The search is on for a new chief to oversee the Hawaii Police Department.
The department announced Thursday that Deputy Police Chief Kenneth Bugado began serving as acting police chief on Wednesday upon the retirement of Paul Ferreira, who joined the department in 1982 and took its helm in December 2016.
Per the Hawaii County Charter, the new police chief will be selected by the Hawaii County Police Commission, which comprises nine Hawaii Island residents appointed by the mayor. The commission appoints the chief of police, reviews the police department’s budget, advises the chief on police-community relations, and considers and investigates charges of misconduct by the Police Department or its members.
The Hawaii County Department of Human Resources is currently reviewing all applications received during the four—week recruitment period that opened Aug. 1, said John Bertsch, chairman of the police commission. Once that department has completed its review, the qualified finalists will be forwarded to the commission for consideration and interviews.
It’s unclear when the final list will be released, however, Bertsch said during the commission’s July meeting it usually takes about a week for HR to complete its vetting process. That means the commission is likely to discuss the matter at its Sept. 16 meeting in Kailua-Kona.
In addition, Bertsch indicated during the meeting that special meetings should be in the afternoon or evening to provide the public a better chance to weigh in on Ferreira’s successor. A task force might also be a possibility.
The goal is to select the next chief by Oct. 15, he told commissioners in July.
Per the County Charter, the chief of police shall have a minimum five years experience in law enforcement work, including at least three years in an administrative capacity.
The position pays $153,270 annually, about $9,300 less than the highest paid county official, the mayor at $162,582. The chief is tasked with overseeing 484 sworn personnel, in addition to civilian employees, that serve the island’s more than 200,000 residents.
According to Civil Beat, Maui’s police chief makes $205,000 while Honolulu’s chief earns $205,800 and Kauai’s chief earns $137,022.
The deputy chief will be selected by the future chief appointed by the commission.
Email Laura Ruminski at lruminski@westhawaiitoday.com.
