John San Diego Sr.

Retired Maui County Police Chief John Sweeney San Diego Sr., who was instrumental in implementing the 911 emergency system on Maui, has died at his home in Phoenix.

San Diego was Maui County police chief for five years, from 1976 to 1981. He was the fifth of 10 county police chiefs since 1939.

“Chief San Diego served the community with the same dedication and commitment as he did with the Maui Police Department,” said Police Chief Tivoli Faaumu. “Under his leadership, the Maui Police Department created innovative and essential programs and services which are still utilized today and are being replicated by other departments.

“It is an honor to follow in the footsteps of such great leaders as Chief San Diego. On behalf of the Maui Police Department, our deepest condolences go out to the San Diego family.”

San Diego was surrounded by family members when he died Oct. 6 at his home in Phoenix. He was 84.

He was born Nov. 24, 1932, in Honolulu. Starting in 1953, he served in the U.S. Army and was awarded a National Defense Service Medal. He continued serving as a reservist until 1961.

San Diego graduated from the University of Hawaii with a bachelor’s degree in business administration.

He began his 25-year career in law enforcement with the Honolulu Police Department in 1956 and rose through the ranks to become assistant chief. 

On May 1, 1976, he was appointed Maui County police chief. During his tenure as chief, San Diego’s accomplishments included implementing the 911 emergency telephone system for Maui residents, according to his family.

“He was there when we first started getting computers,” said retired MPD Capt. Charles Hirata, who joined the department in 1977 when San Diego was chief. At the time, a computer mainframe took up an entire room, Hirata recalled.

“He seemed to be interested in bringing the department along with technology,” Hirata said.

“He was always a fair guy,” Hirata said. “I don’t think I ever recall him in a uniform. He was the last of the chiefs that wore suits all the time.”

He remembered how San Diego stopped someone for a traffic violation, though another officer with a ticket book had to write the citation. Another time, San Diego arrested someone, Hirata said.

“He really wasn’t afraid to take action when needed,” Hirata said. “I always respected him in that aspect. He wasn’t afraid to do regular police work.

“I never saw him get really upset or anything,” Hirata said. “He always was very cool under pressure.”

After retiring from the Maui Police Department on May 31, 1981, San Diego returned to Oahu and was state director for Budget Rent A Car until his full retirement.

In 1992, San Diego and his wife, Leslie, moved to Arizona to be closer to their grandchildren. The couple, who were married for 60 years, were active members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

In addition to his wife, San Diego is survived by three sons, John Jr. (Cecilia), Derek and Scott (Holly); brother Koko Kanaloa; sisters Connie Furtado and Doreen San Diego; and eight grandchildren.

Services will begin at 9:30 a.m. Sunday at Hawaiian Memorial Park Mortuary in Kaneohe, Oahu. Burial will follow at Valley of the Temples Cemetery in Kaneohe.

A service will be held in Tempe on Nov. 11.

* Lila Fujimoto can be reached at .

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