Honolulu police Maj. Susan Ballard will be sworn in as the Honolulu Police Department’s 11th chief at HPD’s South Beretania Street headquarters Wednesday morning.
Ballard, HPD’s first female police chief, replaces recently indicted Louis Kealoha, who retired effective March 1 in the throes of controversy.
Cary Okimoto, Kealoha’s onetime deputy police chief, has been acting chief since mid-December, when Kealoha first placed himself on paid administrative leave after being informed by federal officials he was the target of a criminal investigation.
Ballard, 60, was selected unanimously by four members of the Honolulu Police Commission from among seven finalists Oct. 25.
A 32-year HPD veteran, Ballard has led five divisions since becoming a major in 2001: the Windward and Kalihi patrol divisions, and central receiving, training, and finance.
Upon being selected last week, Ballard made it clear that she was not part of Kealoha’s executive team, telling reporters that she was disappointed and “angry that kind of thing could happen.” Katherine Kealoha, his wife and a city deputy prosecutor, and four others also were indicted last week.
Ballard is entitled to pick two deputy chiefs to be her top commanders. Okimoto has had two acting deputy chiefs: Assistant Chiefs Alan Bluemke and William Axt. Ballard has not indicated whether they will be retained.
Okimoto is retiring and his last day is today.
Ballard was the only one of the seven finalists who is still with HPD. Of the other six, three were retired from HPD, while three others came through the ranks of other law enforcement agencies both here and on the mainland.
The chief’s job pays $191,184 annually, the second-highest-paying job in city government next to the medical examiner.
The other finalists were retired federal agent Thomas Aiu, retired HPD Maj. Kurt Kendro, retired HPD Assistant Chief Kevin Lima, retired Pennsylvania State Police Maj. Mark Lomax, current Arlington (Texas) Police Department Assistant Chief James Lowery Jr. and retired HPD Deputy Chief Paul Putzulu.
Ballard applied for the job twice previously, and was one of four finalists when Boisse Correa was chosen in 2004.
