The Hawaii County Police Commission met Thursday to address the selection of a new chief, but the panel isn’t any closer to choosing the new head of the island’s law enforcement following Paul Ferriera’s retirement on Sept. 1.
As of Friday, the pool of 44 individuals who applied for the position of top cop of the island had been narrowed down to 21. The commissioners still do not know who the applicants are, however, they are reviewing the interrogatory answers received and are hoping to narrow the list down to the top candidates and then be able to share those names with the public.
“We are doing our best to keep as fast and professional as we can,” said Police Commission Chairman John Bertsch during the panel’s meeting at the West Hawaii Civic Center in Kailua-Kona. “We look forward to meeting them in person.”
Once the identities of the individuals considered finalists are known, Bertsch said the commission will seek public testimony, allowing the community to offer input in the selection process.
He said they hope to narrow the list down to five to seven candidates and choose a new chief by the start of the New Year, especially given the department has several other high-ranking officers slated for retirement.
The Hawaii County police chief receives $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.
Several residents testified at the meeting, which after the pandemic is now being held via Zoom a move Bertsch said was important to ensure the panel’s members “hear the voice of the people.”
“We need to have respect and trust in the department. We have lost that,” said testifier, Jon Kennealy, who said he is a former law enforcement officer with research showing only 4% of all complaints against the department are resolved in favor of citizens. “We have to come around 180 degrees with a new chief. I hope to find a candidate from Hawaii that knows Hawaiian culture.”
Bertsch suggested testifiers craft questions they would like to see the commission ask potential candidates.
In other business, it was reported the department received 10,158 calls for service in the month of October.
“There has been an uptick in theft across the board,” said Assistant Chief of Administration Andrew Burian. “There is an increase in shoplifting. In these crimes we see the same names over and over. That’s not on us, that’s the Judiciary.”
He said there is also an increase in firearms offenses, which can be attributed to the ease in which someone can purchase a ghost gun.
“There are no serial numbers and they are not registered. All they need is a credit card and it’s just a key stroke away,” he said, adding he was hard-pressed to remember a recent time when someone was arrested with a firearm that was lawfully registered.
Email Laura Ruminski at lruminski@westhawaiitoday.com.