HFD spokesman Soo retiring this month
By Curtis Lum
Advertiser Staff Writer
Honolulu Fire Department Capt. Richard Soo, who has comforted many in times of disaster and served as the voice of the department for four years, will retire at the end of the month and join the Department of Education as a contract worker.
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Soo, 51, will serve as a school safety manager with the DOE and will be responsible primarily for its fire safety programs. He has been with HFD for 27 years, the last four as its public information officer.
Capt. Richard Soo said he's leaving the fire department to be able to spend more time with his children.
Capt. Kenison Tejada, who has shared duties with Soo as HFD spokesman since July 2001, will assume Soo's duties Feb. 1.
Soo was the department's first public information officer and was a familiar face at fires and natural disasters.
"My oldest boy is 13 and my youngest boy is 8, and they're starting to get involved in sports, and I don't want to be 24-7 anymore," Soo said. "I did 27 years with the fire department, now I want to be there for my boys."
Soo said his retirement has nothing to do with problems related to his public endorsement of Linda Lingle in last year's gubernatorial election. He had been temporarily relieved of some of his duties by fire Chief Attilio Leonardi.
Soo said he never wanted to be a "lifer" in the department and has always kept his options open. Last year he ran unsuccessfully in a special election to fill the seat of former City Council member Andy Mirikitani.
"I think I've accomplished my goals," Soo said. "This opportunity with the DOE will afford me the ability to broaden my development. It's kind of exciting.
Soo will be on a 10-month contract and the position is subject to financing by the Legislature. He will be working in the department's Safety and Security Section.
Leonardi said Soo's departure will be a "big loss for the department." Leonardi said Soo began as a firefighter and later worked as an inspector.
"He did a good job of promoting the activities of the fire department. He's really heightened the level of the fire department's professionalism," Leonardi said. "We're really going to miss him. He's not only a great employee, but he's also a good friend."
Although he's had to jump out of bed at all hours to respond to fire calls, Soo said he will miss being on the scene.
"I hope my tenure will be one where people will say I had the ability to calm the public in a true emergency and bring immediate information to them, to say that we have things under control. I think that's what I will miss," Soo said.
