With his contract set to expire in August, the Honolulu Police Commission will discuss the future of Police Chief Boisse P. Correa today and may decide to extend his contract or start looking for a new chief.

Correa, 61, took control of the state's largest law enforcement organization in August 2004 under a five-year contract, and the commission must decide whether to grant him a one-year extension that he is requesting or find someone else for the $136,000-a-year job.

Christine H.H. Camp, commission chairwoman, said the city charter requires hiring police chiefs under five-year contracts. Correa has said he is not seeking to serve another full five-year term, she said.

Given dwindling tax revenues, the commission needs a chief who can commit to a five-year strategic financial plan and is ready to "roll up his sleeves" and dig into the budget mess, Camp said.

"We need to really look forward to someone who can commit to five years because the law requires us to appoint for five years. The discussion has always been that he doesn't want to stay for five years, he wants to stay for a year. I don't want to play games with the law, I want to look at the charter and be a purist on that," Camp said. "Can you do this for the five years? If not, let's go find somebody. You've (Correa) given us 39 great years, (but) we're going to need a leader who can do more with less while keeping his eye on the ball when it comes to crime."

Correa said he wants to serve as long as he has the passion.

"I've dedicated my life to public service, and I still have the energy and commitment to continue as chief," he said yesterday in a prepared statement. "Whether it's one year or five years or longer, I'm willing to serve as long as I have that passion."

He went on to say, "My discussions with the commission are confidential, and I will be discussing my reappointment at the Wednesday meeting."

The commission recently gave Correa a glowing performance review and lauded his efforts as leading to Honolulu's crime rate hitting a 35-year low last year.

"This has been one of the best years, so he can go out on top," Camp said. "We want to take a vote (today) so we can start the process early if we need to do a search (outside of the department)."

Under Correa's leadership, crime in Honolulu last year dipped to its lowest point since the mid-1970s, falling for the fourth consecutive year. Patrol beats are staffed at their highest level in a decade and the department has earned international accreditation.

As successful as Correa has been in combating crime, he is not popular with rank-and-file officers. Twice, he has been the subject of surveys by the State of Hawaii Organization of Police Officers union, and each time the majority of responding officers were critical of his leadership style and communication with officers.

SHOPO filed a prohibitive practices complaint with the state Labor Commission over allegations that Correa's administration was unfairly disciplining officers without due process.

The administration disputes the allegations and the complaint is pending.