Posted on: Saturday, August 31, 2002

Pay issue unresolved as police chief search begins

By Hugh Clark
Advertiser Big Island Bureau

HILO, Hawai'i — Hawai'i County Police Commission members voted 8-1 yesterday to begin searching for a new police chief, despite concerns that they may not draw the best candidates because of salary issues.

The chief's salary was boosted nearly $6,000, to $75,516 per year, as the result of a pay raise that took effect July 1. But many high-ranking officers who are subordinate to the chief still make up to $12,000 more than the top cop.

Former Police Chief Jimmy Correa took early retirement this month to accept a job as federal security chief for the Kona and Hilo airports. The post will pay him about $35,000 more a year than he was making.

Correa, 49, became chief in January 2001 and never appointed a deputy chief because of the lingering pay problems. Assistant Chief Lawrence Mahuna, who has not said whether he will apply for the top job, has been acting chief.

Police commissioner Walter Moe of Puna registered the lone "no" vote, saying he preferred to delay the selection process until the county Salary Commission takes action to increase the chief's pay.

The Salary Commission discussed the problem at a meeting Thursday but took no action.

The imbalance in the top-level salaries evolved in the 1990s as wages for cabinet officers remained unchanged because of the county's economic problems. Meanwhile, civil service employees in all departments saw their wages increased by a series of statewide collective bargaining agreements.

Statewide advertising for the Hawai'i County police chief vacancy will start Sept. 8, with the deadline for applications set at Oct. 7. Selection is planned for Dec. 6 following public hearings on the finalists Nov. 13 in Hilo and Nov. 29 in Kona.