‘Co-chief’ job isn’t practical

Those who have served or serve in the military or asmembers of the law enforcement community understand the responsibilities of command and leadership ("Senators suggest Kealoha be assisted by co-chiefs," Star-Advertiser, Jan. 8).

Command is lonely. Command requires you to set the tone, lead your people, serve the command authority and make the difficult decisions.

To assist the chief inthat capacity is a command staff, a capable group of senior officers who provide support and advice.

Based on their remarks, the four members of the state Senatewho suggested the "co-chief" position do not understand these concepts.

Furthermore, why doour state representativescontinue to interferewith the responsibilities and duties of the City And County of Honolulu? The City Council and the mayor are extremely capable and can addressissues that are their responsibility.

If our staterepresentatives do not have enough to do, maybe they can give the taxpayers a break and convene every other year.

William S. Hartford
Aiea

Kealoha has proven himself

So four senators in their infinite wisdom decided that the police department needs co-leaders because to their perception of Chief Louis Kealoha’s job performance.

Just what are they basing this decision on?

Media accounts of the Cachola incident, in which Kealoha came out correct in all the decisions he made?

Or based on media accounts of what’s happening with Kealoha’s personal family issues?

C’mon. They need to stick to doing their own jobs more efficiently.

I have total faith in our chief, and that faith is based on his performance over the past years.

The senators should be more concerned about their own performance and stay out of police business.

Mike Young
St. Louis Heights

Size limit for ahi still too small

The article about increasing the minimum size ofahi that can be sold from 16 inches, 3 pounds to 28 inches, 15 pounds is a no brainer. Do it!

Tuna can growto more than 1,000 pounds, so keeping a 3-pound, 16-inch baby tuna should not be allowed.

Perhaps the minimum size of ahishould be 35 inches and 30 pounds, the size at which tuna reach sexual maturity and can start to reproduce.

I recently watched a local cable TV fishing show, in which a man caught and kept a baby tuna around 16 inches. That disgusted me. Has anyone ever heard of catch-and-release? I assume the tourist fishing boats catch many baby tuna even smaller than 16 inches. Who checks the boats when they come in?

The Western Pacific Fishery Management Council should increase theminimum size of ahi as soon as possible.

Tom Sebas
Waikiki

Bulky items not being picked up

On the street where I live, there was no bulky items pickup last month, and nearby residents see no reason to wait for the bulky items pickup date at the end of this month to dump their unwanted property.

City officials say residents are subject to a $250 fine if they leave their bulky items for pickup too early. Yet they almost never pick up these bulky items on their scheduled day, as the piles of junk become larger and larger.

If officials could be fined for creating these eyesores all around town, perhaps then the bulky items pickups would be more timely.

Robert Griffon
Moiliili

Stand united for free speech

Unbelievable! We must stand up to murderous terrorist thugs and those supporting them ("Paris bloodied by terror," Star-Advertiser, Jan. 8).

The murders of 12 innocents in Paris by terrorists is devastating to the free world. It must stop.

We must take a stand against those who violently oppose free speech, who fanatically oppose free thought, who are threatened by freedom of expression, and who would quiet with brutality a free press.

I challenge the Star-Advertiser, every major paper in America and every major publication in the free world to print their respectful depiction of Mohammed as a show of solidarity with the French, with free thinkers everywhere, and for basic democratic ideals.

Unless we stand united, we will be defeated.

Michael Graham
Kailua