Two new deputy police chiefs were promoted and sworn into their respective roles during a ceremony at the Honolulu Hale Friday morning. Deputy Chiefs Brandon Nakasato and Parker Bode told Aloha State Daily that they’re excited to support Honolulu Police Department staff and utilize technology to make officer’s jobs safer and more efficient.
Police officers, city officials and councilmembers, and family and friends of the deputy chiefs filled the Honolulu Hale courtyard. Hawaiʻi Supreme Court Chief Justice Vladimir Devens administered the oath to Nakasato and Bode.
After two months on the job, Chief David Lazar named Nakasato and Bode to their respective roles on Aug. 31.
Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi applauded Lazar’s decision to appoint Nakasato and Bode, saying “that kind of decisiveness is going to serve us well.”
Public safety is one of Blangiardi’s top priorities, he said during the ceremony.
“People need to feel safe. They want to feel safe,” he said. “They need to feel that somebody is out there when they need it, and the police department leads the way on that, each and every day, each and every night, seven days a week, so having great leadership at the helm makes all the difference.”
Honolulu Police Commission Chair Laurie Foster shared the Nakasato and Bode are exactly the leaders that Lazar was looking for: forward thinking, creative, innovative, strategic, practical, humble, honest, leaders that are willing to challenge the status quo and leaders that listen and learn.
Lazar said during the ceremony that Nakasato and Bode stood out as leaders when he arrived at HPD in July, Nakasato for his forward thinking, quick action, problem solving skills, and strong convictions, and Bode for his resourcefulness, care for the staff and commitment to HPD’s mission.
Nakasato, who oversees field operations, grew up in Kalihi, attended University Laboratory School and University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa. He worked as a valet at Hawaiian Regent Hotel before joining HPD 27 years ago. He most recently served as interim deputy chief.
Bode, who oversees administrative operations, became the youngest deputy chief in modern history at age 39, according to Lazar. Bode is the son of a retired HPD major Ron Bode and grew up in Kāneʻohe. He attended Kamehameha Schools before earning his bachelor’s degree from Pacific University in Oregon and his master’s degree from University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa. He joined HPD in 2010 and recently served as Lazar’s chief of staff.
Lazar said that Nakasato and Bode are known for caring about the rank-and-file members of the department. Bode recently partnered with officers to obtain childcare for all of HPD’s members and spent last weekend mentoring prospective sergeant candidates, Lazar said.
Nakasato and Bode both emphasized to ASD the need to support department staff.
“For me it’s about supporting our people,” Bode said, adding that the better the department supports their staff, the better the staff will do their jobs in service to the community.
Nakasato said that he wants to get officers the right tools to do their jobs, and that utilizing technology can make their jobs more efficient and safer. He pointed to the Drone as First Responder program, a pilot program announced in August to respond to certain incidents ahead of officers, and an online dashboard that allows the public to view incidents police are responding to.
Recruitment and retention remain challenges for the department, Bode said.
Lazar said during a press conference Thursday that the department recently hired 66 officers with recruits in training to graduate later this month but is still nearly 300 officers below the mandated 2,177 sworn officers.
The chief announced Thursday that HPD would shift 100 officers from duties throughout the department to patrol to get as many officers back on the road as possible and to reduce overtime.
Haley Lehman can be reached at haley@alohastatedaily.com.
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