(Dispatcher Christina Chong Tim (holding certificate) was awarded the Employee of the Month award at a recent Police Commission meeting. She was joined by her father, former KPD Lt. Randy Chong Tim (far right) and Police Chief Darryl Perry (far left), as well as the family of the baby boy she helped to deliver in October of last year.)
By Staff Reports
(Kaua’i)– Kaua’i Police Chief Darryl D. Perry and the Kaua’i Police Commission recently presented Employee of the Month recognitions to a KPD dispatcher and to the team in charge of KPD’s CALEA accreditation.
Dispatcher Christina Chong Tim was honored for assisting a woman through a successful home birth. In October of last year, a female called 911 when her 31-year-old sister began giving birth while in her Kekaha home. There was not enough time to transport the woman to the hospital, so Chong Tim talked the pregnant woman’s sister through the delivery process while they waited for help to arrive.
Over the course of the six-minute call, Chong Tim remained calm and professional as she coached the caller through each step of the delivery. The cry of a healthy newborn could be heard in the background just as medics and firefighters arrived to the scene to assist.
Both mother and sister attended Chong Tim’s award ceremony with the newborn baby boy. It was learned later that they were the daughters of a former KPD employee.
“Dispatcher Chong Tim did an exceptional job in reacting quickly and compassionately in this family’s time of need,” stated Assistant Chief Roy Asher. “A call of this nature is rare and our dispatchers have to be prepared to respond to all types of incidents at any given moment. The happy ending to this story is a testament to Christina’s dedication to her profession and the people of Kaua’i. We thank her for her service and dedication.”
Police Chief Darryl Perry (far left) and Deputy Police Chief Michael Contrades (far right) stand with members of KPD?s accreditation team after they were recognized as Employees of the Month. Missing from this photo are Lt. Jon Takamura and Laura Saunders.
The department also recently recognized members of KPD’s accreditation team.
In November, the department received national accreditation from the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA). Becoming an accredited law enforcement agency was a high priority for Chief Perry since 2007.
Several years went by without progress and in 2012, Lt. Jon Takamura was assigned to manage the accreditation process, in addition to his duties within KPD’s Traffic Safety Section. In 2015, Sgt. Jason Matsuoka was assigned full-time to assist Lt. Takamura in the accreditation efforts. They were also assisted by Lt. James Miller, Officer Troy Sakaguchi, Secretary Johnette Chun, and contract-hire Laura Saunders.
Over the course of the past four years, the team accomplished the arduous task of developing policies, which included a comprehensive audit of the department’s policies and operations, an on-site audit by CALEA representatives, and a thorough review of comments and feedback from the department’s employees and the general public.
Deputy Police Chief Michael Contrades credited many individuals both within and outside the organization for their assistance, under the leadership of the accreditation team.
“These were the key individuals who were instrumental in achieving this longstanding goal of the department,” stated Deputy Chief Contrades. “Only 5% of all law enforcement agencies across the United States are accredited, and it is through this group’s efforts that KPD is among them. It is my honor and pleasure to award this team as our Employees of the Month for their unwavering commitment to this task.”