Assistant Chief Stephen Watarai, the second-longest tenured officer in the Honolulu Police Department, will retire next month.

Watarai, 62, joined HPD on May 8, 1964, and heads the Special Field Operations Bureau. Only Maj. Henry "Butch" Robinson of the Legislative Liaison Office, who'll celebrate his 44th anniversary in October, has been with the department longer.

"I feel satisfied that everywhere I was assigned I did my best to make it better than what it was when I got there," said Watarai, who was honored as the city's manager of the year in 1999.

Criminal Investigation Division Maj. Thomas Nitta described Watarai as a "straight-forward, by-the-book commander" who made decisions that were well-planned.

"There were times he made mistakes and when he was wrong, he was always man enough to admit it," Nitta said. "I've always respected that about him. We're losing 42 years of experience and it creates a large void."

As a major, Watarai's commands included the Kalihi and Waikiki patrol districts. While at Kalihi, he implemented CAR (community area of responsibility) when it was a pilot program and O'ahu's first Weed & Seed program, which was cited with a national Housing and Urban Development best practices award in 1999.

"I've always believed the community needed to be involved in solving any problem," Watarai said. "To drive by Kalihi now and see the improvements is very rewarding because we made a difference."

Watarai, a graduate of Saint Louis School, was an inside linebackers coach on varsity football staffs at his alma mater and Kaiser High that won a total of six Prep Bowl championships.

"I don't think we could have ever accomplished as much as we did if it were not for all the people working as a team," Watarai said. "And I give thanks to my family who supported me throughout my career, which made it easier for me."

Reach Rod Ohira at rohira@honoluluadvertiser.com.