The 39-year department veteran was sworn in by Chief Justice Ronald Moon at HPD's Alapai headquarters for a second five-year term as police chief. Deputy chiefs Glen Kajiyama and Paul Putzulu were also reappointed.

The second term means Donohue, 60, will continue to hold the $104,964 job and head the city's largest law enforcement agency and its 2,500 sworn and civilian personnel through 2008.

"It's a happy day," said Donohue. "At times, when we were moving through the five years, it seemed so far away. But when we look back at it, the time just went quickly."

Donohue said in about 10 days, the Commission on Accreditation of Law Enforcement Agencies will begin its assessment of the department.

Donohue said he is confident the department will meet the more than 400 standards of accreditation and become the 14th police department in the United States to receive accreditation in July.

Other goals the department aims to achieve over the next five years include obtaining a 25-year retirement benefit for dispatchers and continuing partnerships with other federal and state law enforcement agencies and the military, which "is an integral part of our preparation plans to meet the challenge of terrorism," Donohue said.

City Prosecutor Peter Carlisle commended Donohue's leadership over the past five years.

"I think one of the things that has been been noticeable is the level of cooperation that everybody is trying to ensure occurs between law enforcement agencies, and also the active efforts to involve the community in helping us confront the problem of crime and drugs and ice," Carlisle said.

Donohue noted several of the department's achievements during his first term, such as employing the three-day, 12-hour work schedule for officers in response to community policing efforts; becoming active partners in the Weed and Seed anti-drug program; and creating the "Inside HPD" television show to inform the community of issues the department faces.

Donohue also noted several technological advances, including distributing to officers islandwide 440 automated external defibrilators, which have saved eight lives since being introduced in 1999.

State public defender Jack Tonaki said he would give Donohue "pretty high marks" for his first term, despite situations like the cellblock food scandal, in which former Assistant Police Chief Rafael Fajardo and former Maj. Jeffrey Owens were indicted in 2001 on felony theft charges.

The officers allegedly bought meals and snacks for police officers with money that was supposed to be used to feed criminal suspects held at the main police station.

"But I don't think that that type of conduct permeated down to the rank-and-file (officers)," Tonaki said. "I think for the most part, our officers are good at treating people fairly. ... The management there seems to be pretty good and I guess it all reflects back to the leadership."

Donohue's first term saw other lows, like the deaths of five officers — three to suicide and two while on duty — and the exodus of dozens of officers in 1998 and 1999 who left for better pay and opportunities in the Pacific Northwest.

"Through all of our problems, we stayed focused on our mission and persevered," Donohue said. "There was never an allegation of impropriety that was not addressed. We held ourselves accountable as we did with all of our employees."

Donohue also suffered a sudden cardiac arrest in 1999, but assures that he is "in good health," he said. "Everything's going fine."

Health and family are major factors as to when he will retire, Donohue said.

"I committed to five years, but who knows what will happen in five years?" he said.

Throughout his remarks yesterday to the dozens in attendance, Donohue spoke with ease until addressing his family and his wife, Lucille, to whom he has been married for 42 years.

"Thank you for your unconditional support, understanding and love," said Donohue, pausing for a moment to hold back tears.