The Honolulu Police Commission on Wednesday gave police Chief Louis Kealoha an above-average score for his job performance for last year, marking four consecutive years of high marks.
Kealoha’s “exceeds expectations” rating — 4 on a scale that tops out at 5 — comes in Kealoha’s seventh year as leader of the roughly 2,000-officer Honolulu Police Department.
“They achieved a lot, and they should be given credit for the work that they’ve done well.”
Ron Taketa
Police commission chairman
Commission Chairman Ron Taketa said the rating reflects on the department’s performance.
Among the department’s accomplishments, he cited: a 30 percent drop in complaints against officers per 10,000 calls; an increase in recruit training and officer training for domestic violence issues; ongoing relationships with advocacy groups; and the expansion of executive leadership programs — all while reducing overtime by about 8,700 hours.
“They achieved a lot, and they should be given credit for the work that they’ve done well,” Taketa said.
The review comes as police departments nationally and locally are facing increasing scrutiny. Also, a state lawmaker is questioning the oversight by the police commission.
Sen. Will Espero (D, Ewa Beach-Iroquois Point) said the department has demonstrated positive community relations through its programs, such as Keiki ID and neighborhood security watch, but he questions how much information the police commission received about misconduct by officers.
“The police commission is limited in its interactions with the department and its influence and oversight of the department,” said Espero, vice chairman of the Senate Public Safety, Inter-governmental and Military Affairs Committee.
He submitted proposals to the charter commission for changes he would like to see on the ballot later this year, such as giving the commission more power, including the ability to discipline officers.
Taketa acknowledged HPD had some negative publicity last year, such as a former officer being convicted of assaulting patrons in a game room while on duty. But he said the commission cannot base its review solely on public opinion.
“Through it all,” Taketa said, “we believe that the department was effectively run and the department ensured that public safety was maintained at all times.”
Taketa said the chief’s review looked at about 35 different criteria in five major areas: financial, leadership, managerial, police commission relations, and community relations. Overall, the review found the department has been proactive.
“You have to look at everything in total,” he said. “There are other factors that deal with the department’s relationship with the community besides just the public perception that we have to evaluate.”
Incidents that occurred after December will be part of the next review.
Taketa said media relations is one area that the chief could work on and that Chief Kealoha is committed to improving transparency and the department’s communication with the public through the media.
