The island of Kauai, known as the Garden Isle, is a jewel of the Hawaiian archipelago. With breathtaking mountainous landscapes and secluded beaches, it attracts visitors from across the globe. But for the men and women of the Kauai Police Department (Kauai PD), this paradise presents a unique and demanding set of challenges. Patrolling a diverse and often rugged terrain, serving a close-knit community and ensuring the safety of both residents and millions of annual visitors requires a forward-thinking approach to law enforcement.
The Kauai PD serves as the island’s sole law enforcement agency. This responsibility spans not only crime prevention and response but also community-focused initiatives designed to uphold the safety and resilience of Kauai’s 73,000 residents. Despite being relatively small, with 167 sworn officers and approximately 230 staff members, Kauai PD faces substantial challenges related to its geography.
Reliable communications for remote operations
Kauai is the farthest of the Hawaiian Islands from the continental U.S. and other Polynesian islands. Dead zones in remote areas could leave officers isolated and without a lifeline to dispatch or backup, so a reliable and interoperable communications network has been a long-standing priority for the department.
Similar to Otero County in New Mexico, Kauai PD relies on dependable technology solutions to help bridge geographical distances and ensure seamless public safety operations. For these agencies and many others, Managed and Support services don’t just solve operational break-fix issues — they also allow them to deliver big, game-changing results.
At Summit 2025, we sat down with Lieutenant Stacy Perreira, a system administrator for Kauai PD’s public safety software suite, to get her insights. Our conversation revealed that for an isolated agency located in a time zone that’s five hours behind the U.S. mainland, the most critical thing they count on isn’t just the hardware or software itself, but the human connection and unwavering support that stands behind it.
Integrated systems require expert assistance
“Our department is very supportive of technology and integrating technology into our day-to-day police operations,” Lt. Perreira noted early in our discussion. Central to Kauai PD’s success is its use of Motorola Solutions technologies, most prominently Flex, a fully-integrated public safety software suite.
This crucial tool streamlines administrative processes, ensuring operational efficiency across the department. The integration of products like Callyo and CommandCentral Aware to their main Flex system reinforces Kauai PD’s capability to handle diverse responsibilities, from school safety mapping to real-time situational awareness during natural disasters. Kauai PD also relies on their ASTRO land mobile radio (LMR) system and two-way radios for reliable and secure real-time communications that can stand up to the demands of the island’s environment.
With such a deeply integrated system, the potential for complex technical issues is real. Operating out of an isolated area like Hawaii, where agencies can often feel disconnected from crucial tech support, having access to a dedicated expert provides an unparalleled level of peace of mind. The ability to access immediate help when needed keeps operations seamless, even across time zone differences.
The challenge: bridging the distance
The agency began working with Motorola Solutions in 2016, when they adopted the Flex platform as the backbone for dispatch, patrol, records and operations management. They quickly discovered that their relationship with Motorola Solutions was more than just about the technology – it was also about the people.
Lt. Perreira emphasized the importance of having the agency’s Customer Support Manager, Doug, stationed close by on the island of Hawaii, also known as the Big Island. “Doug is always there for us, even for the smallest things,” she shared.
Policing an island community presents inherent logistical hurdles. With a small IT team — just one dedicated person — and the vast Pacific Ocean separating them from mainland resources, getting timely and effective support can be a daunting task. As Lt. Perreira explained, Kauai’s isolation was a primary concern when they were seeking a new records management system (RMS).
“Problems have to occur before noon, and that just doesn’t work,” Perreira stated, highlighting the frustrations of dealing with vendors in distant time zones. The fear of a system issue arising in the afternoon on Kauai, when mainland offices are closing, was a significant operational risk. The department needed more than just a vendor; they needed a true partner who could be there when it mattered most.
“Having Doug’s presence in the state has been a real game changer for us,” Lt. Perreira observed. This priority has shaped their entire approach to technology adoption. “I think the biggest thing is having a great relationship with Motorola Solutions,” Perreira said. “And we’ve happened to achieve that.”
Transforming operations
The day-to-day realities of Lt. Perreira’s role reflect the complexities faced by many smaller agencies. With limited IT resources and high stakes for operational continuity, her team relies on Motorola Solutions’ managed services during critical updates, complex integrations and system upgrades. Their dedicated support manager, Doug, is “front and center” during 4 a.m. update schedules, ensuring that every step of the process goes smoothly.
Managed and Support Services have proven to be valuable in disaster scenarios as well. During recent wildfires in Hawaii, the ability to visualize evacuation points and fire perimeters on the CommandCentral Aware platform streamlined emergency response and improved communication across the agency.
“Doug helping us walk through building those things out and monitoring it with us was really important,” explained Lt. Perreira. “We were able to put up our map and build it right on CommandCentral Aware and post it up in our Emergency Operations Center, for all of the command staff to see without bugging the guys on the ground.”
Beyond upgrades and disaster support, the managed services team even lends expertise in crafting custom solutions, like school maps. With tailored technological integrations, Lt. Perreira’s team can perform more effectively.
By customizing CommandCentral Aware maps with high school layouts, the department is better equipped for potential emergencies. Lt. Perreira credited Motorola Solutions and Doug for collaborating on this initiative., “For example, I recently did [a map] for one of the high schools in terms of potentially an active shooter and identification for where all the buildings are, because not all of our maps will tell us which building is which,” she said.
Managed services: a competitive advantage
Technological innovation isn’t just a nice-to-have for public safety agencies like Lt. Perreira’s – it’s essential. Advances in AI, integrated networks and predictive analytics are all positioning agencies to operate more effectively than ever. However, the tools are only as good as the support behind them.
Kauai PD’s openness to adopting the latest innovations has positioned it as a leader in tech-forward policing. Lt. Perreira actively participates in beta testing and product development, offering ideas and feedback that cater to the needs of smaller and remote policing agencies. Whether testing new updates or piloting advanced mapping tools, Kauai PD ensures their voice helps shape user-friendly solutions. Lt. Perreira proudly admits, “I’m all for [product development input], because it helps us be able to be part of the development of new products and how it’ll work for our agency.”
Commitment that matters
For the Kauai PD, their relationship with Motorola Solutions is a model of successful partnership. It’s a collaboration built on a shared understanding of the mission and a commitment that transcends contracts and time zones. Local support has been so efficient and reliable that Lt. Perreira estimates she’s only had to call the main support line “two or three times at most” since 2016.
From ensuring an efficient records management backbone with Flex to piloting innovative uses of emergency mapping, the expert support they enjoy from the Motorola Solutions team has amplified the agency’s ability to fulfill its mission, even amidst geographical and environmental challenges.
‘I’d like to thank Motorola Solutions for their commitment to keeping somebody in the islands,” Lt. Perreira concluded. “There are three of us who use Motorola Solutions services, with our RMS and CAD, and I’m sure they appreciate it just as much as I do, knowing that there’s somebody there always to assist.”
