The Maui Police Department has promoted two veteran officers to the rank of assistant chief, with Terence Gomez assigned to the Technology and Support Bureau and Bryan Manlapao assigned to the Uniformed Services Bureau.

Terence Gomez has been promoted to the role of assistant chief of the Maui Police Department’s Technology and Support Bureau.
Photos courtesy Maui Police Department

According to the department, Gomez graduated from St. Anthony High School in Wailuku and went on to attend Chaminade University of Honolulu, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice.

Gomez joined MPD in 1999 as a patrol officer, serving in the Lahaina, Hana and Wailuku patrol districts and quickly demonstrating an aptitude for community-based policing and officer development.

He later served as a school resource officer at Iao Intermediate School for three years and was a defensive tactics instructor, as well as an original member of the Specialized Emergency Enforcement Detail.

He also received the Silver Medal of Valor for entering a burning residence to save an elderly woman.

In 2012, Gomez was promoted to sergeant and served in the Molokai, Kihei and Wailuku patrol districts. He was later selected to serve as sergeant of the Juvenile Crime Prevention Division, overseeing MPD’s School Resource Officer program, which won the National Association of School Resource Officers’ Model Agency of the Year award under his leadership.

Gomez was awarded MPD’s Manager of the Year in 2018. He was subsequently promoted to lieutenant and continued to serve as commander of the Juvenile Crime Prevention Division.

In that role, he oversaw youth programs including Project Positive Outreach Intervention, which focused on diverting youth from the juvenile justice system through early intervention and mentorship. He also supported the Kalo Program, a culturally grounded, family-strengthening curriculum, and the Second Chance Program, which emphasizes accountability, restoration and positive life pathways.

In 2017, Gomez became a director of the Maui Police Activities League and continues to serve on its board. He was promoted to captain in 2023.

Since then, he has commanded the Wailuku, Kihei and Lanai patrol districts, overseeing operations, personnel and community safety initiatives. In 2024, Gomez graduated from the FBI National Academy in Quantico, Virginia.

Bryan Manlapao has been promoted to the role of assistant chief of the Maui Police Department’s Uniformed Services Bureau.

Manlapao joined MPD in 2002 as an undercover officer in the Vice Gambling and Morals Unit for one year before transferring to the Kihei patrol district.

He later served on the Special Response Team and returned to the Vice Narcotics Division before being promoted to sergeant in 2014 and assigned to the Lahaina patrol district.

Following a one-year assignment, he transferred to the Criminal Investigation Division.

In 2020, he was promoted to lieutenant and served as the Lanai patrol district commander for one year before being assigned to the Wailuku patrol district.

In May 2022, he was transferred to the Criminal Investigation Division, where he served as acting captain. He was promoted to captain and assigned to Internal Affairs in June 2023.

Manlapao holds a master’s degree in criminal justice. He graduated from the FBI National Academy in March 2024. He and his wife, Mae, have three children.