Le’I sworn in as law enforcement officer — to be on the safe side

Attorney General Talauega Eleasalo V. Ale (left) swearing in Commissioner of Public Safety, Le’i Sonny Thompson, during a brief ceremony over the weekend at the DPS conference room in Fagatogo. This is the first known time this type of ceremony has been carried out in which the Attorney General presided over the swearing in of a Police Commissioner — Le’i, who was confirmed by the Fono in February this year.

In brief remarks to reporters, after the swearing-in ceremony, Le’i explained that following his confirmation by the Fono as Police Commission, the administration took it that this “was sufficient enough to perform duties just like a police officer, out there day and night” in accordance with Title 46 of the statute - (Criminal Justice - which has 49 Chapters - under the American Samoa Code Annotated).

However, District Court Judge [Fiti A.] Sunia “had cautioned my involvement with police officers, men and women, out there doing their job. So we... researched this matter with the Attorney General’s Office and therefore have agreed” to carrying out the swearing-in ceremony, Le’i explained, but didn’t elaborate further on why Sunia had cautioned his involvement.

“Although... it’s already in the statute, [which] gives me authority as a commissioner of Public Safety to conduct business just like any other law enforcement officer,” Talauega was called for the swearing-in “to make sure that at this point forward all applicable laws and the Constitution of American Samoa as well as those directly affecting the job of a police officer is taken care of.”

The police commissioner said, “It is our intention and my intention, that I’m out there at any time, every day, with the police officers to assist them, in what they’re doing — preserving peace, law and order, to make sure you are safe, in our community.”

Last month, Le’i was seen along with several police officers conducting highway check of vehicles, along the stretch of the main high road between Futiga and Lepuapua following complaints that drivers were using this main highway as a speedway.