HONOLULU (KHON2) — The State of Hawaii Organization of Police Officers and Hawaii Police Commission both released statements reacting to the former Honolulu Police Chief Joe Logan’s lawsuit against the City and County of Honolulu and Mayor Rick Blangiardi.
“Demanding hundreds of thousands of dollars for work you did not do, taking those resources from a community that needs it, is shameful,” SHOPO State Board Treasurer Nicholas Schlapak said. “Those are funds that could be invested in after-school programs for kids, better preparing our island for disaster, or fixing the police retention crisis that Logan ignored before he voluntarily retired and left his post.”
Schlapak continued to disavow the behavior demonstrated by Logan, describing Logan’s actions as ‘selfish.’
“This behavior is especially disappointing because the men and women of the Honolulu Police Department, sworn and civilian, as well as the community, deserve the opportunity to rebuild the HPD in an environment free from outside chaos and trauma,” he continued. “All Logan’s selfish actions do is create more turmoil and delay progress.”
The Honolulu Police Commission released the following statement on their stance with Logan and their priorities in the situation.
“We respect former Chief Logan’s right to seek legal recourse if he feels he has legal claims against the Mayor or the City and County of Honolulu,” Honolulu Police Commission Chair Kenneth Silva said. “Our job as volunteer commissioners is to respect the Honolulu Police Department and its mission under the Interim Chief Rade Vanic and to conduct a thorough and thoughtful search for the permanent Chief of Police. I know all of us on the commission are fully committed to carrying out our duties.”
The lawsuit claims Logan was forced to resign under duress and threats.
Logan alleges whistleblower retaliation and intentional infliction of emotional distress following what he said was his refusal to comply with what he believed were illegal demands.