2 tentatively agree to serve as city police commissioners

The Honolulu Police Commission could soon have a full complement of seven members again, but likely not before the panel picks a new chief.

Mayor Kirk Caldwell said Tuesday that two people have agreed tentatively to accept terms on the unpaid panel, which has been under the media spotlight following recent trouble with officers and the retirement of Police Chief Louis Kealoha at the end of February.

The announcements could be made as early as next week, he said. “I think the public will be happy with those that we selected,” he said.

But it’s doubtful the members will be on board to take a vote on picking Kealoha’s replacement, a decision that is expected to be made next week, shortly after the commission interviews all seven finalists for the job Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday.

After the potential commissioners are nominated, they will need to be confirmed by the Honolulu City Council, a process that typically takes at least two months.

“Whether they are there in time to be involved with the selection, I do have full confidence with the members that are there to make the proper determination and pick the best chief out of that pool,” Caldwell said.

Resignations have left the commission with only five members as it winds down the process of selecting Kealoha’s replacement. Marc Tilker resigned in May for personal reasons, while Luella Costales resigned at the end of September after raising objections to the chief selection process.

Those vacancies became even more glaring last week when Commission Chairman Max Sword agreed to recuse himself from the chief selection process after the Honolulu Ethics Commission determined he had a conflict because Thomas Aiu, one of the seven finalists, is a first cousin of his wife, Mona Wood-Sword.

That leaves Eddie Flores, Steven Levinson, Loretta Sheehan and Cha Thompson to make the final decision. Because any seven-member city commission needs a majority vote of four, all four remaining commissioners will need to agree.

Levinson last week became the most prominent voice to criticize Caldwell for failing to come up with replacements, calling the situation baffling and untenable.

Caldwell, in response to the criticism, said the recent media glare has been cited as a key reason why people have declined his invitation to join the volunteer panel.

Meanwhile Tuesday, Acting HPD Chief Cary Okimoto confirmed that he has agreed to stay on an additional month at Caldwell’s request to help with the transition.

Okimoto had announced Oct. 6 that he would retire at the end of the month. But in a memo to HPD officers and civilian employees Friday, Okimoto said he has now agreed to stay through Nov. 30.

Okimoto has been acting chief since Kealoha first placed himself on administrative leave in December.