HONOLULU (KHON2) — The Honolulu Police Department saw a 20% increase in assaults on officers so far this year compared to 2024, the department said.
Interim Police Chief Rade Vanic said that HPD works to ensure the safety of their officers, which is why the public may see multiple officers involved in one arrest, which can decrease the risk factor.
“The safety of our officers is a priority for the Honolulu Police Department,” Vanic said. “The rise in assaults on officers is deeply concerning.”
A majority of the assaults on officers occur during routine police responses to incidents such as domestic violence, intoxication calls or mental health-related cases, HPD said.
“Assaults on officers are a complex issue driven by multiple factors — including mental health crises, substance abuse and increased confrontational behavior,” Vanic said. “Reducing these incidents requires a whole-of-community effort, not just more officers. It is a felony under state law to intentionally or knowingly cause bodily injury to a law enforcement officer, and our officers expect that suspects who assault them will be held accountable.”
Given the increase in assaults, the department has implemented additional steps toward ensuring officer safety.
Officers now see expanded training and protective protocols and high-risk calls, increase work with partners specializing with mental health and substance abuse, enhanced deployment strategies to maximize available resources and further investment in officer wellness, HPD said.
“The department remains committed to transparency and accountability and to keeping the public informed with accurate and balanced information,” Vanic said. “I also commend the men and women of HPD who put their lives on the line every day to keep our community safe.”