Founder of N.O.V.A. Principles, Sgt. Charlie Wakamatsu started his law enforcement career in 1984, with the Honolulu Police Department in Hawaii. While in Hawaii, he was assigned as a patrol officer in the downtown Waikiki area, as well as to the Intelligence and Enforcement Unit investigating organized crime.
After four and a half years with the Honolulu Police Department, he moved to Orem, Utah, to work for the Orem Department of Public Safety where he has been ever since.
While working for the City of Orem, Sgt. Wakamatsu has been assigned to patrol, the gang task force, and has spent the past 16 years working in the Community Education Unit teaching citizens about safety, drugs, gangs, and media awareness issues. Sgt. Wakamatsu is crossed trained as a fire fighter, and is an Arrest Control Tactics Instructor as well.
In 2003, Sgt. Wakamatsu was given the assignment by the Director of Public Safety in Orem, to create a new drug awareness program. With the help of several officers and Dr. Paul Jenkins, a child and family Psychologist, the “N.O.V.A. Principles” program was created. This program became such a huge success in Orem City, that “N.O.V.A. Principles LC” was established to market this program to other Law Enforcement Agencies.
N.O.V.A. Principles invites your Agency to take a look at this powerful program and see what it has to offer your community. We know you will be impressed, it’s that good!
Sgt. Wakamatsu
Dr. Paul