It was a changing of the guards for the Kaua‘i Police Department Friday, as the sun set on the tenure of its former police chief and rose on five newly promoted sergeants. And as new Police Chief Darrel Perry is
It was a changing of the guards for the Kaua‘i Police Department Friday, as the sun set on the tenure of its former police chief and rose on five newly promoted sergeants.
And as new Police Chief Darrel Perry is to be sworn in Monday, Friday marked a shared last day for former Detective Irvil Kapua and Police Chief Clayton Arinaga.
Factoring in five recently promoted lieutenants in August in addition to Perry and the recently added sergeants, KPD is looking at about an 8 percent shift in leadership.
Police Commission Chair Russ Grady cited the shift as more positive than momentous.
“Hopefully (the promotions) will allow our new chief — when he comes in — an easier transition,” Grady said.
Sergeants Kekoa Ledesma, Bryson Ponce, Sandy Wakumoto, Paul Applegate and Bernard Purisima have at least seven years of police work under their belts, Arinaga said.
Each had to pass a written exam and have completed at least five years of service to qualify for an interview for the positions.
Arinaga said during the ceremony that each sergeant had “paid their dues and earned their right” for the upward move.
Alluding to the responsibility inextricably attached to their new roles, Arinaga said, “this is the next generation of leaders to head the department into the 21st century.
“…Let your decisions be value-driven. Your presence and how you handle different things will make a lasting impression.”
For Ledesma, recently promoted Lt. Michael Contrades was one of his most influential mentors, as was Sgt. Chong Tim, he said.
Ledesma had served 13 years with the department, of which eight years were in patrol and the rest were served as a supervisor.
Sheryl Ponce said her husband, who is chairman of the State of Hawaii Organization of Police Officers Chapter, has always “had a good balance” between work and life.
Ponce said Assistant Chief Roy Asher, Capt. Ale Quibilan, Arinaga and Deputy Chief Gordon Isoda all played major roles in his career.
For the remaining promoted sergeants, it was harder to nail down specifically which inspiring force helped guide them in their careers — both Wakumoto and Applegate said they learned as much from the chief as their fellow officers — but at least one common thread linking the sergeants is the growth they’ve shown within their time at the department, Arinaga said.
“They’ve all matured a lot,” he said, noting that any proverbial wetness behind the ears would likely be remedied with more time.
“For me it took a couple years before I felt comfortable,” he said.
After four years and further good rapport with department staff and the community, the sergeants would be eligible to take another set of written tests and, with a passing grade, qualify for an interview to become lieutenants, Lt. Mark Begley said.
Twenty-four positions remain open with the KPD, as it has approximately 130 “bodies” on staff.
Among the next steps toward beefing up the department will be augmenting the number of detectives, as there are five openings are within that bureau, Assistant Chief Roy Asher said.
• Amanda C. Gregg, assistant editor/staff writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 252) or agreggr@kauaipubco.com.
