The Cook Islands Police Service has paid tribute to one of Samoa’s long-serving police officers, Detective Sergeant Peniamina Perite who died in the line of duty earlier this week.

Samoa Police, Prison and Corrections Services (SPPCS) announced the sudden passing of Detective Sergeant Perite on Monday. His unexpected death from a gunshot wound sustained while executing an arrest of a suspect in a murder case, left the entire organisation in profound grief.

Cook Islands’ acting Commissioner of Police Akatauira Matapo extended his heartfelt condolences to the family of Detective Sergeant Perite as well as to the Samoan police.

Cook Islands’ acting Commissioner of Police Akatauira Matapo.

“Our deepest sympathies and prayers go out to Detective Sergeant Perite’s family and friends, at this time of great sorrow. We also stand by our Police colleagues in Samoa in expressing our condolences, as they too endure the pain of this tragic loss,” Matapo stated.

“We value these ties and uphold the spirit of friendship in policing throughout the region. In the execution of police duties, officers take on the burden of risks and threats to life in a variety of situations that can be volatile and unpredictable.

“A fallen officer is the most tragic of consequences in delivering on the safety of our communities, and we pay tribute to D/S Perite for his courage and dedication to policing.

“He was a man of integrity, highly-regarded for his professionalism as well as his open, friendly nature.”
Acting Police Commissioner Matapo also highlighted the strong family ties between Cook Islands and Samoa as they also share a Polynesian kinship of togetherness, cooperation, and respect.

“The Cook Islands Police Service currently has one staff member on attachment in Samoa. Constable Peggy Matapo also joins the tributes to D/S Perite, in the conveying of our well-wishes to all those affected by this tragedy.”

The 58-year-old farmer who is accused of shooting and killing of two men, including Detective Sergeant Perite was captured in Fasito'o, on the northwest coast of Upolu, on Tuesday (local time).

A 20-strong team of detectives and tactical unit police carried out the search for the accused gunman.

Detective Sergeant Perite was investigating an horrific family dispute and was trying to arrest the suspect when he was shot with a .22 rifle, police said.

• Talaia Mika/RNZ