WAILUKU - Maui Police Commission members heard testimony from 13 people Wednesday morning on the panel's pending decision on the successor to police Chief Tom Phillips, who retires June 1.
Three candidates are being considered by the commission: Deputy Chief Gary Yabuta, 53, of Waiehu; Traffic Section Lt. Bobby Hill, 48, of Waiehu; and former police Capt. Paul Winters, 53, of Pukalani.
Of the testifiers, eight threw their support behind Hill, and five said they support Winters. Yabuta did not receive any support from testifiers, but he said last month he was not having anyone testify for him "because I don't want to put any of my friends or people in that position."
As deputy chief, Yabuta is second in command in the department.
The commission is expected to announce its selection May 20.
During the commission meeting in the HGEA Conference Room in Wailuku, testifiers agreed that the three candidates qualify for the top job in the Police Department. No one testified against any of the men, who each have decades of police experience.
Yabuta started his police career in March 1983. Hill began his Maui police career in 1986, and Winters was a Maui police officer from 1976 until 2001, when he retired to take care of his ailing mother.
Wednesday's Police Commission meeting was the second and final public hearing for the police chief position, which earns $113,100 annually.
Paul Elkins, the owner of the former Bullock's of Hawaii restaurant in Pukalani, told commissioners he was supporting Winters, who he has known for 35 years.
"If I had to place my life in any man's hands, he's the one I would trust," Elkins said.
Elkins said he has known Winters and other police officers as many of them would stop by his former restaurant. They would also be the ones he would call for help, he said.
"He was a leader, even as a rookie cop," Elkins said about Winters.
Scott Pires, a fire captain at the Kahului Airport, also threw his support behind Winters.
Winters is currently night commander for Securitas Security Services at the Kahului Airport. The private company provides traffic control, security and armed law enforcement at the airport.
"He has always been easy to work with at the airport," Pires said.
He added that Winters pays attention to detail and follows up on matters and can analyze data quickly.
Pires said Winters has been the "go-to guy," also dealing with issues such as strategic planning.
Maureen Suzuki said Hill is an inspirational leader who would provide the department vision for the future.
Suzuki said she and Hill were in the ROTC program at the University of Hawaii at Manoa in 1982, and Hill was her squad leader. He pushed and encouraged her to reach the ROTC's fitness goals.
She said that during a running event, Hill, who was administering the exam, ran the final lap with her and cheered her on so she would pass the test.
"I made it with Lieutenant Hill by my side," she said.
Gary Shin-Leavitt said all of the three candidates have the ability to become a police chief, but what sets Hill apart is his vision for the future and a new way of doing business, as Hill has a master's degree in business administration.
Shin-Leavitt said that especially with the economic climate as it is, Hill will be able to "do more with less" and is able to work with the local community, Native Hawaiians as well as recent transplants to the island.
Michael Nobriga, who said he was supporting Hill, told the commissioners that they have a challenge ahead of them.
As a former police commission member more than 15 years ago, Nobriga said the most vital pieces of information came from the individual interview processes.
He also commended the commission for opening up the selection process to the public.
"Back then we didn't consider the community that much in the deliberations," Nobriga said.
* Melissa Tanji can be reached at mtanji@mauinews.com
