2 weeks ago
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Rudy Tai may have spent the past 35 years at the San Diego Police Department, but one look around his seventh-floor office at police headquarters shows he never left Hawaii behind.
Tai’s office on Broadway, with its bird’s-eye view of the east side of downtown, is ringed with artwork, awards and memorabilia reflecting his deep ties to his home state — including wooden letters that spell out ALOHA, a miniature surfboard, leis and a picture depicting a double-hulled boa known as a Hōkūle’a.
Tai, 60, will do a ceremonial “walkout” of headquarters on Tuesday, and his last day is Thursday. In March, he’s slated to begin a new job as police chief on the island of Kauai.
Returning to Hawaii after retiring was always in the back of his mind — and the chief’s job opening was perfect timing.
He said he looks forward to bringing his experience, knowledge, contacts and ideas to work with police employees to make the Kauai department better. “That’ll be a dream job for me,” he said.
Tai was born on Oahu and came to San Diego to attend San Diego State University. He has relatives in Oceanside and got to know San Diego on family vacations growing up.
Tai thought he might go on to law school after college, but when he interned with the county Public Defender’s Office, some colleagues suggested police work might be a better fit. After graduating in 1989, he joined the police department in 1990.
Tai began as a patrol officer in the Northern ...
English (US) ·