New Big Island police chief to be sworn in Wednesday, ceremony livestreamed on Facebook

Newly-appointed Hawaii Police Department Chief Benjamin Moszkowicz will be officially sworn in Wednesday in an official private event which will be livestreamed.

The official-swearing in, at 1:30 p.m., is a formality, given that the chief must be officially sworn in prior to his start date of Tuesday, Jan. 17, a day Mayor Mitch Roth will be off-island on that date. Wednesday’s ceremony, which is expected to take 20 minutes, will be livestreamed on the department’s Facebook page, with the Mayor and senior commanders in attendance.

In addition, the public is invited to attend a larger, in-person swearing-in ceremony at the West Hawaii Civic Center at 1:30 p.m. on Friday Jan. 20. The monthly Police Commission meeting will be held that morning at the same location. Community members will also have an opportunity to meet the chief during an informal meet-and-greet following the ceremony, which will take place in the courtyard gazebo.

“I’m excited to welcome Chief Moszkowicz to Hawaii County and continue our work together, as we build upon the incredible foundation of community-minded policing laid by former Chief (Paul) Ferreira and Deputy Chief (Kenneth) Bugado,” Roth said in a statement. “Hawaii Island is built around community, and we stand ready to do all we can to help our community thrive and succeed.”

“I’m eager to get started,” said Moszkowicz, who will take the helm of the Big Island department after 22 years in the Honolulu Police Department, most recently as a major commanding the Traffic Division. “I’m looking forward to getting to know the communities of Hawaii Island, as well as working with our community partners and members of the department to find ways to collaborate on shared challenges.”

“I want to convey to the community that I’m approachable,” he added. “Recognizing that people might have a hard time pronouncing my last name, I want the community to know they can call me Chief Ben.”