Honolulu Emergency Services Department

John Titchen

Chief of Ocean Safety

Chief John Kamalei Titchen leads the 287-member Ocean Safety Division and manages a $19.8M 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 16 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.

Vacant

Assistant Chief for Operations

This position is currently vacant. The Assistant Chief for Operations has direct oversight of the five operational districts of the Ocean Safety and Lifeguard Services Division, and leads all response efforts for the division.

Jimmy Barros

District Captain

South Shore

Captain Jimmy Barros leads all South Shore operations, managing more than 60 personnel, two rescue teams, and an area of coastline that includes much of Māmala Bay (from Pearl Harbor to Diamond Head) and much of Maunalua Bay (from Diamond Head to halfway toward Koko Head).

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.

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.

Charlie Oliveri

District Captain

Hanauma Bay

Captain Charlie Oliveri leads the 22-member team dedicated to Ocean Safety at Hanauma Bay, one of the most beautiful, but busiest, places in the islands. This special district includes four towers with personnel who work exclusively in the Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve.

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.

Norm Skorge

Support Unit Captain

Communications Unit

Acting Captain Norm Skorge leads the division's 11-member Communications Unit at the Joint Traffic Management Center, the city's 911 center.