Big Island raises pay for police chief by 21 percent

By Hugh Clark
Advertiser Big Island Bureau

HILO, Hawai'i — The Big Island's next police chief and deputy chief will be paid 21 percent more than their predecessors now that the Hawai'i County Salary Commission has unanimously approved the raises.

Both jobs are vacant, and county officials have felt that the relatively low salaries were partly to blame. The last police chief, Jimmy Correa, resigned last month to take a $110,000-a-year federal job as security chief of the Hilo and Kona airports.

The deputy chief job has been vacant for two years. Correa has said low pay was a reason the position stayed vacant.

The new chief's salary is $91,599, up from $75,516. The new deputy chief's salary is $87,237, up from $71,928.

The raises, which received final approval yesterday, are effective Dec. 8, when a chief is due to be announced by the county's Police Commission.

Police Commission Chairman Wilfred Okabe said he expects that the raise in salaries will expand the field of candidates. The deadline for applicants has been extended to Oct. 14 and new advertisements will be placed in Hawai'i newspapers.

Assistant Chief Lawrence Mahuna received formal approval in Kona last week as interim acting chief. He declined to say if he will apply for the vacancy.