Local News

Esperanza, Okamoto promoted to MPD assistant chief roles

The Maui News

Randy Esperanza has been promoted to assistant chief of investigative services and Gregg Okamoto has been promoted to assistant chief of support services for the Maui Police Department.

Esperanza joined the department in 1996, working in the Molokai Patrol District for a year, followed by assignments in the Lahaina Patrol District and the Vice Narcotics Division. When he was promoted to sergeant, he returned to Molokai for three years, then worked as a detective in the Criminal Investigation Division and Internal Affairs.

As a lieutenant, his assignments included the Community Relations Section, Kihei Patrol District and the Criminal Investigation Division, where he supervised the Property Crimes Unit. As captain, he was commander of the Technical Services Unit and the Kihei Patrol District before his most recent assignment in the Criminal Investigation Division.

He and his wife, Mimi, have seven children and two grandchildren.

Okamoto joined the department in 1997, working in the Wailuku, Molokai and Lahaina Patrol Districts. He was a school resource officer at Maui High School, his alma mater. As sergeant, he worked in the Molokai Patrol District, then as a detective in the Criminal Investigation Division and Internal Affairs. He was also a member of the Special Response Team. He supervised the Domestic Violence Unit before being promoted.

As a lieutenant, he worked in the Vice Narcotics Division before taking command assignments in the Plans & Training Section, Communications Section and Community Relations Section, where he also served as the department's public information officer. When he was promoted to captain, he was commander of the Molokai Patrol District before his most recent assignment to the Quality Assurance Section under the chief's office.

He and his wife, Kat, have five children.