Whatever
Happened...
Question: What ever happened to George Iranon, former head of the Department of Public Safety? Ex-Public Safety
chief active in
volunteer workAnswer: Iranon, 66, retired in September 1996 after 39 years in government service, the last two as director of the Public Safety Department.
A native of the Big Island, Iranon moved to Honolulu when he was appointed to oversee the state's eight correctional facilities, succeeding the late George Sumner.
Iranon's tenure was marred by chronic prison overcrowding, allegations of inmate abuse and abuse of sick leave and overtime by corrections officers.
While he continued many of the initiatives begun by Sumner, Iranon's most notable accomplishments included cutting sick leave and overtime abuse, sending 300 inmates to Texas prisons to relieve prison overcrowding and imposing a zero-tolerance policy for criminal activity by staff.
Iranon planned to stay on Oahu for only three years, but 12 years later, "I'm still here," said Iranon.
These days, when he's not trying his hand at golf, he and his wife are devoting much of their time volunteering in the New Hope Christian Fellowship Oahu office. He does mostly administrative work and serves on the church council.
He's been busy lately because the church is moving its administrative offices in mid-September to a bigger and better location -- the old Consolidated Amusement offices on Sand Island Road, he said.
Doing God's work -- helping people and New Hope pastor Wayne Cordeiro -- is rewarding work and easier than he had thought, he said recently.
Contrary to reports of his passing, Iranon said "thanks to God" he's in good health and occasionally visits his 10 grandchildren on the Big Island.
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