LIHUE — Kauai Police Department Chief Darryl Perry broke the stoic and serious faces of Lt. James Miller and Assistant Chief Bryson Ponce Wednesday afternoon at the Kauai Police Department building breezeway. “The phone call was from President Trump,” Perry
LIHUE — Kauai Police Department Chief Darryl Perry broke the stoic and serious faces of Lt. James Miller and Assistant Chief Bryson Ponce Wednesday afternoon at the Kauai Police Department building breezeway.
“The phone call was from President Trump,” Perry said in remarks before an audience of police officers, building staff and families of Miller and Ponce who relished the shade cast by the building. “He called to congratulate you on your promotions.”
Ponce and Miller received their certificates and badges from Perry and Kauai Police Commission Chair Mary Kay Hertog to open an afternoon of informal socializing and refreshments provided by KPD and the State of Hawaii Organization of Police Officers.
Ponce, born on Kauai, attended Damien Memorial High School on Oahu before attaining his associate’s degree in liberal arts from Kauai Community College.
An 18-year KPD veteran, Ponce worked within the Patrol and Investigative Services bureaus, holding titles of field training officer, Special Response and Crisis Negotiator, SHOPO chapter chair, president of the Kauai Police Relief Association, sergeant, lieutenant and captain.
Ponce is assigned as the assistant chief overseeing operations within the Investigative Services Bureau.
During an earlier promotions ceremony, Ponce was participating and graduated from the 266th session of the FBI National Academy in Quantico, Va. He was one of the 222 law enforcement officers from 48 states who undertook 11 weeks of advanced communication, leadership and fitness training for selected officers with proven records as professionals within their respective agencies.
Miller was born on Oahu and raised on Kauai, graduated from Kauai High School and earned an associate’s degree from KCC.
Like Ponce, Miller is an 18-year KPD veteran, serving in the Patrol Services Bureau, Traffic Safety Section, Investigative Services Bureau, and the Office of Professional Standards.
During his service in the Traffic Safety section, Miller held titles as supervisor and instructor titles. Miller has been the recipient of Officer of the Month on five different occasions, and also received the Rotarian Humanitarian Award.
His participation in training on the Mainland kept him away from an earlier promotions ceremony.
