Eight candidates vying to become Hawaiʻi Police Department’s next chief will be interviewed later this week on topics ranging from immigration enforcement and homelessness to drug policy and public trust.
The Hawaiʻi County Police Commission will conduct the interviews Thursday and Friday at the West Hawaiʻi Civic Center in Kailua-Kona. Sessions begin at 9 a.m. each day in the County Council Chambers and will be open to the public. Residents may provide written or oral testimony during the meetings or observe online via Zoom.
The 19 written questions, provided to Aloha State Daily by Police and Fire Commissions Secretary Charisse Correa, asked applicants the following:
- Briefly describe your career in law enforcement.
- Briefly describe your motivation to apply for this position.
- Based on your knowledge of the Big Island and its demographics, identify the program areas you would focus on and how you would approach the role during your first six months as chief.
- Describe your general management style and how you would work with the Police Commission, employees, the community, SHOPO, the mayor and the County Council.
- Describe three specific accomplishments in your law enforcement career that are most relevant to the role of police chief.
- Describe your administrative experience working with outside agencies and provide an example of a successful program or partnership.
- Explain your approach to promoting 21st-century policing and the use of technology throughout the department.
- Describe your philosophy on community policing, the actions you would take to establish a program and how you would measure its effectiveness.
- Describe your administrative experience working with unions that represent sworn officers.
- Identify what you see as the three greatest challenges in recruiting and retaining police communications officers (dispatchers) and how you would address them.
- Identify what you see as the three greatest challenges in recruiting and retaining sworn officers and how you would address them.
- Describe your philosophy on promoting and developing officers from within the ranks.
- Share your thoughts on public perception of police and how, as chief, you would work to improve the department’s image.
- Describe your approach to enforcing laws related to illegal drug use and distribution.
- Describe how you would address homelessness while maintaining public safety.
- Given Hawaiʻi County’s cultural values and legal obligations, describe the appropriate role of the department in federal immigration enforcement.
- Explain how you would handle contentious or polarizing community issues, including immigration enforcement.
- Disclose or explain any past professional or personal conduct issues that may arise during the commission’s due diligence process.
- Is there anything else you would like the commission to know about your background that supports your candidacy for police chief?
Correa said the commission is reviewing candidate materials and finalizing interview logistics, noting that some aspects of the selection process have not yet been finalized and may be discussed during meetings held ahead of the interviews.
“Following the interviews, the Commission plans to discuss and determine which candidate is the best fit for the Police Chief position,” Correa told ASD.
The commission plans to make its decision once the selection process wraps up on Jan. 30. Any chosen candidate would receive a provisional appointment, pending the successful completion of required screening procedures such as a background check, psychological assessment and polygraph test.
The search began after the commission voted in July to accept the emailed resignation of former Chief Ben Moszkowicz. Although Moszkowicz later sought to rescind his resignation, the commission voted not to overturn its original decision.
Once interviews are complete, Correa said deliberations will likely consider the leadership qualities outlined in the job posting, the candidates’ written submissions and their interview responses. She told ASD that the commission has not discussed how public testimony will factor into the final decision.
The eight candidates are:
- Chad Janis, a captain with the Yakima, Washington, Police Department
- Jennifer Krauss, assistant chief of the Cheverly, Maryland, Police Department
- Anthony Kumamaru, a retired lieutenant with the Las Vegas Department of Public Safety
- Reed Mahuna, interim police chief of the Hawaiʻi Police Department
- John Matagi, a captain with the Washington State Patrol
- Kenneth Quiocho, assistant chief with the Hawaiʻi Police Department
- Timothy Wilson, former chief of police in Niue
- Paul Yang, a retired lieutenant with the San Diego Police Department
Public testimony is generally taken at the start of the meeting or when the agenda item is called, at the chair’s discretion. Testifiers are limited to five minutes.
Zoom links for the meetings are:
Thursday: https://www.zoomgov.com/j/1605555204.
Friday: https://www.zoomgov.com/j/1601026847.
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