Senators quiz director about cooperation between police and Homeland Security

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — Police Commissioner Lefiti Atiulagi Pese answered questions last week Thursday when he and the local Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Director Samana Semo Ve’ve’a appeared before the Senate and were questioned about sharing intelligence between the two agencies after the Senate President asked where to draw the line between Homeland Security and Police.

The issue was prompted by a recently proposed administration bill to extend powers of arrest to the DHS and the seriousness of the issue prompted a meeting on Wednesday between the Governor, the Attorney General, the DHS Director and the Department of Public Safety Police Commissioner. 

 “After our meeting with the Governor, he advised the three agencies, asking for the power of arrest to put that aside until another time.

 “But to prepare an appropriate bill before submitting it to the Fono accordingly, in the meantime we will be working together to share intelligence, instead of submitting separately as we lack police officers.

 “The governor says, the police is the official investigative institution on everything, then to the Attorney General’s office in connection with Justice.  

“We’ll be working as a team, to share and disseminate information.”

Senate President Tuaolo Manaia Fruean complimented the Governor for following the law. 

Senator Tuiasina Tuia Laumoli supported the idea of working together between the HLS and Police, even though he only heard of investigations by DHS in the media — he did not identify police investigations recently in the news of the vessel the Kite Runner and a LBJ container, as mentioned by the Police Commissioner.  

Tuiasina also expressed his disappointment over the former management of the hospital, that it takes the new board to discover what has happened there since 2019.

He said those former senior employees involved had no respect for the hospital. A place every citizen respects, but some had taken advantage and stolen from the hospital. He wished those former leaders could be called in.

Senate Standing Committee on Education, Chair Senator Alo P. Stevenson, said there are several issues needing investigation whereas crimes have been committed, whether intentional or what? It's the police's responsibility and do they have a plan?

Police Commissioner Lefiti in response said, there have been a few investigations into the boat, and the local investigation has been done.

As for Samoa, they are also looking at this boat issue, which should be between the two governments. In American Samoa, an investigation has been done, with an outcome to be released in due time.

However, the container at the hospital, it happened in 2019 and 2020 and it was just reported to police in February 2023. The Auditor was quick to report it to the office of the Attorney General, hoping to start up an investigation, but the media exposed it too early. The investigation into the container will soon be done and then passed over to the office of the AG.

Tuaolo reminded the two Directors that it’s important for the two departments to team up together, as the Fono still awaits a result of an investigation into drugs, that's been channeled through the hospital, and some (the investigation) that's been sent from the government’s office in Hawaii to the television station (KVZK-TV).

Senator Fonoti T. Aufata quoted a verse from Exodus, when God asked Moses to go and bring the Israelites from Egypt. God was alive and continued to work through Moses. American Samoa puts God first, because he is a living God. Asking does it take something to happen for the governor to become alive? Seiloga ose mea e tupu faato'a ola mai le Kovana?

The Senators reminded the Directors that the top crimes in the territory since 2020 are robbery and forced entry due to the local drug problem.

In the meantime, the Police is the only recognized Law enforcer for public safety. However the world today has changed and they must look beyond the horizon, but whatever is new must have a foundation.