Police Chief Boisse Correa will miss at least two more weeks of work as doctors have been unable to determine what is wrong with his back, acting chief Paul Putzulu told the Honolulu Police Commission yesterday.

Correa, 61, is on paid injured leave and has missed 117 days of work in the past 18 months as he battles a back injury that required two surgeries last year.

Correa met with his doctor last week but tests attempting to pinpoint the problem have been inconclusive, Putzulu said.

"Chief is still out on injured leave and he'll (Putzulu) keep us informed about when he's coming back to work," commission chairman Boyd Andrade said. "He mentioned he might be out longer than expected because of his back. He'll definitely let us know when he'll be back."

Correa re-injured his back in early 2006 during a training exercise at the department's recruit academy in Waipahu. He underwent back surgery in April 2006 and again in August 2006. He has told commission members he has battled back problems since 2002 when he was an assistant police chief.

Correa has said he is on injured leave due to his health but has declined to discuss it further. He has not responded to requests from The Advertiser seeking comment.

Since taking the $110,000-a-year job in August 2004, Correa has taken 117 days of industrial leave, 56 vacation days, and has been out of the office on 15 city-sponsored trips, according to Police Department records. Industrial leave is the city's classification for a workers' compensation claim.

Correa is running the department from his home via video teleconferencing, phone calls and meetings with commanders. The video link allows Correa to interview officers for promotion and conduct meetings.

Putzulu last week said Correa is on leave but is being briefed and kept apprised of the department's daily operations.

Reach Peter Boylan at pboylan@honoluluadvertiser.com.