HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – The Honolulu Police Commission will select a permanent police chief on Wednesday, and interim chief Rade Vanic says he has no idea why he was passed over again.

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After 26 years with the Honolulu Police Department, Vanic has served as interim chief twice. In an exclusive interview with Hawaii News Now, he said the Honolulu Police Commission gave him no indication why he was not selected as one of three finalists for the permanent job.

“I think that’s what kind of led to the disappointment, maybe a little bit of frustration also,” Vanic said.

Vanic defends department progress

Vanic said after listening to interviews with other candidates, he wanted to change the narrative about the department.

“Morale is down, there’s different things that are not being done, there are all of these different problems that the department is facing. It kind of just doesn’t take into consideration all of the progress that we’ve made,” Vanic said.

He cited the Safe and Sound program along the Leeward Coast, an island-wide drop in crime and doubling of police recruit class sizes. Vanic said morale is in a good place, despite the State of Hawaii Organization of Police Officers saying the opposite.

“Morale is good, but it can always get better,” Vanic said.

Jonathan Frye, vice-president of the State of Hawaii Organization of Police Officers, said morale remains low.

“It’s still pretty bad,” Frye said. “It’s mostly been status quo, right, across the board.”

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Union survey shows support for Lambert

A SHOPO survey of 635 officers shows nearly 90 percent support former HPD major Mike Lambert as the next chief.

“Advocate for our members, you know, local knowledge, trust, and in the community,” Frye said.

SHOPO says recruitment and retention are among top concerns. Vacancies have hit 460.

Vanic said the department has approximately 160 recruits in some form of training, which means that over the next 18 months or so, all of those recruits who are in training are going to be entering into a permanent work status.

Vanic said vacancies are a nationwide problem and that as interim chief he couldn’t implement widespread policy changes.

After years of a revolving door of police chiefs, the union is eager for stable leadership.

Vanic said he will continue to work for HPD and will support whoever becomes the next chief.

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