Four finalists announced for position of Hawaiʻi Police Chief

The Hawaiʻi County Police Commission on Tuesday morning released the names of four finalists for the position of Hawaiʻi County Police chief, including one internal candidate.

The only candidate who already works for the Hawai’i Police Department is Maj. Sherry Bird. She is a 24-year veteran of the department and currently works in Kona overseeing the Area II Field Operations Bureau.

The other candidates are:

• Capt. Paul Applegate: He currently works for the Kaua’i Police Department. He filed a lawsuit against his department and KPD Chief Todd G. Raybuck last year for discriminatio

• Edward Ignacio: He is a retired special agent for the FBI.

• Maj. Benjamin Moszkowicz: He is with the Honolulu Police Department and was recently a finalist for Honolulu Police Chief.

A fifth finalist was selected, but the candidate rescinded his/her application.

The commission has scheduled two special meetings next week to allow the public to weigh in on the candidates.

The first will take place in Hilo on Dec. 12. Join the meeting over Zoom here.

The second special meeting will be held in Kona on Dec. 13. Join the meeting over Zoom here.

Anyone wishing to testify orally online via Zoom must sign up by noon, Friday by contacting the commission’s secretary by phone at 808-932-2950 or email at Charisse.Correa@hawaiicounty.gov.

To provide written testimony, email testimony to Charisse.Correa@hawaiicounty.gov or by mail to the Hawaiʻi County Police Commission’s office at Aupuni Center, 101 Pauahi St., Hilo, HI, 96720 by noon Friday. Written testimonies will be distributed to commissioners prior to the meeting.