Hawai‘i County Police Commission to discuss appointment of interim chief at next meeting

At its next meeting on July 18 in Kona, the Hawaiʻi County Police Commission will discuss the selection of an interim police chief to take over for Ben Moszkowicz, whose last day as chief is Aug. 31.

The commission also will discuss the next steps to hiring a new chief.

On Thursday, the eight-member commission, with one vacancy, voted 4-4 not to accept the Moskowiczʻ retraction of his June 4 resignation. Moskowicz needed one more vote in his favor to keep his job that he has had since January of 2023.

Police Commission Chair Rick Robinson said it took six months to hire Moszkowicz from a pool of 44 applicants, with some applying from places like California and Texas. Moszkowicz was chosen in December 2024 from a group of four finalists.

The only internal finalist then was Maj. Sherry Bird (a 24-year veteran at Hawaiʻi Island Police Department). The other two finalists were Capt. Paul Applegate (Kauaʻi Police Department) and Edward Ignacio (retired special agent for the FBI).

If an interim chief is not selected, the mantle automatically falls to the second in command within the department, which is now Deputy Chief Reed Mahuna.

“Frankly, my opinion, we owe it to the people of the County of Hawai‘i to do a nationwide search to select the best chief possible,” Robinson said.

Mark Arnold, business agent for the Hawai‘i Island Chapter of the union known as SHOPO, said he was against Moszkowicz keeping his job because he had lost the loyalty and trust of the officers.

As the commission takes steps to search for a new chief, Arnold said he would like to see one committed to the Big Island and the police department.

“We want someone who’s going to honor our contracts,” Arnold said.

Arnold wouldn’t say if there was someone within the department he thought would be good to fill the chief’s position, saying: “I’m sure there are several good candidates.”

When the commission chooses finalists, Arnold said the union will decide at that point who to support.

“We want to be involved in the process, but we respect the process,” he said.

Hawaiʻi County Mayor Kimo Alameda said the Police Commission has an important role in overseeing the employment of the police chief and he respects its decision.

“I hope we can continue to work collaboratively during this transition,” Alameda said.