Hawai‘i Police Department
Office of the Chief
Chief Benjamin Moszkowicz
Phone: (808) 961-2244
Media Release
After reaffirming his oath during a public swearing-in ceremony in Kona on Friday, January 20, 2023, Hawai‘i Police Department Chief Benjamin Moszkowicz laid out the top five priorities he plans to address during his first year as Chief.
“I am grateful for the opportunity to serve as the Hawai‘i County of Chief of Police, says Chief Moszkowicz. “I see my job as an opportunity to help provide personnel on the front lines what they need to get the job done safely and efficiently, whether it be support, training, equipment, motivation, or even additional staffing. I am looking forward to serving the women and men of the department who dedicate their lives to making our community a safe place.”
The Chief’s priorities include:
● Kick-Start Recruiting Efforts
Starting this week, Chief Moszkowicz will be meeting with educators and community partners that work with older youth and young adults in our community to encourage careers with Hawai‘i Police Department. In addition to sworn officers and dispatchers, the department has a broad array of career opportunities including information technology, forensics, cybersecurity, and administrative positions.
The goal is to provide young people with work experience on a contract basis, while helping the department with administrative tasks as the department work towards qualifying them to move into permanent positions as sworn officers, dispatchers, and professional staff members.
● Work Towards Establishing a Deferred Retirement Plan
“I plan to collaborate with legislators, labor unions, neighbor island police and fire chiefs, and the Employees Retirement System (ERS) to introduce a deferred retirement option plan,” says Chief Moszkowicz.
By tailoring the approach to create a budget-neutral solution for ERS, the plan would allow employees with enough years to retire to continue working and getting paid while they enter a program allowing them to accrue retirement benefits.
● Complete a Thorough Review of General Orders
Over the next 12 months, the Chief plans to review every General Order to ensure it reflects how the department is actually running, as well as make whatever adjustments are necessary to improve organization efficiency.
“The issue of promotions, transfers, rotations, and personnel movements is at the top of my list of General Orders to review,” says Chief Moszkowicz.
● Standardize Training and Documentation
The Chief is currently surveying command staff to determine what training is going on in each district and division around the island. The responses will be used to help identify best practices for different subject matter areas. In addition, the Chief plans to survey staff on future training needs and what training issues are seen as the most important.
Then, likely starting in March, the department will begin a standardized training regimen to make sure that regardless of district or division assignment, each and every member of the department is receiving the same pertinent, high-quality training.
Some training may be able to be accomplished online, but department-wide hands-on tactical, firearms, and survival training will almost certainly return during the first half of 2023. In addition, all training will be reported and documented in a standardized way.
● Encourage Community Outreach and Input
“At the most basic level, our job in the police department is to help the public feel safe,” says Chief Moszkowicz. “The only way we can gauge our success and identify areas for improvement, is to solicit feedback from the community.”
Every two years the department conducts an online Community Satisfaction Survey. The 2023 Community Satisfaction Survey begins February 1 and runs through February 28.
“It is only through honest communication that we have any hope of continuing to improve the department and the community,” adds the Chief.
