"I feel like I'm on a roller coaster," Correa said at a news conference yesterday afternoon.

"It is very rewarding to be able to serve the City and County of Honolulu. It's also a privilege to be put in this position to lead the best police department in the United States."

He will lead a department that includes 2,062 sworn officers.

Correa, 58, was among 19 candidates for the department's top job. The position pays $110,000.

The original field was narrowed down to four finalists, who went through a series of written exams, as well as psychological tests and interviews with the Police Commission.

Cha Thompson, vice chair of the Police Commission, congratulates the Honolulu Police Department's new chief, Boisse Correa, a 58-year-old who worked his way up the ranks from patrol officer. Eugene Tanner • The Honolulu Advertiser

The three other finalists were: Deputy Chief Glen Kajiyama, who has served as acting chief; Maj. Donna Andersen, head of the Internal Affairs Division; and Maj. Susan Ballard of District 5 in Kalihi.

Correa entered yesterday's news conference with the seven members of the commission. A crowd of officers and HPD employees who gathered in the conference room applauded the announcement of the department's top cop.

Correa said it was too soon to discuss his vision for the department or the makeup of his staff. He would not comment on the status of the two appointed deputy chiefs, Kajiyama and Paul Putzulu, but said, "I have all the confidence in the world with the two deputies."

Taketa said Correa will be under a five-year contract, which will be reviewed annually. He did not say when Correa will be sworn in to his new post.

Correa, a 1964 graduate of Kalani High School, joined the department in April 1970 and has been a supervisor or commander of every division except finance and records. Since being promoted to assistant chief in 1998, Correa has headed security for the Asian Development Bank conference in 2001 and is the department's counterterrorism coordinator.

Through the years, Correa has demonstrated he is comfortable working with the news media and with community groups, and has become a familiar figure at crime scenes and police events. He said this exposure may have helped him land the job of chief.

"It didn't hurt being out there with the community," Correa said. "Anytime you can get with the community and work with the community, which is a great community we live in, anytime you can accomplish that is a plus, no matter who you are."

As a young officer, Correa said his goal was to be a sergeant. But as he rose in the ranks, he was encouraged by the late Sister Roberta Derby, who served as the department's chaplain, and former Chief Francis Keala to consider running for job of chief.

"I had great mentors," he said. "I worked with four chiefs of police and all gave me their wisdom, showed me the way to go with integrity and understanding of the process."