Police Commission narrows Honolulu chief candidates to 6 semifinalists

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – The search for Honolulu’s next police chief is moving into the next phase.

The Honolulu Police Commission announced it has narrowed the candidate pool to six semi-finalists, selected from an initial list of 11 applicants identified by a recruitment firm.

“The commissioners feel these six applicants exhibited the leadership and management skills necessary to lead an organization as large, complex and critical to the community as the Honolulu Police Department,” said member of the Honolulu Police Commission, Chair Laurie Foster.

“Those qualities were identified in part by surveys and stakeholder interviews conducted by the recruitment firm,” she added.

The names of the semi-finalists have not been released. Officials said confidentiality is being maintained at this stage to encourage applicants who may still be employed elsewhere.

The candidates will next be interviewed by stakeholder panels made up of community members and others who interact with the Honolulu Police Department.

The commission is expected to select finalists during a May 6 meeting, with those names to be announced afterward.

Finalists will then participate in additional interviews and a public appearance before the commission votes on the next police chief at a public meeting scheduled for May 20.