Three Finalists Outline Priorities in Honolulu Police Chief Search
Why It Matters
Hawaii’s largest city is closing in on a decision that will shape policing in Honolulu for years to come. The selection of a new chief for the Honolulu Police Department — a process that drew more than 40 applicants — has reached its final stage, with the Police Commission expected to make its choice at a public session Wednesday.
What Happened
The Honolulu Police Commission narrowed a large candidate pool to three finalists last week to replace former Chief Joe Logan, who retired last summer. The three candidates are Mike Lambert, currently director of the state Department of Law Enforcement; David Lazar, who retired as assistant chief in San Francisco last year; and Scott Ebner, who spent the bulk of his career with the New Jersey State Police and most recently served as chief in Glynn County, Georgia.
All three finalists are scheduled to appear on a PBS public affairs program before meeting individually with the commission and then participating in an open public session Wednesday, when a selection is expected. Each candidate is also scheduled to meet with Mayor Rick Blangiardi next week.
In separate interviews this week, each finalist described his law enforcement background, priorities for the department, and position on key policy questions including technology adoption, community transparency, and cooperation with federal immigration enforcement.
A Closer Look at Ebner
Ebner, 57, brings more than three decades of law enforcement experience to the table. He spent 27 years with the New Jersey State Police, rising to the rank of lieutenant colonel, before taking over as police chief and public safety director in Glynn County, Georgia, in 2023. He stepped down from that post in December and has since been doing public safety consulting work for the county.
He is the only finalist who has already held a chief’s position. During his tenure in Glynn County, Ebner said he prioritized rebuilding community trust in a department still grappling with the aftermath of the February 2020 shooting death of Ahmaud Arbery, an unarmed Black man killed while jogging. “Morale was really bad, trust in the community with the media was really low,” Ebner said, describing steps he took to improve relations, including regular briefings with reporters.
Ebner cited a 25% increase in recruitment and improved public perception as achievements during his time leading the department. He is also a proponent of technology-driven policing, including the use of drones, and said he would direct savings from unfilled vacancies toward equipment upgrades and infrastructure improvements.
On the question of cooperation with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement — an issue drawing public attention amid the Trump administration’s stepped-up federal enforcement activity — Ebner said the matter should be resolved at the policy level, not by a police chief. “We won’t do it,” he said, adding that the only scenario in which local cooperation would occur is if law changed to require it. He noted that in both New Jersey and Georgia, his departments did not work alongside federal immigration agents.
Ebner was also a finalist during Honolulu’s last chief search in 2022, and said he deliberately held back some specifics this time around after feeling his ideas were adopted by rival candidates during that earlier process. He has also applied for the chief position in Snoqualmie, Washington, where he was named a finalist earlier this month, but said his focus is on Honolulu — a city he says he has visited multiple times and where he is eager to serve.
By the Numbers
- 40+ — original candidates in the HPD chief search
- 3 — finalists selected by the Honolulu Police Commission
- 25% — recruitment increase Ebner reported during his tenure in Glynn County
- 27 years — Ebner’s tenure with the New Jersey State Police
- 2 — finalist appearances Ebner has made in Honolulu chief searches (2022 and current)
Zoom Out
The question of whether local police departments should cooperate with federal immigration authorities has become a flashpoint in jurisdictions across the country as enforcement actions have intensified. Many urban police departments have adopted formal non-cooperation policies, citing concerns about community trust and the risk of deterring crime reporting among immigrant populations. The debate has also touched Hawaii’s broader criminal justice landscape, where lawmakers have been weighing reductions in drug penalties and shorter probation terms as part of a larger overhaul of the state’s criminal code.
The HPD has also faced scrutiny over use-of-force incidents in recent years. Prosecutors previously found HPD officers justified in at least one high-profile shooting that drew public attention, a backdrop that adds weight to questions about departmental transparency and accountability.
What’s Next
The Honolulu Police Commission plans to conduct individual interviews with each of the three finalists before convening a public session Wednesday, at which a new chief is expected to be named. The selected candidate will then be subject to final discussions with Mayor Blangiardi. All three finalists are scheduled to appear on a PBS program before those meetings take place.