Retired National Guard Maj. Gen. Arthur ‘Joe’ Logan chosen as Honolulu’s next police chief

Retired Maj. Gen. Arthur “Joe” Logan, a former adjutant general of the Hawaii National Guard, has been selected as the next chief of the Honolulu Police Department.

After a nearly year-long search and an hours-long meeting today, the Honolulu Police Commission chose Logan in a unanimous vote this afternoon.

Logan will become Honolulu’s 12th police chief, replacing Interim Chief Rade Vanic, who took over leadership of the department after then-Chief Susan Ballard abruptly retired in June following a critical performance appraisal from the commission. Vanic took himself out of the running for the permanent position in March.

Logan beat out three other finalists for the top HPD post: HPD Maj. Mike Lambert, head of the department’s Ke Kula Makai Training Division; HPD Maj. Ben Moszkowicz, who runs the department’s Traffic Division; and retired New Jersey State Police Lt. Col. Scott Ebner.

Logan, speaking to reporters outside HPD’s Alapai Street headquarters after his selection, said he would bring in retired HPD Maj. Keith Horikawa as one of his two deputy chiefs. Logan tapped current interim Chief Rade Vanic to serve as the other deputy chief.

After passing a physical and getting setup in the city system, Logan said he will immediately go out and meet with commanders and officers to plan the path forward.

“The question to me is are we accurately accounting for what the rising crime is and then where that is, location wise, and then what type of crimes they,” said Logan. ” And then to look, within the department what resources we have to attack that.”

The State of Hawaii Organization of Police Officers, issued a statement welcoming Logan, a 20-year HPD veteran prior to his military service, back to the department.

“With violent crime continuing to rise, coupled with our severe staffing shortage, we are hopeful that Chief Logan will work collaboratively with SHOPO and the rank-and-file officers we represent to immediately address these challenges. SHOPO is committed to rolling up our sleeves and getting to work because procrastination will only worsen our problems for our department and the residents we serve. Hoʻi mai i kahi hoaaloha Chief Logan,” said Robert Cavaco, and HPD lieutenant and SHOPO President.

Shortly after the announcement, Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi issued an emailed statement regarding Logan’s selection.

“Chief Logan steps into this important role at a critical time, and I offer my warm congratulations to both he and his family on being named the next leader of the Honolulu Police Department,” Blangiardi said in an email. “Building back public trust and restoring morale within HPD need to be top priorities, and I look forward to sitting down with Chief Logan as soon as possible to discuss his vision for this crucial task.”

During a Zoom press conference with reporters this afternoon, Blangiardi said his top priority is to meet with Logan “as soon as possible.” On Blangiardi’s agenda to discuss with Logan: HPD morale, management and leadership philosophy, media relations, overall belief systems and goals.

“I’m very excited to meet Joe, and I’m very excited about what all he is going to bring to the department and his leadership,” he said.

After taking a straw poll, the commission narrowed the field to Logan and Ebner, choosing to go outside the embattled department for its next leader.

At a televised candidates’ forum on PBS Hawaii Thursday, all four candidates spoke of the importance of restoring public trust and the reputation of HPD in the aftermath of the scandal that sent Ballard’s predecessor, Chief Louis Kealoha, and his then-deputy prosecutor wife Katherine Kealoha, to federal prison in a fraud and conspiracy case.

Logan is the grandson of a New York City police officer and two of his brothers served in the department. He joined HPD in 1982 and worked as a patrol officer, narcotics/vice officer and solo bike officer before being promoted to sergeant and was assigned as a detective in the robbery detail. He later lead the 2,000-member Hawaii National Guard with an annual budget of $200 million. He currently works as a criminal investigator with the state Attorney General’s Office.