Q&A with new police chief

For Kaua‘i’s new police chief, the first order of business after officially taking the lead today will be filling vacancies within the department and retaining those already there.

“At the same time I will be getting acquainted with the employees of KPD by introducing myself, explaining that this administration will be principle-centered, and decisions will be based on the principles outlined in our mission statement,” said soon-to-be Police Chief Darryl Perry late last week.

The department’s mission statement cites service, respect and fairness as its goals — and with goals in mind, Perry hopes to talk with officers about those that will be both short and long-term.

Next up will be getting the department accredited through the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, he said.

The Garden Island sat down with Perry last week to ask him about his upcoming tenure as chief. What follows are the high points of that meeting:

Where do you hope the department will be in a year?

Based on an agency this size, it will take about a year before employees of KPD and the community will have an understanding of my leadership style. I am hopeful that I will have their support and be able to show progress in our long-term goals while addressing everyday concerns as mentioned previously.

How do you intend to enhance recruitment and retention efforts?

Lieutenant Mark Begley is already doing a commendable job through media advertising, job fairs, and the like. We are planning to continue in this aggressive mode, while looking into other possibilities such as a cadet program, explorer’s program and youth police academy. However, all of these ideas are incumbent on obtaining sufficient staffing to provide basic police services. I am urging all individuals who are interested to call the department for more information or visit our Web site through www.kauai.gov.

With recent pay increases, a new officer can earn about $43,000 per year; by 2011 the starting salary will increase to over $50,000 per year. However, we also understand that people want to make a difference in the community, and KPD would be a perfect organization to fulfill that dream.

There’s been recent criticism placed on the need to strengthen coordination efforts between the prosecutor’s office and the police department and courts regarding warrants and bringing cases to trial. What suggestions might you have on the subject?

Part of being a leader could mean “going to bat” for your team. I can’t comment on the specific situation at this time because I am not familiar with all of the issues concerning it.

However, communication is the key to solving most differences between affected organizations; and I will be moving in that direction, which will be consistent with my priorities of developing partnerships between governmental agencies and the community.

There has been a lot of growth in the past year at KPD — just today, as I’m sure you know, there were five new sergeants named, and a handful of lieutenants in recent weeks. Also, one of the biggest drug busts in the island’s history occurred last month, and, of course, we will very shortly have a new police chief. How do you, as the new chief, intend to maintain that positive momentum?

There certainly have been a tremendous amount of positive changes and the credit should go to the efforts of the men and women of KPD and the community as a whole. I am going to ask KPD employees to continue in their efforts as we get to know each other.

There will always be challenges along the way and the measure of the leader and by default the organization, is their ability to maintain a high level of motivation.

Credentials

Perry is a 33-year police veteran, and is the county’s seventh chief of police, filling a position that has been vacant since June 2006.

Perry, who was selected last month from a pool of 66 candidates, will lead a department of 125 officers as well as a civilian staff.

Perry started his career with the Kaua‘i Police Department and then transferred to the Honolulu Police Department, where he served as commander of the Juvenile Services, Narcotics/Vice and the Criminal Investigations divisions.

Following his 2002 retirement from the force, Perry worked as chief of security for First Hawaiian Bank on O‘ahu, investigator with the state Attorney General’s office and as an adjunct professor at Honolulu Community College in the Justice of Administration program.

Perry holds associate degrees from Kaua‘i Community College and Honolulu Community College as well as a bachelor’s degree in justice administration from Hawai‘i Pacific University. Perry has a master’s in organizational management from the University of Phoenix.

• Amanda C. Gregg, assistant editor/staff writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 252) or agregg@kauaipubco.

com.