2 new police reserve officers
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Two recently retired Maui Police Department officers were sworn in Friday as the newest reserve police officers, bringing the total to four officers in the program.
Tod Wong and Samuel Gasmen retired as sergeants at the end of last year.
Wong, who had 29 years of service, will continue to oversee the department's bicycle patrol program.
Gasmen, who had 28 years of service, will continue working as part of the department's cybercrime unit.
MPD started the Reserve Officer Program last year, allowing recent department retirees or police officers who left in good standing to volunteer part time as officers. The program was intended to help with a current shortage of police officers by having reserve officers fill in. Reserve officers keep their previous certifications and will have the same enforcement responsibilities and authority as current officers.
The other two reserve officers, Barry Aoki and John Bowker, were firearms instructors before they retired and are volunteering as firearms instructors for the Training Section and Records Section.
Police said reserve officers would be assigned to assist as instructors if the department implements a program to accept lateral transfers from Mainland law enforcement agencies.