State Sheriff John Lum may soon be replaced by the Lingle administration, according to a state senator and a source within the sheriff's division.

Lum could not be reached for comment late yesterday. Louise Kim-McCoy, a spokeswoman for the state Department of Public Safety, would not comment other than to say Lum is currently employed by the department.

State Sen. Will Espero, D-20th ('Ewa Beach, Waipahu), the chairman of the Senate Public Safety and Military Affairs Committee, said he was told that Lum's employment agreement would not be renewed and that his last day as sheriff would be May 8.

"There are many sheriffs, and people just within the department, who are surprised and a little stunned at the announcement Sheriff Lum is going to be replaced," Espero said. "In the years that he's been there, he's been a very professional, strong, quality leader. There are really no complaints that I'm aware of."

A source in the sheriff's division, who asked to remain anonymous, said Lum was told Thursday he will be replaced. The source said most within the division back Lum's leadership. Other sources, however, said there are concerns about morale and procurement issues.

State lawmakers are considering a resolution asking for a financial and management audit of the sheriff's division. The resolution has passed the state House and is scheduled for a hearing before Espero's committee on Monday.

Lum, a former Honolulu police captain, oversees a sheriff's division assigned to protect state courts and buildings. The sheriff's division also handles warrants, process services for court documents, prisoner transport, and law enforcement at Honolulu International Airport.

Over the past few years, the sheriff's division and HPD have been criticized by some lawmakers after articles in The Advertiser about a substantial backlog of warrants.