Correa back at job following surgery

Police Chief Boisse Correa is back on the job after a nearly four-month absence due to a back ailment and injury.

Correa returned to the office on Christmas Eve for work, said police spokesman Capt. Frank Fujii. He has been on injured leave since Aug. 31 because of an unspecified back injury incurred during work.

Fujii said the chief is still undergoing rehabilitation from his third back surgery on Oct. 19 at the Queen's Medical Center. Correa is transitioning back into a full-time schedule as he continues rehabilitation, but Fujii said the chief has full reins of the department again.

Correa has declined to comment on the specific nature of his injury and back ailment. His also had back surgery in April and August last year.

"He looks great," said Deputy Chief Michael Tucker, who oversees operations. "It looks like he lost some weight because of his rehab, and he's itching to get back."

Deputy Chief Paul Putzulu was acting chief while Correa was away from the office. Police officials have said Correa's absence did not hurt day-to-day operations, a sentiment Tucker echoed yesterday.

"Chief Correa provides that long-term vision," Tucker said. "So we didn't have too much of a transition. ... Because it's Chief Correa's team, we're all of the same perspective anyway."