Tenari Ma’afala is a big man, both in physical stature and in importance as the head of the Hawaii police union, State of Hawaii Organization of Police Officers.

When he testified before the Legislature that “you would have to kill me” to enforce a gay-marriage law, clearly he expected his words to carry big weight with lawmakers and the public.

Now it’s time for Ma’afala to man up and correct the damage to police credibility he’s caused by insinuating that officers can selectively enforce the law according to their personal prejudices.

The 24-year police veteran and New Hope O‘ahu church member told a House hearing that gay marriage would turn him from a law enforcer to a lawbreaker.

“You would have to kill me to disrespect and dishonor my Father in Heaven,” he said. “You would have to kill me to impose these types of laws on my children."

Police Chief Louis Kealoha issued a vague statement that the Police Department doesn’t have a position on same-sex marriage and doesn’t consider it a law enforcement issue, leaving employees free to express their personal opinions.

Kealoha added, “When it comes to serving the public, officers are sworn to protect and serve every member of the public and to treat everyone with respect and fairness. Officers who do not adhere to this standard are subject to investigation.”

He’s right that police aren’t responsible for enforcing state marriage laws, but officers deal with any number of crimes that could affect gay couples, from domestic disturbances to burglaries to hate-based violence.

If there’s any hint that Ma’afala or other officers are enforcing these laws with any less diligence for gays, the chief will be held to his promise to come down hard.

Ma’afala is well-respected for his work both as a police officer and a union leader.

Under his guidance, police officers have become some of the highest paid unionized public workers in Hawaii. The flip side of that is they have to act like it in terms of professionalism.

For the most part they do; the Honolulu police force is recognized as one of the most professional in the country.

But it’s undermined by such an ill-considered statement by a leader of Ma’afala’s stature, which received broad local and national news coverage.

Gay police Cpl. John Zeuzheim, a SHOPO member, accused Ma’afala of singlehandedly destroying any trust between police and the gay community.

Ma’afala hinted that passage of the marriage equality law may well hasten his retirement, which might not be a bad idea. 

Police enforce the civil laws of the state of Hawaii and its counties. If Ma’afala wants to enforce the law of God as he interprets it, perhaps a career change to the ministry is in order.