Chief Logan Announces Retirement

News Release from HPD, June 2, 2025

It has beep an honor and a privilege to serve as the Honolulu Police Department’s 12th Chief of Police.

Over the last three years, crime has gone down, and we have made significant progress in moving the HPD forward.  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.

Leading a large police department is tough and demanding, and it requires the constant balancing of competing needs and wants from all sectors of the community.  Getting the job done is only made possible with the support of many.

I would like to thank our sworn and civilian employees for all that they do, every day, and often while under pressure. The community needs you. Please keep up the outstanding work.

Mahalo to the members of the Honolulu Police Commission for their trust and support.  Your time and dedication are greatly appreciated the department and the public.  Personally i have appreciated the insight shared by the Commissioners who have served as former city executives.

Thank you to the many individuals, community organizations, and law enforcement agencies that work closely with the HPD.  We appreciate your time, knowledge, and expertise.  Mahalo for helping us to make O’ahu  safer for our residents and visitors.

Lastly, my heartfelt gratitude goes out to my wife, Gaylene, and our family,for their support over my decades of public service, Thank you for your love and sacrifice.  I could not have done it without you.

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Statement from SHOPO President Robert Cavaco on Chief Logan’s Retirement

News Release from SHOPO, June 2, 2025

Honolulu, HI – Today, Honolulu Police Chief Arthur “Joe” Logan announced his retirement from the Honolulu Police Department. SHOPO President Robert Cavaco issued this statement in response:

“Over the last three years, officer vacancies at the Honolulu Police Department have surged 42% and continue to climb. We are struggling to retain officers, and currently have 228 officers eligible for retirement. HPD has faced these challenges without a plan and without urgency for three years. We need bold and immediate action to turn the tide, and the change in leadership provides us with that opportunity. SHOPO is optimistic about the Honolulu Police Department’s future. HPD is fortunate to be staffed with talented and hardworking police officers who are dedicated to making Oahu a safer place for everyone. In order for us to keep doing that, we must solve our retention problem now.  We look forward to working with the Mayor, City Council, and HPD leadership on getting that done as soon as possible.”

Robert Cavaco, President, SHOPO

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LINK: Resignation Letter

SA: Honolulu Police Department looking for its fourth chief in eight years | Honolulu Star-Advertiser

CB: Honolulu Police Chief Joe Logan To Step Down Under Pressure - Honolulu Civil Beat  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.

HNN: Honolulu police chief steps down amid controversy over vacancy rate, recent shootings, transparency issues --Logan has come under fire in recent months for a spike in vacancies at the Honolulu Police Department, and the return of more than $45 million in city funds that could have been used to retain officers.

KHON: HPD Chief Joe Logan announces retirement -- Blangiardi said he would “strongly recommend” that Benjamin Moszkowicz — the Chief of the Hawaiʻi Police Department on Hawaiʻi Island — return to the Honolulu Police Department as the interim chief after Logan’s retirement. Moszkowicz has previously spent 22 years with Honolulu Police and is set to take over on July 16 after Logan’s retirement, pending approval from the Honolulu Police Commission.

KHON: Mayor's pick for interim HPD Chief says prior experience will help him lead

SA: Honolulu Police Chief Joe Logan stepping down | Honolulu Star-Advertiser -- It took nearly a year to hire Logan who was selected with a unanimous vote by the commission. Logan was selected from four finalists.

CB: Honolulu Police Chief Joe Logan To Retire - Honolulu Civil Beat--He received good job reviews from the police commission although in 2024 the annual evaluation was clouded by a 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 had a smooth ride with the police commission who has the power to hire and fire him, his relationship with Blangiardi has been rocky. 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.  More recently, Blangiardi’s staff has been drafting a proposal 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.

HNN Mar 20 2025: With hundreds of Honolulu Police Department vacancies, city leader calls for action -- Jonathan Frye of the Honolulu chapter of the police officers union, SHOPO, said, “Since 2021, officer vacancies have surged by over 40% and continue to escalate.”  “I take a little bit of offense to the fact that ‘if you don’t get it fixed in six months,’ then okay, you’ll ask for my resignation, and that’s fine,” Logan told the police commission at its meeting Wednesday. “I think that’s a little disheartening from your own elected official to say something like that.”  “We are working,” he said. “The HR and the recruiting staff are doing their due diligence to do everything they can. But I can’t stop something that’s already started years ago.”

HNN: Honolulu City Councilwoman Andria Tupola reacts to HPD chief resigning