Lei'ataua named Assistant Commissioner

By Adel Fruean 21 September 2020, 4:00PM

After 20 years in the Police, Lei'ataua Samuelu Afamasaga, has been promoted to be an Assistant Commissioner and says he is aiming to improve public trust in the force. 

Lei’ataua was among four officials who were appointed to new roles such as: Deputy Police and Prisons Commissioner, Auapaau Logoitino Filipo; Assistant Commissioner of National Operations, Muliagatele Lorraine Lees; and Assistant Chief Executive Officer Legal, Lydia Jahnke.

The 39-year-old from Nofoalii, Fasitoo-tai, Lepuiai Manono, Solosolo, Nona Fagaloa, Leone Apia joined the Police force in 1999 after graduating from Samoa College. 

He told the Samoa Observer that he felt humbled and happy with his new role. 

“I want to use this opportunity to share my experience,” he said.

The Assistant Commissioner (District) added that most of his service in the Police force was as an investigations officer and a Police prosecutor for eight years at District Court.

“My plan and goal is to drive the vision of the Ministry to give a better professional service to meet the community needs for quick response from Police,” he said. 

“And [I] also [hope] to improve [the] Police’s approach and push them.”

The father-of-four graduated from University of the South Pacific in Fiji last year with a Bachelor of Arts double major in Pacific Policing and Management. He also spent one year in the Police maritime unit.

When speaking about challenges that Police officers face, he said they cannot please everybody but they will continue their work.

“There are times when we work overtime and despite having limited resources, and crime rate increasing, we have to manage with what we have to fix those problems,” he said. 

“I was also in charge of [outposts]; I want the level of the service provided in headquarters [to be] similar to outposts. 

“When you just enter you are already satisfied with the service before you lodge your complaint.

“There are six outposts in the island of Upolu. We want to return the trust of members of the public to the Ministry of Police.”

Lei’ataua also mentioned that he supports the Police Commissioner’s vision for professional service and to improve declarations of conflicts of interest.

“I thank God first, my wife and children, also Commissioner for electing myself and trusting me. I also thank all the Police Officers I have worked with because of their hard work for the benefit of the organisation,” he said. 

“I also acknowledge the support from our Manumalo Baptist Church for their prayers.”

He also served in Sudan in peacekeeping between 2006-2008 and also worked for the United Nations in New York as security between 2011-2012.

“Since our new Commissioner came in, we learned a lot from him in terms of safety and security issues,” he said. 

“He improved our tactical team, so every time we go to do raids I feel confident.

“I was one of the officers that were involved in one of the raids at Faleatiu. As a Police Officer, if I die it's part of my job.”




By Adel Fruean 21 September 2020, 4:00PM

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