Left: Assistant Chief Samuel Jeslma Right: Assistant Chief Chad Basque

Police Chief Paul Ferreira has announced two promotions to the rank of Assistant Chief, effective February 1, 2021.

Chad Basque, a 30-year veteran of the department, now commands the Area II Field Operations Bureau, encompassing the department’s west Hawai‘i districts. Basque’s former assignments were as a patrol officer in the North Kohala and Kona districts, Kona Community Policing Officer, Patrol Sergeant and Community Policing Sergeant in Kona, Kona Patrol Lieutenant, Ka‘u and Kona Districts Patrol Captain, the Area II Criminal Investigation Division Captain, previously holding the Area II Field Operations Bureau Major and subsequent Acting Assistant Chief positions.

Samuel Jelsma, a 30-year veteran of the department, now commands the department’s Administrative Bureau. Jelsma’s former assignments were as a patrol officer in the Kona, South Kohala, and Puna districts, Traffic Enforcement Unit Sergeant and Puna district Patrol Sergeant, a Special Response Team member, Area I Juvenile Aid Section Detective, Area I Vice Lieutenant and South Hilo Patrol Lieutenant, Kona and Puna Patrol District Captain, Major for Area I Field Operations Bureau, and previously holding the Administrative Bureau Major and subsequent Acting Assistant Chief positions.