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Associated Press
7 hours ago
- General
- Associated Press
Honolulu Police Chief Joe Logan to step down under pressure
Honolulu Police Chief Joe Logan, who has led the department since 2022, is retiring at the end of the month, Mayor Rick Blangiardi announced on Monday. Blangiardi said the retirement was a mutual agreement between Logan and the mayor for the good of the department. The mayor recommended Big Island Chief Ben Moszkowicz to serve as interim chief in Honolulu effective July 16, though the decision will need to be made by the Honolulu Police Commission. Moszkowicz is a former Honolulu Police Department major. Blangiardi said he has been having conversations with Logan about retirement for 'quite a while,' though he would not say exactly when they started discussing the topic. He said their conversations became 'very focused and pointed' last week. He called their last meeting Monday 'amicable.' 'Joe served us well for three years to the best of his ability,' Blangiardi said Monday during a press conference in his office. 'We had a lot of discussions. There were a lot of issues.' Blangiardi refused to elaborate on those issues, though he cited ongoing high vacancies in the department and difficulty retaining experienced officers as some of his concerns. The department had 457 officer vacancies of April 30. That's up from 324 sworn vacancies in 2021. In the last year or so, the mayor has been openly critical of the chief as public safety concerns have increased, particularly violence on the Westside. He has also criticized Logan for his department's lack of communication with the public and with his office. The mayor was outspoken about his concerns after an island-wide manhunt ended in an officer-involved shooting on Jan. 1, 2024. A bystander who said he was beaten by officers later filed a lawsuit against the department. Blangiardi said he didn't learn about the beating until he read about it in the press. 'It's unacceptable to me in a very big way because it negates a lot of the effort we're making and what we're trying to do to build trust and confidence in our team,' he said during an episode of his podcast, One Oʻahu, in January 2024. 'They don't get to be a separate country. They don't get to make up their own rules.' More recently, Blangiardi's staff has been drafting a proposal for the charter commission to put before voters in November 2026 that would switch the power to hire the chief to the mayor and away from the police commission. Robert Cavaco, president of Hawaiʻi's police union, said in a statement that officer vacancies have grown by 42% over the last three years and the department has struggled with retention. There are currently 228 officers eligible for retirement. 'HPD has faced these challenges without a plan and without urgency for three years,' the statement said. 'We need bold and immediate action to turn the tide and the change in leadership provides us that opportunity.' Big Island Mayor Kimo Alameda said Moszkowicz has made progress tackling the department's own staffing crisis, in part by starting a program aimed at getting high school seniors interested in police work. The program allows those who are between the ages of 18 and 21 to engage with the police force through ridealongs and other opportunities. Prospective officers can't graduate from the police academy until they are 21 because that is the legal age to carry a gun in Hawaiʻi. The department has 68 officer vacancies of 484 sworn positions. That's down from 72 vacancies in November 2023. The department is in the process of hiring 28 officers, Alameda said. 'We've been filling those vacancies like nobody's business,' he said. Moszkowicz has faced criticism from the Hawaiʻi Innocence Project for his department's handling of the investigation into a new suspect in the 1991 murder of Dana Ireland. Officers in July brought Albert Lauro in for questioning after he was determined to be the source of semen and other DNA retrieved from Ireland's body but failed to arrest him because Moszkowicz said they lacked probable cause to charge him with murder. Lauro killed himself shortly after he was released from police custody. HPD's Had A Rocky Past The Honolulu Police Department has been dogged by corruption and conflict for the last decade. In 2014, the FBI launched a yearslong investigation into then-chief Louis Kealoha that ended with Kealoha, his deputy prosecutor wife and several HPD officers convicted of corruption charges. He was replaced by Susan Ballard, who lasted about three years before she resigned in the face of a negative job review by the Honolulu Police Commission. It then took the commission a year to hire Logan who took the job in May 2022, and Blangiardi began to raise concerns about the commission's seeming inability to get a new chief in place. Moszkowicz, who served 22 years with the Honolulu Police Department, was one of four finalists for the position at that time. But when he didn't get the job, he soon left for the post running the Hawaiʻi County Police Department. He was sworn in as chief in January 2023. Logan, a former adjutant general who headed the Hawaiʻi Emergency Management Agency, was seen by the Honolulu Police Commission as a stabilizing force with deep roots in Hawaiʻi who could gain the trust of the rank-and-file officers and work well with the community. He had been an HPD officer earlier in his career before joining the military. Police commission Chair Ken Silva said in a statement that violent crime on Oʻahu decreased under Logan's leadership, and the chief 'sought to bring stability to the department and always conducted himself with honesty and decency.' He said nominations and self nominations are encouraged for anyone interested in the position of interim chief. Resumes and cover letters can be submitted to the commission. 