A 31-year Honolulu Police Department veteran known among officers as a personable Mr. Fix-it has been selected as HPD’s 2016 Officer of the Year.
Sgt. Barry Tong received the award, sponsored by the 200 Club, May 18 in a ceremony at the Waialae Country Club. The club consists of 200 businesses and community leaders that support HPD and the Honolulu Fire Department.
Tong, who serves as the administrative sergeant at HPD’s Central Receiving Division, is credited with increasing the cellblock’s capacity, improving the safety of officers dealing with detainees, and implementing a security system for police headquarters.
In addition, Maj. Susan Ballard, commander of the Central Receiving Division, said that during Tong’s two-year tenure at that post, his positive attitude has been contagious.
“When officers come in from the road … they like to come in and talk story,” Ballard said. She added, “He’s like a social animal. He can talk to anybody. He can resolve anything. He’s absolutely amazing.”
Tong led an effort to kick-start a stalled plan to put in place an updated security system at the main police station. The $2 million system includes new door controls, a security console in the basement with a wall of security monitors, and a security camera system with a 540-degree dome view of the headquarter’s exterior. Previously, the headquarters lacked cameras that could see out to the sidewalk.
The system was supposed to be installed in 2012, but various conflicts between agencies and the vendor stalled the project. Tong helped resolve the conflicts and was able to get the system installed.
He has also implemented new protocols for handling infectious diseases, which have increased safety for officers, Ballard said.
In addition, Ballard said, Tong has brought his own tools to work to mend the department’s transport chains, which were specially designed and could not be purchased. Tong welded on handcuffs and leg irons to mend the chains, which were in poor condition, she said.
Tong attributes his success to taking the time to research a workplace problem before making a proposal on how to address it. “That was the key thing,” he said. “Do your homework before you make changes, to make sure you’re going in the right direction.”
In the case of cellblock capacity, Tong was able to increase it to about 150 detainees from 30 by using space more efficiently and switching 24-hour monitoring cells holding just one person to smaller cells.
Tong credits his commander and others for making his success possible. Regarding his staff, Tong said, “If it wasn’t for them, I couldn’t make some of these changes,” he said. “I do give thanks to them.”
Upon receiving the recognition, Tong said, “I want our department to be … a better police department, and that was my drive from the time I first joined, just try to make a difference.”
