The Honolulu Police Department says a 5.5 percent  increase for the police chief and his deputies is needed to keep up with other officers, whose salaries have climbed after successful union negotiations.

Assistant Police Chief Mark Nakagawa asked for the raises earlier this month to Sara Buehler, chairwoman of the city Salary Commission. which makes the final recommendation to the City Council.

Nakagawa said Honolulu’s Police Department serves the 12th largest metropolitan area in the United States.

"The department ranks as the 20th largest police force in the United States with all of the attendant issues and complexities of a large police agency," said Nakagawa who heads HPD’s Administrative Bureau which includes Human Resources and Finance divisions.

Police Chief Louis Kealoha and his deputies received 5.5 percent raises last year from the City Council.

In a Feb. 4 letter to the city Salary Commission, Nakagawa that since then, unionized members of the police department received two pay raises of 1.75 percent, and will receive two more 1.75 percent raises, for a total of about 7 percent.

Kealoha now earns $151,632 – a 5 percent increase will mean his annual salary would climb to $159,972, Nakagawa said.

Kealoha’s two deputies earn $144,624. A 5 percent hike would bring their salaries to $152,578,

A 5 percent salary increase for six assistant police chiefs would raise their salaries from $149,364 to $154,367  at the end of 2015 fiscal year, according to Nakagawa’s calculations.