HPD chief assessed as above average in review

Honolulu Police Chief Louis Kea­loha’s handling of an incident involving an off-duty officer captured on video punching a woman at a Wai­pahu restaurant may have negatively affected his annual review, but the Hono­­lulu Police Commission still rated his 2014 performance as above average.

For the third year in a row, the Police Commission determined Kea­loha "exceeds expectation" in his annual review.

The assessment, released earlier this week, was Kea­loha’s fifth annual review since taking the helm of one of the country’s 35 largest law enforcement agencies in 2009. The commission reappointed him to another five-year term last year.

The Police Commission, which appoints and removes the chief, rates the top officer in five categories on a five-step scale with the top mark as "exemplary," followed by "exceeds expectation."

"He continues to grow as a leader in ability, confidence and experience," said Hono­lulu Police Commission Chairman Ron Taketa by phone. "He was able to address every major issue that came up with the department at the same time while going through his personal family issues."

The family issues Taketa referred to included a federal trial over Kea­loha’s stolen mailbox that ended in a mistrial in December when Kea­loha commented on the defendant’s criminal history.

In an email to the Hono­­lulu Star-Advertiser, Kea­loha credited Hono­lulu Police Department employees, other city departments and community partners for the positive evaluation.

"Our employees can continue to be proud of HPD and the work that we do," he said.

Kealoha, who makes about $164,000 a year, said he will continue building partnerships to make homes, roadways and communities safe, and focus on improving customer service.

In his review, his performance declined in the areas of leadership and community relations, likely because a similar factor appears in both categories: his relationship with the public.

He improved in the area of his relationship with the commission. Taketa said that’s because Kealoha has been open with the commission about his personal issues and incidents involving police officers that led to negative media coverage.

One negative incident involved an off-duty police sergeant captured on surveillance video in September allegedly beating a woman in a Wai­pahu restaurant. Responding officers failed to file a report. The woman said the incident was horseplay, and a grand jury declined to indict the officer on criminal charges.

Police spokeswoman Michelle Yu said Thursday that an internal investigation in the case still wasn’t concluded.

Concerns were raised when Kea­loha canceled a meeting — prompted by the video — with female lawmakers about how HPD handles domestic abuse cases. He later addressed lawmakers at an informational hearing at the state Capitol.

Taketa acknowledged that commissioners considered the video incident one of the issues he could have handled better.

Taketa said commissioners felt Kea­loha "could have addressed the issues in public a little more effectively, a little more timely."

He added, "Should they come up next time, I don’t think it’ll affect his rating, because I think he’s learned and grown from that experience."

Tenari Maafala, president of the State of Hawaii Organization of Police Officers, said during that period Kea­loha released internal video messages to officers calling on them to "stand fast" despite public criticism.

Maafala said officers support Kea­loha, but department morale has been strained by the "unnecessary scrutiny" from lawmakers, stemming from the September video incident.

Taketa said another high-profile incident — the mistrial caused by Kea­loha’s comments — affected public perception of Kea­loha more than his management of the department.

He said commissioners contend Kea­loha made a mistake in the trial, and it did not hurt his review.

He said Kealoha has been successful in identifying community concerns and is working to improve public perception of the department by emphasizing customer service, taking more decisive action in handling complaints against officers, and reducing response times.

"They’re continuing to improve on what’s already been good," he said. "I think he understands that being complacent isn’t the right thing to do."

As Kealoha begins his sixth year as chief, he is on track to be the first chief in more than 30 years to lead the Hono­lulu Police Department for a decade.

About 20 years ago the public approved a City Charter amendment initiated by the Police Commission to change the lifetime appointment of Hono­lulu police chiefs to unlimited five-year terms. Taketa said the change made chiefs more accountable to the commission and ensured higher performance throughout the chief’s tenure.