[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 18 (Friday, January 28, 2022)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E77]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  HONORING THE LIFE OF MICHAEL R. SALA

                                 ______
                                 

                   HON. AUMUA AMATA COLEMAN RADEWAGEN

                           of american samoa

                    in the house of representatives

                        Friday, January 28, 2022

  Mrs. RADEWAGEN. Madam Speaker, I rise today in remembrance of the 
late Michael Ryner Sala. Michael was a native son of the Territory of 
American Samoa, born on September 29, 1944, in the small village of 
Avaio in the far eastern district of the main island of Tutuila, 
American Samoa. His mother, Malia Elisapeta Silivelio Pa`utalo Sala 
Fata Eneliko Siligawas a woman of proud Samoan heritage, and his 
father, Raymond Ryner Howard, a Marine Platoon Sergeant in the United 
States Marine Corps, whose barracks were situated in the next village 
during WW2.
  He attended Faga`itua Elementary School and then Poyer High School, 
now known as Samoana High School. He graduated in June 1964 and 
received a scholarship to pursue medical training in Fiji. His life 
took a turn when, during the process of preparing to leave the island, 
he visited the police department in Fagatogo. He ran into a family 
member, Lt. Vilima`a Leiato, who offered him a position as a police 
officer--right there on the spot.
  After consulting with his mother, he decided to accept the position 
and thus began his long and distinguished career in law enforcement. He 
went on to attend the Honolulu Police Academy and later the California 
Highway Patrol Academy. At 22, he was the youngest officer ever 
promoted to Sergeant; at 24 the youngest ever promoted to Lieutenant.
  At the age of 28, the High Chief Title ``Tualamasala'' was bestowed 
upon Mike. Matai titles are only given to select family members with 
the approval of the senior matai or high chief and members of the 
extended family.
  In 1973, at the age of 29, he began working as a Special Investigator 
for the Multnomah County District Attorney's Office in Portland, 
Oregon, and in 1975 became a Multnomah County Sheriff. He graduated 
from Portland State University in March 1977 with a bachelor's degree 
in Administration of Justice. In 1978, he graduated from the University 
of Portland with a master's degree in Criminal Justice Administration. 
He was a candidate for a second master's degree in Public 
Administration and a candidate for a doctoral degree in Criminology.
  He returned home to American Samoa in 1978 where he served as Deputy 
Commissioner of Public Safety for 20 years. He served for 15 years as 
the Director of Intelligence for the South Pacific Islands Criminal 
Intelligence Network (SPICIN), the intelligence arm of the South 
Pacific Chiefs of Police Conference (SPCPC) organization which is 
comprised of 21 countries in the Pacific, including Australia and New 
Zealand, until 2003 when SPICIN was reorganized as part of the regions' 
information sharing and intelligence infrastructure solely administered 
by the American Samoa Government.
  In September 1996, the Office of Territorial and International and 
Criminal Intelligence and Drug Enforcement (OTICIDE) separated from the 
Department of Public Safety and created as an independent law 
enforcement agency (Task Force). As director of OTICIDE, Mike was also 
a director of the INTERPOL Pacific Sub-Bureau comprised of Guam, 
Saipan, and American Samoa as Communications Control Center (CCC), 
under the United States Department of Justice, National Central Bureau 
in Washington, D.C.
  In February 2007, he was appointed the first Director of the American 
Samoa Department of Homeland Security, ASDHS. He retired on January 3, 
2013, after 50 years of law enforcement and public safety experience in 
American Samoa and the US mainland.
  He was a lifetime member of the International Association of Chiefs 
of Police (IACP) and served as Chairman of the SPCPC from 1994-1995. He 
was Chairman of the American Samoa Government (ASG) Interagency Special 
Task Force on Narcotics and White-Collar Crime Enforcement for nine 
years. He directed a Bureau of Special Investigations within the 
Department of Public Safety. He was Chairman of the Preparedness Task 
Force on Terrorism in American Samoa, later renamed the Homeland 
Security Advisory Council (HSAC). He served as Vice Chairman of the 
eleven-member Governor's Council on Alcohol and Drug Abuse, as well as 
Chairman of the ASG Personnel Advisory Board. He presented at numerous 
law enforcement conferences regionally and internationally, including 
the IACP, Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies (APCSS), South 
Pacific Chiefs of Police, SPICIN and INTERPOL.
  In addition to his long record of government service, Mike served his 
community. He was an active lifetime member and Charter President of 
the Lions Club in American Samoa. He joined the Boy Scouts of American 
Samoa in 1964 and was an active member of the Boy Scouts of America, 
American Samoa District Committee under the Aloha Counsel of Honolulu 
where he served as chairman for 17 years.
  Mike was a tireless promoter of the highest ideals; he believed in 
friendship above all and was a true friend to countless people. His 
generosity of spirit and heart was legendary; he often helped people 
quietly when they needed it most and did not count the cost or want 
recognition for his many good deeds. He was fiercely loyal to his Lions 
Club brothers and sisters, where he encouraged and promoted many of 
them, especially his Lion sisters, to lead the organization after him. 
He was also tireless in promoting women in the workplace and mentored 
many worthy candidates in his years at Public Safety and Homeland 
Security.
  Although he was extremely proud of his government service and 
accomplishments, he was most proud of his work with the Lions Club. 
Mike led the club as Charter President and then as club president four 
more times. He guided them in numerous community projects, including 
collaboration with the LBJ Medical Center, Department of Health, Feleti 
Barstow Library, and other government agencies to conduct vision 
screening clinics for residents, including outreach visits to the 
islands of Manu`a. Teams of doctors, nurses and technicians have been 
hosted by the Lions to work with the local club, where they offered 
vision screening, eye surgery and medicine to the Samoan community, 
free of charge.
  Mike truly believed that in order to be a good citizen, one must give 
to their community.
  He lived his life serving his island community, his village, and his 
people.
  He took his final breath on the morning of January 17, 2022. He is 
survived by his children, Jennifer Rebecca Sala Jones and Matthew 
Michael Sala, and his grandchildren: Olivia, Malia, and Betty Merlea.

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