Commissioner of Public Safety, William Bill Haleck has rescinded an initial move by Acting Deputy Commissioner Save Liuato Tuitele to temporarily re-assign three police officers to “non-police” duties pending the outcome of an investigation launched against them by the family member of a 17 year-old mentally challenged young man from Pago Pago who claims that the police officers assaulted him.

In a memo issued by Save Liuato Tuitele dated Thursday, May 29, 2014 when he was DPS Acting Commissioner, to all DPS personnel, Save wrote, “the Office of the Attorney General has been tasked by the Office of the Lieutenant Governor to conduct an inquiry to ascertain the validity of the allegations.”

The police officers are Filemoni Amituana’i, Sonny White, and Patrick Tuvale Jr.

Amituana’i was relieved of his duties with the Criminal Investigation Division (CID) and   assigned to the Records Division under the direct supervision of Captain Kilisitina Simanu.   Tuvale was relieved of his duties with the Traffic Division and assigned to the Training Division under the direct supervision of Commander Tauese Vaaomala Sunia.

White, also with the Criminal Investigation Division, was relieved of his duties and assigned to the Office of Motor Vehicles under the direct supervision of Commander Lumana’i Maifea.

In the latest memorandum issued yesterday, June 12, 2014, which was leaked to Samoa News, Haleck transferred the three officers back to their respective divisions. The Commissioner told Samoa News over the phone that he made the decision to change the previous memo for the betterment of the Department due to the shortage of staff.

Samoa News asked for a copy of the memorandum, however the Commissioner was reluctant to provide the memo.

According to the leaked memo, “due to the shortage of our manpower” Officers Amituana’i, White and Tuvale, that were temporarily assigned to different divisions as per Save’s orders, “are hereby directed to return back to their division/unit and perform their normal duties.”

Samoa News understands the Commissioner also sought assistance from the Attorney General’s office prior to making this move.

The reassigning of the police officers came about after the family of the alleged victim, JayDee Te’o Frost, had filed a complaint against the officers involved, but the case was closed without any disciplinary action against the cops.

According to Save last week, the case file did not include a single statement from any one of the officers who was named in the complaint. Save confirmed this to be true. He said that when he went to look for this specific case file, he discovered that there were no written statements provided by the cops alleged to be involved in the attack, and that raised a red flag, as all cases should include statements from all parties involved.

“We need to look into this matter because the integrity of the Police Department is on the line,” Save said, adding that if this case had occurred off island, a multi-million-dollar lawsuit could be brought against the cops and DPS as a whole.

According to the allegations against the cops, during Police Week last month, while carrying out physical training, four cops allegedly assaulted John-Demas or “JayDee” Te'o Frost in Fagatogo.

The young man is said to suffer from a chronic mental disorder with psychotic and manic symptoms. His family members and those who know him say JayDee likes to hit and touch objects he passes.

Other changes included in the new memo state that Police Officer Malieo Maui is relieved from his duties with the Marine Patrol Division and is hereby transferred to the Central Station.  He’s to report to the Police Services Bureau and will also report to the Chief of Police Vaimaga Maiava for his new assignment. Sione Ma Wong is now assigned to oversee the Supply Unit. “This order superseded any other order concerning the above named personnel,” says the memo.