It‘s official. 

As the country gears up to celebrate Mother’s Day this week, Samoa is welcoming her first female Deputy Police Commissioner. 

She is Papali’i Monalisa Tiai-Keti, who had previously held the Acting Police Commissioner role. 

The appointment was confirmed by the Police Commissioner, Fuiava Egon Keil, in a media statement last night.

“The Commissioner of Police and the Samoa Police Service (S.P.S.) warmly congratulate Acting Assistant Commissioner Papalii MonalisaTiai-Keti on her new appointment as Deputy Commissioner of Police,” the statement reads.

Deputy Commissioner Papali’i joined the Police Service in 2004 as a Constable.

She is a former Samoa College student, and holds a Bachelor of Social Science from Waikato University.

She also holds a Masters in Transnational Crime from the University of Wollongong. 

Papali’i progressed through the ranks during her 14-year career within the S.P.S. She had worked in various sections of the Police including the Criminal Investigations Division, Human Resource, Policy and Planning and the Transnational Crimes Unit. 

Her most recent role was Officer In Charge of the Police Training Section and she introduced changes to the training curriculum of the S.P.S.

Papali’i is the first female officer appointed to the role of Deputy Commissioner of Police in Samoa. 

With the exception of Australia and New Zealand, she joins two other female colleagues appointed to Deputy Police Commissioner level in the Pacific Island countries, namely Tonga and the Solomon Islands. 

“This milestone is in line with the Samoa Police Service’s goal of promoting gender equality and gender balance in the Police working environment, particularly in executive or senior leadership roles.”

Deputy Commissioner Papali’i is married to Anae Ronnie Keti with three children. She hails from the villages of Sapapalii, Vailuutai and Magiagi.

“The Commissioner and Samoa Police Service wishes Deputy Commissioner Tiai-Keti all the best in her new post. 

“She brings a new perspective to fighting crime and her appointment encourages other women in the Samoa Police Service to reach beyond what was thought impossible.”