JOHN BURNETT / HAWAII TRIBUNE-HERALD Hawaii County Police Chief Benjamin Moszkowicz addresses the Hawaii County Police Commission today in Hilo. A motion to accept the withdrawal of his resignation failed by a 4-4 vote at the commission’s special meeting.
JOHN BURNETT / HAWAII TRIBUNE-HERALD Hawaii County Police Chief Benjamin Moszkowicz addresses the Hawaii County Police Commission today in Hilo. A motion to accept the withdrawal of his resignation failed by a 4-4 vote at the commission’s special meeting.
HILO—The Hawaii County Police Commission handed Chief Benjamin Moszkowicz his walking papers today in a special meeting.
Commissioners split their vote, 4-4, on a motion to accept Moszkowicz’s June 4 emailed withdrawal of his resignation. He had resigned via email earlier that day in the wake of Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi’s announcement that Moszkowicz was his favored choice to be interim police chief for the Honolulu Police Department.
Moszkowicz needed five yes votes today to remain the Big Island’s top cop.
Commission Chairman Rick Robinson and Vice Chairman John Bertsch voted to accept Moszkowicz’s withdrawal of his resignation. They were joined by Commissioners Eileen Lacerte and Arthur Buckman.
Voting no to reject Moszkowicz’s withdrawal of his resignation were Commissioners Jacob Tavares, Greg Yamada, Wendy Botelho and Lloyd Enriques.
The commission also voted unanimously to allow Moszkowicz, whose resignation is effective Tuesday, to remain in the post until Aug. 31 so he can retire.
Moszkowicz told commissioners he has enough remaining vacation time to clear out of his office on Tuesday and return on Aug. 31 to turn in gear issued to him that belongs to the department.
Deputy Chief Reed Mahuna will become acting chief on July 16 and has the option of remaining in the position until the commission hires the next chief.
On June 2, and strongly recommended that the Honolulu Police Commission name Moszkowicz as the interim chief.
Moszkowicz submitted his resignation by email to Robinson two days later saying his last day on the job would be July 15. But Moszkowicz withdrew his resignation in a second email to Robinson mere hours later.
On June 18, the Honolulu commission ignored Blangiardi’s recommendation and chose Honolulu Deputy Chief Rade K. Vanic to serve as interim chief. Honolulu commissioners said they elected to follow the city charter and name the next-highest ranking officer to serve as the interim leader while the search for the city’s 13th chief is underway.
Vanic will start as Honolulu’s interim chief Wednesday and told the commission that he would apply for the permanent job.
Moszkowicz, a former major with 22 years at HPD, was one of four finalists for Honolulu’s chief when Logan was selected on May 23, 2022.
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