the statute: A.S.C.A 4.0313 (3) (1) Reassignment: movement of a permanent employee from one position to another in the same or another class within the same agency is with the prior approval of the director of Human Resources.

A senior officer said that means the chief of police can be assigned to head one of the other three bureaus in the department, such as the fire bureau, correctional bureau or the police bureau, but a deputy police commissioner cannot be assigned to head a bureau because the deputy police commissioner is the person who overlooks the whole department on behalf of the police commissioner if he is away.

INTERVIEW WITH THE COMMISSIONER

In an exclusive interview with the Police Commissioner, he told Samoa News that to his understanding, the appointment of the chief of police and the deputy police commissioners is at the discretion of the police commissioner. He said the new changes do not affect the ranks of all of the uniformed officers who are reassigned within the department.

For example he explained, the new chief of police is still holding the rank of major, however, she is now the new chief of police.

“Once someone [else] is appointed to be the next chief of police, Supapo would go back to her rank and she can still maintain it,” Leftili explained.

When asked if the appointment of the new chief of police was made according to standard procedures and the law, the police commissioner said yes.

“I don’t see any reason why these changes do not sit well with some of my staff. As I stated, it’s [at] the discretion of the commissioner to do such changes for the betterment of the department,” he said.

He also explained the new assignment of the former deputy police commissioner Sagapolutele.

Lefiti said when the governor appointed Le’i Sonny Thompson to the police commissioner post, he appointed Commander Sagapolutele as the new deputy police commissioner.

Now, Sagapolutele is assigned to take over the TCF Warden’s role, so right now, he’s no longer a deputy police commissioner but he still holds his rank of police commander.

“I know for sure that Sagapolutele is very understandable about the changes,” Lefiti told Samoa News.

NEW CHIEF OF POLICE

The new chief of police made history after she became the first woman to hold this position.

Tuaolo-Supapo is the daughter of Maliuga Tuaolo and Fakatoumafi Samita Tualau Tuaolo of Pago Pago. Tuaolo-Supapo is a 33 year veteran of the territory’s police force. She is the first and only female cadet to have topped the police academy. That was back in 1988.

Since then, she has attained many firsts as a female officer. These include being head of the Criminal Investigations Division for over ten years, Internal Affairs, Commander for first responders, head of the Tafuna Police Substation and the Fagaitua Police Substation, Station Commander for the police headquarters and Commander of the Territorial Correctional Facility.

She told Samoa News that this is not an easy task but through the help of God, everything is possible.

“I thanked the Lord for helping me out with all the hardship I’ve been through. There are many challengers and sometime I give up, however, it was through the work of the Holy Spirit that give me the strength and the power to continue to move on with the task,” she told Samoa News.

She said that sometimes she had this thought that a police officer’s job is work for men, however, all these years as they worked together and trained together — with male officers — she came to realize that the job is for both male and female.

She encourages her fellow female officers to have faith in God and keep on doing what is best for the community.

“For all the woman out there, especially in law enforcement positions, nothing is impossible. Depend on God whenever you struggle and move forward,” she said.

She thanked her family, friends especially the Alao Cathedral for helping her out.