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Tudela retires after 31 years in govt service
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Posted on Jan 01 2006
Department of Public Safety Commissioner Santiago F. Tudela announced on Friday his retirement after 31 years of service in the government.
Tudela said after serving more than three decades in the department he would surely miss the personnel whom he considers his second family.
He is glad and thankful that in his long years of service, he never had to “use” his service firearm, said Tudela during a simple ceremony at the DPS police academy attended by Gov. Juan Babauta, key officials in the department and personnel.
The commissioner also thanked the department heads and other government agencies for supporting him during his term at DPS.
Tudela started serving as acting commissioner beginning Friday until Jan. 9 when the new administration will be sworn in.
In Nov. 2005, Tudela promoted 51 police officers and firefighters who have already been in service for more than five years.
It was the first time in many years that DPS initiated such a massive promotion with accompanying salary increases for the change in ranks.
In Oct. 2004, Babauta nominated Tudela as DPS commissioner.
Tudela started as a patrolman in 1982 and rose from the ranks until he became a colonel. He was the deputy commissioner for operations when Edward Camacho resigned as DPS commissioner in Oct. 2004.
Early in 2004, the Hawaii-based Asia Pacific Center for Security Studies commended Tudela for displaying “outstanding leadership” during the regional security course conducted in Honolulu.
