Boisse Correa's decision on whether he wants to remain Honolulu's police chief will come after his annual evaluation, scheduled for the next Police Commission meeting on May 6.

“;I think it would be premature for me to talk about it (now),”; Correa said Thursday. “;After I see my next evaluation, then we'll make some comments.”;

Correa, who makes $136,236 a year, is in the last year of a five-year contract that expires in August.

In recent weeks the State of Hawaii Organization of Police Officers has campaigned against Correa and conducted a survey that it says shows that many of the rank and file oppose another term for him.

SHOPO officials were out of town and did not return phone calls by the Star- Bulletin.

Commission Chairwoman Christine Camp said the survey will not be a factor in his annual evaluation.

“;We have a duty to evaluate the chief based on our assessment of him, not SHOPO's assessment,”; Camp said this month.

Camp said the evaluation is a separate decision from whether Correa's term as chief will continue after August. She also said the chief has not informed the commission on whether he wants to continue or whether he will retire.

The evaluation will be based on the chief's relationship with the commission, how he presented his goals for the department and how he accomplished his goals, she said.

The commission conducts a yearly evaluation of Correa's performance. In his first two evaluations, the commission said the chief exceeded expectations or was exemplary in the 18 aspects of management, leadership and communication that the commission covered by the evaluation.

But last year Correa received a less-than-glowing review.

The evaluation, released under a public-records request by the Star-Bulletin, covered the 2007 calendar year when Correa took a four-month medical leave of absence for back surgery without informing the commission.

The commission praised Correa for his leadership and managerial skills but said the chief needs to improve his communication with the commission and the public.

“;The silence and uncertainty (over the chief's absence) created a lot of unnecessary and avoidable speculation on the part of the general public, the media and even within the department itself,”; the commission said.

The chief said he believed “;very strongly”; that because his absence involved personal health issues, he did not need to let the commission know about it.

“;We've since resolved all those issues,”; Correa said.

The chief said he has not seen his evaluation for the 2008 calendar year, but he believes it will be positive.

“;I stand on my record,”; he said. “;We did a great job.”;

Correa said crime is down, traffic enforcement has increased, pay for officers has increased and the department is now fully staffed, noting that officers are not leaving anymore for the mainland.

“;These are the golden years,”; Correa said.

The commission wrote, “;The chief's absence provided an opportunity for everyone to see that he has chosen his leadership team well. Deputies and the ARB (Administrative Review Board) proved they can run the day-to-day operations effectively in his absence.”;