As thousands of people on Oʻahu navigated traffic-clogged streets to get home or evacuate to higher ground during last week’s tsunami warning, patrol Sgt. Jonathan Frye was summoned to work.
But first, Frye, one of many police officers called in to respond to the emergency, had to find someone to watch his three children, ages 2, 6 and 9.
The tsunami passed without major incident, but the threat highlighted a problem facing parents everywhere, especially in Hawaiʻi, one of the most expensive states for child care in the nation. The challenge is particularly acute for first responders, who work around the clock and are often asked to stay overtime or, like Frye, come in on their days off.
The Honolulu Police Department announced last month that it plans to create a child care program for its personnel to boost recruitment and retention. Vacancies have continued to rise, reaching 465 sworn officers and 189 civilian employees in July, up from 434 officers and 187 civilians a year ago…