Mann helps make HPD history in leading Investigative Bureau

The Honolulu Police Department, under its first female police chief, has named Lisa Mann to head its Investigative Bureau, becoming one of three women among HPD’s top brass.

It marks the first time since HPD was established in 1932 that women have filled a third of the department’s nine chief positions. Mann joins Chief Susan Ballard and Assistant Chief Jan Crotteau, head of the Special Field Operations Bureau, HPD spokeswoman Michelle Yu said. Crotteau held her position prior to Ballard taking over as chief last month.

Mann was promoted to assistant chief and honored Wednesday, along with six other officers and four civilians, in a promotion ceremony held at Ala Moana Beach Park’s McCoy Pavilion.

She becomes the third female assistant chief for the Investigative Bureau in HPD history. Debbie Tandal was first. Dowsett is second. Mann is the third.

As head of the Investigative Bureau, Mann will oversee the Criminal Investigation Division (CID), Narcotics/Vice Division, Traffic Division and the Scientific Investigation Section. Prior to her promotion, she served as major of internal affairs (Professional Standards Office). She also was executive officer for CID and the Waikiki district.

“She earned the position,” Deputy Chief John McCarthy said. “She has a background in investigations, PSO, patrol and mostly CID,” having spent most of her career in CID.

“She’s a welcome addition to the chiefs,” McCarthy said. “It’s part of a national trend, more women chiefs. It’s been a long road for them. It’s traditionally a male-dominated field. Women have only entered in the last 45 years, at least in Honolulu. You’d think that it would move faster.”

But “we’re not looking to promote females,” he stressed. “We’re trying to promote the best.”

Mann was no stranger to uniform when she joined the force 27 years ago upon graduating from the University of Hawaii, where she played forward for the Rainbow Wahine basketball team. A high school standout on University Laboratory School’s basketball team, she returned to coach 18 seasons for University, Kaiser and Kaimuki high schools until 2005.

Gregory Osbun and Rade Vanic were promoted to major. Osbun, a 21-year HPD veteran, will serve as Wahiawa district commander. He had been captain in the Training Division and at Wahiawa.

Vanic, who has 18 years of service, will head the Information Technology Division. He spearheaded HPD’s body camera pilot program and worked in the Office of the Chief.

Scott Goeas, Raynor Ikehara, Phillip Johnson and Mikel Kunishima were promoted to captain.

Goeas will serve as executive officer for the Training Division. Ikehara will be second-in-command of the Human Resources Division. Johnson will serve as executive officer for the Narcotics/Vice Division. Kunishima will oversee felony property crime investigations in CID.