Hawai‘i Island police chief Ben Moszkowicz applies to be interim chief of Honolulu Police Department

At the urging of Honolulu City and County Mayor Rick Blangiardi, Hawai‘i Island police chief Ben Moszkowicz has applied to be interim chief for his former Honolulu Police Department.

The position unexpectedly became open after Honolulu Police Chief Joe Logan earlier this month announced his retirement, effective June 30.

Moszkowicz, who took the top cop job in Hawai‘i County in December 2022, confirmed today to Big Island Now that he submitted a letter of interest to the Honolulu Police Commission for the position.

“I am extremely humbled by the support I have received,” Moszkowicz said. “I have tremendous respect for the Honolulu Police Commission and would defer any questions about their process to them. Until they make their decision, I remain working hard for the community here as the chief in Hawai‘i County.”

Moszkowicz came to the Big Island from the Honolulu Police Department, where he served as captain and other ranks for 22 years. Moszkowicz also was the runner-up for the top cop job on Honolulu three years ago.

After a five-month nationwide search, Moszkowiz was selected out of a pool of 44 applicants to replace Paul Ferreira, who retired in September 2022 as chief of the Hawaiʻi Island Department.

Hawai‘i County Police Commission Chair Rick Robinson said he knew that Moszkowicz received a call from the Honolulu mayor about filling in as interim chief. He received Moszkowicz’s resignation letter earlier this month. However, the chief rescinded the letter when he learned it’s the responsibility of the Honolulu Police Commission and not the mayor to select an interim chief.

“It took us a long time to get Chief Ben,” Robinson said. “He’s a great chief. He’s helped increase recruit classes. He works hard.”

Robinson said the Hawai‘i County Police Commission will discuss Moszkowicz’s letter of resignation and the rescinding of that letter at its June 20 meeting.

Hawai‘i County Mayor Kimo Alameda said he got a call from Blangiardi after Logan’s retirement announcement letting him know he was going to recommend Moszkowicz to the Honolulu Police Commission as interim chief.

Alameda had nothing but good things to say about Moszkowicz on Friday, stating they work well together and believes that Moszkowicz articulates the needs of his department well.

However, Alameda said he worries about the morale within Hawai‘i Island police with the news of Moszkowicz submitting a letter of resignation to the commission, only to rescind it.

“The community needs to feel their chief is with them,” Alameda said.

While Blangiardi wants Moszkowicz back in Honolulu, two testifiers during a Honolulu Police Commission meeting on June 4 spoke against his recommendation.

Alexander Garcia, a retired lieutenant from Honolulu Police Department and military veteran, testified during the June 4 meeting saying while he’s a big fan of the Honolulu mayor, he thinks he overstepped his authority and leadership by announcing Moszkowicz as interim chief.

“I know he’s well-intended,” Garcia said. “As they say, ‘the road to hell is paved in good intentions,’ and he’s doing a disservice to Ben.”

Garcia said he’s known Moszkowicz for 30 years and thinks he’s a “good guy.”

“But he’s not here,” Garcia said, adding there are plenty of qualified candidates already within the department.

Even if the commission chooses Moszkowiz after discussing all the candidates, Garcia said, it will be a perceived rubber stamp. “And perception is reality.”

“If you do that, you’re not doing your job,” he said.

During that same meeting, the commission confirmed it received a recommendation from Blangiardi to put Moszkowicz in as interim chief, but the commissioners also encouraged all nominations be submitted, with a deadline of June 13.

Thomas Aiu, a former security chief for the state’s Department of Transportation Services, reportedly has also applied for the position.

Blangiardi had a contentious relationship with Logan, who has been chief for three years. According to news outlets, Logan also has faced challenges during his interim with high vacancies and reportedly low morale as well as criticism for failing to share real-time updates during critical incidents.

Logan announced his retirement on June 3. Blangiardi wasted no time strongly recommending Moszkowicz to step as interim chief, starting July 16.

But he does not have that authority. As is the case in Hawai‘i County, the seven-member commission on O‘ahu has the power to hire and fire the Honolulu police chief.

The Honolulu police commission’s process to select an interim and permanent police chief will be discussed during its next meeting on Wednesday.