Samoa's Deputy Commissioner of Police Papalii Monalisa Tiai Keti has called for more women to join the service in order to change perceptions about women in policing.

Papalii is a shining example not only for Samoan women, but also for women in the Pacific that policing is no longer a male-dominated field.

The Deputy Commissioner, who is also recognised on the international stage and is one of the commanding figures in the war against transnational crime, says she believes there is opportunity for women to join the police service to make a difference.

“Samoa Police Service is one of the leaders in the Pacific in its recruitment of women currently standing at women make up 31 per cent of the overall workforce,” said Papalii.

“There is still opportunity to increase this percentage to eliminate unconscious bias towards the role of women and change community perception on women in the police.”

There are currently 1,100 police officers of which 341 are women.

Papalii joined the Samoa Police Service as a university graduate in 2004 and after completing 16 weeks of the police recruit course, she was deployed into the general policing unit.

“I have worked in Policy and Planning, Human Resources, Criminal Investigation Division, Samoa Transnational Crime Unit and later as the Officer-In-Charge of the Samoa Police Training Unit. 

"I was appointed into the role of Acting Assistant Commissioner in 2017/2018 and appointed into the role of Deputy Commissioner in 2019.

“Throughout my career in the Samoa Police, I have been involved in a number of Operation planning for major events hosted in Samoa which requires Samoa Police to provide high level security. 

"These events include South Pacific Games 2007, weightlifting championship, Youth Commonwealth Games, general elections.

“I was also appointed as a Commander for the United National Small Islands Developing States meeting hosted by Samoa and I have oversight of the 50 Samoan New Zealand Police officers seconded to Samoa.”

During her tenure as the Deputy Commissioner, she has acted in the role of Police Commissioner and has managed to coordinate policing responses to some major events that occurred and included the outbreak of the measles operations, escape of prisoners Lauititi and Aneseko as well as the aftermath of the General Election 2021.

“Policing is a challenging but rewarding career. Not everyone can take up the calling of being a police officer serving the people of Samoa,” Papalii.

“It is a career that is most looked down on, but there are many rewarding opportunities for those who decide to take up the calling. 

"Helping those in need and getting a thank you compliment, or comment is worth all the hard effort of serving our people to the best of our abilities.”