Honolulu Police Department to Reassign 100 Officers to Patrol Amid Overtime Challenges

HONOLULU (Hawaii News Now) – The Honolulu Police Department (HPD) will begin reallocating 100 officers to patrol duties on November 1 as part of efforts to lower overtime expenses and improve emergency response times. During a press conference, HPD Chief David Lazar emphasized that the strategy aims to restore officers ‘back on the road and back at the stations’ while maintaining effective response capabilities.

The reassignments will involve personnel from various units, including the chief’s office, the Community Affairs Division, and traffic units, among others. Chief Lazar stated the intention is to provide enhanced service to the community by allowing officers to support their colleagues on patrol. In addition, the department will discontinue the 4th Watch training program, streamlining the transition of officers into active service.

HPD’s current overtime budget is approximately $6.8 million per quarter but has recently exceeded this by about $6 million. The department is facing a significant staffing shortfall, with hundreds of officers below the mandated level established in 2007, impacting their patrol capacity. Despite these challenges, Chief Lazar reaffirmed that ongoing investigations will not be compromised as they work to balance patrol duties with addressing criminal activities.