Honolulu Police Chief David Lazar today announced the selection of Interim Deputy Chief Brandon Nakasato and Maj. Parker Bode to serve as the Honolulu Police Department’s permanent deputy chiefs.
Nakasato has nearly 27 years of service with HPD and has held a broad range of patrol, investigative and administrative assignments. His experience spans field operations, criminal investigations and department administration. He also championed HPD’s Safer Roads, Together traffic safety campaign, a departmentwide effort focused on reducing dangerous driving behaviors and preventing serious and fatal crashes.
Bode joined HPD in 2010 and has 16 years of service with the department. At 39, he is one of the youngest deputy chiefs in HPD history. He has extensive administrative and leadership experience, including significant service in the Human Resources Division, where he brought an innovative approach to personnel and workforce issues.
“I wanted to be thoughtful and deliberate about these selections, so I took the time to meet with several people and carefully consider what HPD needs from its leadership team moving forward,” Lazar said. “Brandon and Parker have consistently demonstrated integrity, a strong work ethic and steady leadership. They are forward thinkers who deeply care about this department, our people and the community we serve. I’ve seen how hard they work, how they treat people and how seriously they take the responsibility of serving this department and our community. They have earned my trust, and I’m confident they are the right leaders to help move HPD forward.”
A UH Laboratory School graduate, Nakasato’s career has included service in Central Receiving and patrol assignments in Districts 6 and 8. His investigative experience is extensive, including administrative and criminal investigations in the Professional Standards Office and Criminal Investigation Division assignments involving major crimes, domestic violence, sex crimes and homicide.
His leadership experience has also included the Criminal Intelligence Unit, Human Resources Division, CID and PSO, culminating in his service overseeing the Investigative Bureau. Most recently, Nakasato has served as interim deputy chief overseeing all Field Operations during HPD’s leadership transition.
A Kamehameha Schools graduate, Bode is a second-generation HPD officer. His father retired as an HPD major assigned to District 6 after 33 years of service.
Bode’s career has included assignments in Districts 5, 7 and 4, the Human Resources and Training divisions, administrative support for the Criminal Investigation Division and the Office of the Chief. He has spent a significant portion of his career in Human Resources, where his work has focused on personnel, workforce and organizational issues.
Bode has served as Lazar’s chief of staff since the chief was sworn in, working closely with him on department priorities and executive leadership matters. He is also leading a departmentwide effort to gather input from sworn and professional staff to help shape HPD’s new strategic plan.
In addition to his HPD career, Bode has been involved in football as a coach and mentor. A former Kamehameha Schools quarterback, he draws on lessons of discipline, consistency and developing others in both his coaching and leadership.
As deputy chiefs, Nakasato will lead HPD’s Field Operations, while Bode will lead Administrative Operations.