Honolulu police Chief Arthur “Joe” Logan alleges he was forced to retire and is demanding the city pay him for the two years remaining on his contract.
Logan retained Honolulu attorney Joseph T. Rosenbaum and sent a demand letter to the city outlining his claim that he is owed two years of salary, about $460,000. Logan is paid about $230,000 a year and was serving a five-year term.
Rosenbaum declined comment. Rosenbaum’s practice specialties include employment law, civil rights and discrimination cases.
Logan retired after Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi made it clear he wanted new police leadership. For months Blangiardi mused to members of the Honolulu Police Commission that he wanted to move on from Logan.
Blangiardi declined comment Tuesday.
City officials would not release Logan’s demand letter, citing Hawaii Rules of Civil Procedure No. 408 that says the letter is protected from public disclosure.
The demand letter and potential for a lawsuit are the most recent fallout from Blangiardi’s attempt to replace Logan with Hawaii Police Department Chief Benjamin Moszkowicz.
Blangiardi announced Logan’s departure June 2 and recommended Moszkowicz to serve as interim chief starting today. Logan’s last day in the office was June 30. He officially retires from city service Aug. 1.
Moszkowicz, a former major with HPD, was one of four finalists for chief when Logan, 66, was selected May 23, 2022. Moszkowicz served 22 years with HPD before becoming chief on Hawaii island.
“After considerable discussion — it’s been ongoing for some time now — Joe has decided to retire, and so I have accepted his letter of resignation effective June 30th,” Blangiardi said during a June 2 news conference at Honolulu Hale.
“My strong recommendation is that Ben Moszkowicz take over the role of interim chief while we go about the task of looking for a chief,” the mayor said during the news conference, noting that commissioners were aware of his plans for some time.
Blangiardi said he spoke with Moszkowicz and Hawaii Mayor Kimo Alameda about the possible police leadership transition. On June 4, Moszkowicz sent an email announcing his resignation to Hawaii police officers and county officials.
That same day he tried to withdrawal his resignation.
On Thursday, the Hawaii Police Commission declined to let Moszkowicz pull his retirement letter and will look for a new leader after Moszkowicz retires Aug. 31.
At a special meeting in Hilo, commissioners split their vote, 4-4 on a motion to accept Moszkowicz’s June 4 emailed withdrawal of his resignation.
Moszkowicz needed five yes votes keep his job.
On June 18, the Hono-lulu Police Commission selected Rade K. Vanic to serve as interim Honolulu police chief as of today, ignoring Blangiardi’s recommendation.
Vanic, the deputy chief in charge of the department’s administrative operations, was unanimously selected by the seven-member commission to fill in for Logan.
Vanic also served as interim chief for nearly a year when Susan Ballard retired in June 2021.
Vanic said he will apply for the permanent job. Vanic took himself out of the running to replace Ballard when he served as interim chief following her retirement.
Blangiardi’s administration plans to introduce a charter amendment giving the office of the mayor the power to hire and fire the police and fire chiefs. Currently, only the police and fire commissions may hire or fire their chiefs. Commissioners are appointed by the mayor.
Source: The Garden Island
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