The changing of the guard at the Honolulu Police Department, as well as its overseeing commission, provides some- thing the public should welcome: prospects of a law enforcement agency that is more transparent about its work and, above all, responsive to the community.

Things do not turn around on a dime, and the administration of Police Chief Susan Ballard is certain to hit its own set of barriers and missteps along the way. But the initial signs of Ballard’s willingness to tackle some tough problems — crime in Waikiki, recent allegations of police civil rights abuses — have to be encouraging after a terrible few years for the police department.

After disturbing charges of public corruption and fraud, former HPD Chief Louis Kealoha and several top lieutenants weren’t the only entities that walked out the door. The department lost a great deal of public trust in the debacle, and the Honolulu Police Commission was slow to respond to any of it.

The commission initially failed to respond to the investigation; members even had given Kealoha a glowing evaluation. And it came under fire for its handling of his departure, with a generous parting package. Further, there was blowback when the former chairman, Max Sword, did not disclose a family relationship with one of the candidates to replace Kealoha.

But now, in addition to the appointment of Ballard as Honolulu’s first female police chief, there are signs of green shoots popping up at the commission as well. One of the most outspoken commissioners, attorney Loretta Sheehan, has been elected chairwoman, further boosting hopes that the trendlines are moving in the right direction.

Even when she was newly confirmed to the commission in August 2016, Sheehan already was noting a shift toward a more active role for the commission, which in the past had not pursued an aggressive policy agenda.

“The public has made its voice heard — and that’s who we represent,” she said, referencing the commission in an interview for the Honolulu Star Advertiser editorial section last year.

Sheehan has said she is enthused about reforms at HPD and with the sense that public concerns will be given more weight.

Ballard took over as chief on Nov. 1. Among her first initiatives was establishing an internet crimes unit within HPD. Today, she is actively engaged in the Waikiki community efforts to reverse what seems a disturbing spike in violent crimes there.

Also, the chief already has done some staff reorganization. Her relationship with the police union has heightened tensions: Union leaders are among those reassigned from their entrenched jobs. On Thursday, one of those leaders — union president Sgt. Tenari Maafala — said he would be retiring next month.

Of course, disrupting a pecking order that may have become unresponsive to the public is important. But Ballard also must ensure that her administration improves on it.

It remains to be seen how well the chief will navigate this dispute — which has drawn a complaint lodged with the Hawaii Labor Relations Board — and those to follow.

In her initial overtures, Ballard has promised to lead a department taking the stance of a guardian, rather than a “warrior.” If that means HPD will be less combative with the public when it challenges police behavior, that would be a marked improvement. Too often police have adopted a bunker mentality in the face of accusations. Ballard has promised to address this shortcoming.

She will have opportunities to deliver, though it would be good to see concrete action. For example, a bill to require more disclosure in cases of disciplinary action against police, held over from last session, has sat untouched this year.

Still, in a city weary of its conflicts with police and mounting crime concerns in the heart of its tourist district, there is reason for hope. Having assertive new leadership improves the odds that progress can be achieved.