by Andrew Walden
A June 13, 2022, Hawaii News Now story outlined new allegations about special treatment repeatedly given to Joe Logan’s son, Zane Logan, while Joe Logan was a criminal investigator with the State Attorney General’s office.
The following day, at 11AM, Joe Logan, his leadership team, and the Honolulu Police Commission conspired to create a fait accompli--an unannounced surprise swearing-in held in an obvious effort to head off further questions about the Commissioners' allegedly-vetted pick for Chief.
The HNN story alleges that Zane Logan was involved in six separate confrontations with a Waikiki condo owner whose residence has previously been the site of prostitution raids. In at least one of these incidents the condo owner alleges he pointed a loaded gun at Logan -- yet none of the incidents resulted in a police report.
These incidents allegedly occurred in 2020 and 2021 while Joe Logan was with the State Attorney General's office.
Obviously the key question is whether Joe Logan actually communicated with beat officers multiple times to stop them from arresting his son -- OR -- is the protection of ‘FOP’ ‘friends and family of the police’ so ingrained in the force that they need not hear directly from Joe Logan to know that they should let his meth addict son off the hook again and again.
If it is the latter, then the practice of protecting 'FOP' must be very widespread. Therefore officers would naturally know they are protecting themselves by protecting their new Chief. This mutual culpability binds the department tightly to the new Chief. So logically, the Commissioners knowingly chose Logan because of his son, not in spite of him. This in turn, vindicates the Commissioners' vetting process. It's not sloppy; it's logical.
It's working. After the bizarre secret swearing-in ceremony, the HPD Facebook page quickly flooded with ‘congratulations’ messages from HPD personnel.
Now you know why the Commissioners always pick a local candidate with HPD ties.
This also explains why Logan pushed forward with becoming chief after allegations about his son surfaced. The 'normal' response would be to step aside for the 'good of the Department'. But in this case, the 'good of the Department,' as seen by those inside it who are mutually complicit in the de-facto 'FOP' policy, is best served by his moving forward.
Background:
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Big Q: What do you think of the low-key, private way that Honolulu Police Chief Arthur ‘Joe’ Logan was sworn in?
HNN: Despite promises of transparency, HPD’s new chief sworn in secretly
HNN first learned about the swearing-in on Tuesday morning through police sources.
Hawaii News Now also confirmed that the mayor was not at the ceremony and members of command staff didn’t even know it was happening. Keith Horikawa and Rade Vanic, the former acting HPD chief, were also sworn in Tuesday as deputy chiefs.
Hawaii News Now has been asking the department for weeks about when Logan will be sworn in given the length of time HPD has been without a permanent chief ― and because of ongoing questions about the agency’s performance.
Onlookers questioned the decision to hold a secret swearing-in, saying it was simply unnecessary.
“You’re talking about the chief of police of a major metropolitan police department, it’s a big deal,” said retired HPD Deputy Chief John McCarthy.
“This goes right to the heart of transparency.”
Previous HPD Chief Susan Ballard had a very public swearing-in back in 2017….
But McCarthy said even if there’s nothing to hide, the secrecy sends the wrong message.
“It’s just common sense,” said Robert Cavaco, President of the State of Hawaii Organization of Police Officers.
“We at SHOPO didn’t even know that numbers 1, 2, and 3 were being sworn in today.”
Cavaco said the rank and file should have been told ahead of the ceremony….
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HNN: Son of new HPD chief makes first court appearance in connection with assault charges
CB: Honolulu Police Department Swears In New Chief Without Notice
Honolulu Police Commission Chair Shannon Alivado said that police commissioners were invited to the event about an hour and a half before it occurred. She added that the swearing-in was not intended to be secretive despite it occurring without notice, public involvement or attendance by Mayor Rick Blangiardi….
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KITV: Joe Logan sworn in as new Honolulu police chief
"While I was in the Honolulu City Council chamber this morning for a presentation on housing and homelessness, I was informed that incoming Honolulu Police Chief Arthur ‘Joe’ Logan was about to be sworn in. While I was surprised to receive this information, I sincerely congratulate Chief Logan and look forward to attending his formal swearing-in ceremony later this month," said Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi
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SA: Arthur ‘Joe’ Logan secretly sworn in as Honolulu’s 12th police chief
Logan, who campaigned for the top HPD job in part on a pledge to restore public trust and improve communications and police transparency, did not immediately return Honolulu-Star-Advertiser messages seeking comment.