The search for Hawaiʻi County’s new police chief was narrowed to five candidates following a Hawaiʻi County Police Commission meeting on November 18. Since then, one has withdrawn.

Candidates vying for the position of Police Chief for the Hawaiʻi Island Police Department. Met with the police commission on Monday at The Hawaii County Building to hear public testimony and answer questions. L-R: Sherry Bird, Edward Ignacio, Paul Applegate and Benjamin Moszkowicz. Photo: Tim Wright

The top four candidates are (in alphabetical order):

Paul N. Applegate, Acting Assistant Chief, Patrol Services Bureau at the Kauaʻi Police Department.

Sherry D. Bird, Police Major, Area II Field Operations Bureau, at the Hawaiʻi Police Department.

Edward G. Ignacio, retired Senior Resident Agent for the Federal Bureau of Investigations, former Police Officer at the Hawaiʻi Police Department and Honolulu Police Department. 

Benjamin T. Moszkowicz, Police Major, Traffic Division, at the Honolulu Police Department.

The Commission will interview the finalists, and the community can provide input at two upcoming meetings. Both meetings will start at 9 a.m. The first meeting will be held in Hilo, on Monday, Dec. 12, 2022, at the Hawaiʻi County Building, Council Chambers, Suite #1401, 25 Aupuni Street, Hilo, HI, and the second will be held in Kona on Tuesday, Dec. 13, 2022, at the West Hawaiʻi Civic Center, Council Chambers, Building A, 74-5044 Ane Keohokalole Highway, Kailua-Kona, HI.

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