Honolulu Emergency Services Department

John Titchen

Chief of Ocean Safety

Chief John Kamalei Titchen leads the 287-member Ocean Safety Division and manages a $23M operating budget. A former contract lifeguard with the city (2004-2008), he works closely with the City & County of Honolulu Administration, the City Council, the Hawaiʻi State Legislature, the Hawaiʻi Government Employees Association, and his counterparts in the state's other three counties to ensure Oʻahu's Ocean Safety Officers have the latest in equipment, training, and procedures. An Oʻahu native, he has an undergraduate degree from the University of California, and a law degree from the University of Hawaiʻi. He is a retired U.S. Coast Guard commander.

Kurt Lager

Assistant Chief for Support Services

Chief Kurt Lager leads the Support Services functions of the Ocean Safety Division, with oversight of the Training Unit and Communications Unit. A San Diego native, he is an EMT and a qualified emergency response dispatcher with more than 17 years experience as an O`ahu lifeguard. He is also qualified to drive Ocean Safety's 21' Whaler, and has served in numerous Incident Command situations as Ocean Safety's representative on city-wide disaster response efforts.

Charlie Oliveri

Assistant Chief for Operations

Chief Charlie Oliveri manages the Operations functions of the Ocean Safety Division, with oversight of five operational districts, 42 towers, and 16 mobile units. A Florida native, he has more than 23 years' experience with Honolulu Ocean Safety, has worked towers on all sides of the island, and is qualified to drive Ocean Safety's 21' Whaler. Chief Oliveri manages the division's response to hurricanes, tsunami, and high surf events.

Vitor Marcal

District Captain

North Shore

Captain Vitor Marcal leads all Ocean Safety operations in "country," or on the North Shore of Oʻahu. He manages more than 40 personnel, two jet ski teams, and all operations in some of the largest waves on the planet from Kaʻena Point around Kahuku Point to Kāneʻohe Bay.

Kelly Krohne

District Captain

Leeward Coast

Captain Kelly Krohne leads all operations on the Leeward coast with direct supervision of more than 40 personnel and two rescue jet ski teams from Kaʻena Point around Barbers Point to the ʻEwa side of the Pearl Harbor entrance channel.

Jimmy Barros

District Captain

Hanauma Bay

Captain Jimmy Barros leads a 21-member team assigned exclusively to the city's Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve, which features four towers and is the first place in the county where Honolulu Ocean Safety is piloting electronic log sheets to capture accurate beach safety information. An O`ahu native, Capt. Barros has nearly 30 years' experience, and is an EMT instructor.

J.R. Sloane

District Captain

Windward Oʻahu

Captain J.R. Sloane leads all East side, or Windward coast operations, managing more than 40 personnel, two rescue teams, and the Oʻahu coastline from halfway between Koko Head and Diamond Head (much of Maunalua Bay) to the Mōkapu peninsula in Kāneʻohe.

Blake Caporoz

District Captain

South Shore

Lt. Blake Caporoz is the Acting Captain for District 1, which covers the South Shore of O`ahu and 13 towers in Waikīkī and Ala Moana. An O`ahu native, Lt. Caporoz has 19 years' experience with Honolulu Ocean Safety and supervises almost 90 Lifeguards who patrol and staff towers from Maunalua Bay to the entrance channel of Pearl Harbor.

Kengy Gramberg

Support Unit Captain

Training Unit

Captain Kengy Gramberg leads the division's seven-member Training Unit that keeps the entire workforce of 287 Ocean Safety Officers current in the latest tactics, techniques, and procedures. He is an Oʻahu native and a qualified Rescue Operator.

Buck Giles

Support Unit Captain

Communications Unit

Lt. Buck Giles leads the division's 11-member Communications Unit at the Joint Traffic Management Center, the city's 911 center. An O`ahu native, he has more than 15 years' experience as a Lifeguard with the City & County of Honolulu.