'The search for a permanent chief will commence as soon as the Commission is able to do so,' the statement says. Logan received good job reviews from the police commission although in 2024 the annual evaluation was clouded by a nearly simultaneous survey of police employees who raised serious concerns about leadership as well as other problems in the 2,800-employee agency. And while Logan has enjoyed a smooth ride with the police commission, which has the power to hire and fire him, his relationship with Blangiardi has been rocky. Blangiardi called the employee survey and the overwhelmingly positive police commission evaluation 'a disconnect.' Logan has struggled to bolster staffing and recruitment since he took over. The department has faced increasing numbers of vacancies with hundreds of sworn-officer positions needing to be filled. Moments before Blangiardi took advantage of the late-afternoon TV news shows to announce Logan's retirement live, the police chief emailed a press release saying he had decided to resign. 'Over the last three years, crime has gone down; and we have made significant progress in moving the HPD forward,' Logan said in the statement. 'This would not be possible without the hard work, commitment, and creativity of our officers and civilian employees. Your dedication to serving and protecting the people of O'ahu is inspiring and unequaled. 'And so, it is with a heavy heart and to avoid distracting from the HPD's important work, I will be retiring at the end of this month.' Logan noted that leading a large police department is 'tough and demanding, and requires constant balancing of competing needs and wants from all sectors of the community.' Alameda said he was happy for Moszkowicz, but that he will be missed on the Big Island if he's confirmed to serve as interim HPD chief. 'He's been very innovative,' he said. 'He's come up with some ideas that I think have benefited our department. He advocates for positions. I think he sees the big picture.' The Honolulu Police Commission is scheduled to meet at 2 p.m. Wednesday. The public can attend in person at the police department's Beretania Street headquarters or can watch on a video livestream. ___ This story was originally published by Honolulu Civil Beat and distributed through a partnership with The Associated Press.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Makaha shooting: Three males ages 17, 20, 21 arrested
HONOLULU (KHON2) — Honolulu Police Department announced on social media that they have arrested three males, ages 17, 20 and 21 on suspicion of murder, attempted murder and multiple firearm offenses. HPD said on May 31, around 6:45 p.m., three individuals were arrested in the Waianae area following an apparent shooting incident that happened on May 28 in the Makaha area. Honolulu Ocean Safety, EMS respond to multiple North Shore calls Honolulu EMS paramedics arrived at the scene and treated two 19-year-old males and one 39-year-old male with serious injuries. Officials say the three patients suffered apparent gunshot wounds and were administered advanced life support before taking them to the hospital. The fourth patient, a 19-year-old man, was pronounced dead at the scene, according to EMS. Charges are pending. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Dirt bike rider, 27, critically hurt after being struck by car in Kahaluu
A 27-year-old man was critically injured Friday night after the dirt bike he was riding was hit by a car in Kahaluu, authorities said. At about 10 :37 p.m., the man was traveling south on Kamehameha Highway when he was struck by a vehicle driven by a 35-year-old man, who was traveling north on the highway and trying to make a left turn onto Wailehua Road, according to the Honolulu Police Department's Traffic Division. Police said the victim was ejected onto the roadway. Honolulu Emergency Medical Services said paramedics treated the dirt bike rider and took him to a hospital in critical condition. Police said the victim was not wearing a helmet and that the motorist remained at the scene and was not injured. Neither speed, alcohol, nor drugs appear to be a contributing factor in the crash, according to HPD. See more : 21 Comments By participating in online discussions you acknowledge that you have agreed to the. An insightful discussion of ideas and viewpoints is encouraged, but comments must be civil and in good taste, with no personal attacks. If your comments are inappropriate, you may be banned from posting. Report comments if you believe they do not follow our. Having trouble with comments ? .
