Honolulu’s acting police chief, Cary Okimoto, announced to Honolulu Police Department officers and civilians today that he will retire at the end of the month, about the time a new chief is set to be named by the city Police Commission.

Okimoto was deputy chief in December when then-Chief Louis Kealoha placed himself on paid voluntary leave in December after federal officials announced he was the target of a criminal investigation. The commission named Okimoto acting chief.

His “acting” title got extended by the commission when Kealoha retired at the end of February.

Okimoto applied to be Kealoha’s permanent replacement but was not named one of nine semifinalists after an essay test that was graded by a panel of law enforcement experts.

In an email to HPD employees today, Okimoto praised them for their dedication to ensure the public’s safety. “We are all about doing the right thing for the right reason,” he wrote.

Okimoto was appointed by Kealoha in October 2015 to be one of his two deputy chiefs. As deputy chief, Okimoto was in charge of administrative operations.