The strong show of support for new Honolulu police Chief Susan Ballard by fellow officers at her swearing-in bodes well for her chances of lifting the department out of the funk left by the corruption scandals of federally indicted former Chief Louis Kealoha.

Dozens of officers of all ranks showed up to cheer Ballard’s ascent, have pictures taken with her and express the first genuine hope heard at the Honolulu Police Department in a long time.

Lt. David Ardren said, “She’s going to really turn the dark cloud over HPD and bring us back to good standing.”

It’s been noted that Kea­loha enjoyed a similar show of support from the ranks when he assumed the job in 2010, but there’s a difference.

Kealoha’s candidacy was favored by SHOPO, the police union; Ballard wasn’t the preferred choice of SHOPO, and the burst of goodwill from fellow officers came more from the gut.

Nearly everybody in the department has worked with the new chief in some capacity over the years as she rose through the ranks in a 32-year career that has included five different commands since she became a major in 2001.

Fellow officers say they respect Ballard as fair, ethical and a straight shooter who doesn’t play the political games of the Kealoha years.

“She’s earned it; she’s done her time at every level,” said HPD Capt. Jayson Kauwenaole.

It worked in her favor — both with the Police Commission and fellow officers — that she was out of favor during Kealoha’s administration for speaking out about some of his questionable practices.

“She’s no-nonsense,” said Sgt. Barry Tong, a fellow recruit with Ballard in 1985. “She talks the truth all the time … and that’s how she got the respect coming up from the ranks.”

It had to be a morale boost in the ranks that the job went to the only one of the seven finalists who was currently on the force, after much talk of a supposed need to bring in an outsider to “clean house.”

The great majority of Honolulu police are good and capable people who want to serve the community. With Ballard’s appointment, they’ve been given the opportunity to clean their own house of the mess left by Kealoha.

The challenge for Ballard is to take advantage of the goodwill she enjoys to rally the force and the community behind a renewal for HPD that restores openness, honesty, fairness and trust.

The Police Commission’s challenge is to provide the oversight it disgracefully neglected as the Kealoha scandals unfolded, without crossing the line of micromanagement.

For the rank and file, the challenge will be hanging in with Ballard as she makes the tough decisions that will be needed to turn HPD’s complete focus back to its main business of public safety.