Yahoo
3 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Motorcyclist critically injured in Kamehameha Highway accident
HONOLULU (KHON2) — A 27-year-old motorcyclist is in critical condition following a crash Friday night on Kamehameha Highway in the Kahaluu area, according to Honolulu police. UFC fighter B.J. Penn asks court to recall arrest warrants The collision happened around 10:37 p.m. when the motorcyclist, who was headed south on the highway, was hit by a car making a left turn onto Wailehua Road from the northbound lane, police impact threw the rider from his motorcycle. Emergency crews rushed him to a nearby hospital in critical condition. Authorities noted he was not wearing a helmet at the time. The driver of the car, a 35-year-old man, was not injured and stayed at the scene. Download the free KHON2 app for iOS or Android to stay informed on the latest news Police said speed, alcohol, and drugs do not appear to have been factors in the crash. The incident remains under investigation. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
The Independent
5 days ago
- General
- The Independent
Lawsuit says Honolulu police arrest sober drivers in focus on arrests for impaired driving
The Honolulu Police Department said it will review all impaired driving arrests after the American Civil Liberties Union of Hawaii filed a lawsuit Thursday alleging officers are arresting sober drivers in an overzealous focus on making drunk-driving arrests. In recent years Honolulu officers have arrested 'scores' of drivers who show no outward signs of impairment, perform well on field sobriety tests and whose breath tests often show no alcohol, the lawsuit said. The department is driven by a 'singular focus' on getting arrests for driving under the influence, even if they don't result in convictions, in an attempt to show that officers are protecting the public, to use the arrest numbers to secure federal funding and to meet quotas, the ACLU said. In response, the department said in a statement that it 'takes these allegations very seriously,' and officials have 'initiated a comprehensive review of all impaired driving arrests dating back to 2021.' The ACLU said they became aware of the issue thanks to an investigation by Hawaii News Now reporter Lynn Kawano. Police are motivated with incentives such as supervisors telling night enforcement officers they can go home and still get paid for an entire shift if they make a DUI arrest, which results in officers taking investigative shortcuts or making arrests without probable cause, the ACLU said. The class-action lawsuit is on behalf of three plaintiffs who were arrested and represents hundreds of other drivers. The lawsuit is asking a judge to declare that the Honolulu police's practices are unconstitutional and unlawful. It doesn't seek monetary damages. In addition to the ongoing review, the cases of the three plaintiffs will be internally investigated, police said: 'We are dedicated to upholding public trust and will take appropriate action should any misconduct be found.' From 2002 through 2024, Honolulu police arrested 127 people who had a blood-alcohol content level of 0.000 after a breath or blood test for driving under the influence, according to the lawsuit. Only 15 people were given a traffic ticket, and only three people were charged with driving under the influence of drugs, the lawsuit said. Honolulu police's 'pattern' has been to stop drivers either without any problematic driving at a sobriety checkpoint or for minor traffic infractions, the lawsuit said. Tanner Pangan was a high school senior when an officer pulled him over last year after his truck swerved on a rain-slicked road. 'When I got pulled over and accused of drinking and driving ... I was kind of stunned because I don't drink, I don't do drugs, nothing,' he told reporters during a virtual news conference. It was his first time being arrested or pulled over. 'Each of our clients blew a 0.000. None of them were intoxicated. Yet they endured lasting damage to their records, their reputation, traumatic arrests, and unlawful detention," said Jeremy O'Steen, an attorney with a firm that is working on the lawsuit with ACLU Hawaii. 'What we are demanding today is simple: Stop arresting innocent people. Stop manipulating the system.' ACLU Hawaii is concerned there are quotas that officers are trying to meet. In looking at arrest statistics, the ACLU found a cluster of arrests at the end of the month. On Aug. 31, 2024, there were arrests where a breath test showed 0.000 in the same location about 20 minutes of each other, the ACLU said.
