Four Maui Officers Promoted to Sergeant

Maui Police sergeant promotions: Samuel Gasmen and David Leffler (top row, from left); Kenneth Kihata and Bryan Manlapao (bottom row). Photos courtesy Maui Police Department.

By Maui Now Staff

The Maui Police Department today announced the promotion of four officers to the rank of sergeant. The list includes: Samuel Gasmen, David Leffler, Kenneth Kihata, and Bryan Manlapao.

Department officials provided highlights relating to each individual that was promoted, including the following:

Gasmen is a 23-year-veteran of the department, who joined the force on July 5, 1990. His first assignment was with the Molokaʻi Patrol Division in 1991. In 1992, he was assigned to the Wailuku Patrol Division; and in 2006, he was assigned to the Juvenile Crime Prevention Division as a juvenile investigator. Gasmen will be assigned to the Kīhei Patrol Division in his new capacity.

Leffler was hired by the Maui Police Department in 1993 and graduated with the 45th Police Recruit Academy. He was assigned to the Molokaʻi Patrol Division in 1994; to the Lahaina Patrol Division in 1995; and the Wailku Patrol Division in 1997, where he worked as a field training officer. In 2011, Leffler was assigned to the Juvenile Crime Prevention Division as a juvenile investigator. He will begin his new assignment with the Molokaʻi Patrol Division, effective April 1, 2014.  Leffler is a 1993 graduate of the University of Hawaiʻi at Manoa, and holds a bachelor of arts degree in psychology.

Kihata is a 14-year veteran of the department. He served his first assignment with the Hāna Patrol Division in 2001, and was assigned to the Wailuku Patrol Division in 2002 where he served as a field training officer and a member of the Special Response Team. In 2010, Kihata was transferred to the Vice Division, Gambling Morals Unit, as an investigator and was later assigned to the Criminal Intelligence Unit in 2012. He is also a recruit instructor for the Emergency Vehicle Operator Course and a member of the Clandestine Laboratory Response Team. 

Bryan Manlapao began his career with the Maui Police Department in January of 2002 as a police recruit. His first assignment was with the Wailuku Patrol Division.  In April of 2003, he was assigned to the Kīhei Patrol Division; and in 2004, he was a member of the Special Response Team. In 2009, Manlapao was certified as a firearms instructor for the Maui Police Department;and in August of 2010, he was assigned to the Vice Division as a narcotics investigator.