Former Honolulu police Chief Joe Logan and his wife, Gaylene, sat silently and expressionless Friday morning in a downtown office as their attorney explained a lawsuit Logan filed the day before against the city and its mayor for forcing his retirement in June. 

Logan claims Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi repeatedly overstepped his authority and meddled in police business, in particular with how the chief handled relationships with the press. He says the mayor threatened to spread lies about him in the media if he did not step down, and is suing Blangiardi for whistleblower retaliation and infliction of emotional distress. 

“Joe Logan was forced out of his position based upon threats and under duress for threats made by the mayor against himself and his family,” Logan’s attorney Joseph Rosenbaum said Friday.

Blangiardi announced Logan’s retirement in early June, saying it was a mutual agreement between Logan and the mayor for the good of the department.

That narrative was undermined when Logan sent a demand letter to the city requesting to be paid through the remainder of what was supposed to be a five-year term as chief. He was named to the position in May 2022. 

But the city and Logan’s attorney have refused to release the letter. Rosenbaum again said Friday he would not release the letter. 

In a written statement released by his office, Blangiardi said that Logan stepped down voluntarily and could have rescinded his resignation at any point. 

“The City will vigorously defend against these claims as we remain firmly focused on strengthening public safety in communities across O’ahu, advancing officer recruitment, and increasing public confidence in government,” the statement said.

Disagreements Over Media

Much of the friction between the mayor and the former chief centered around Logan’s relationship with the media and how he provided the public with information, according to the lawsuit. Conflicts between the two leaders started soon after Logan’s tenure began.

Blangiardi “repeatedly demanded” that Logan provide news organizations with access to encrypted police radios, according to the lawsuit. Logan refused, saying it violated federal policy and state law prohibiting public access to personally identifiable information. 

Media in Hawaiʻi had access to police scanners for decades before the HPD switched to an encrypted system in 2022. Local news organizations have consistently pushed to regain access, arguing that being able to access real-time emergency response information is critical to public safety and the work of journalists.

Bill 46, which would require police to develop a strategic plan for the release of radio communications to the media, is now before the Honolulu City Council but is drawing heavy opposition from police. 

Blangiardi also repeatedly told the former chief to remove homeless people from Waikīkī and Chinatown, the lawsuit says. Logan told him that was illegal, citing the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals case Martin v. Boise, in which the court held that homeless people could not be criminalized for sleeping outside if no alternative shelter was available.

When Logan explained this, the mayor became “frustrated and argumentative” and told the then-chief he could “come up with legal ways to make this happen,” the lawsuit says.

Asked about these claims, city spokesperson Scott Humber declined to comment beyond Friday morning’s written statement.

Logan also refused to bring his department’s public information officers into the mayor’s office so they could be criticized, saying that discussions about their performance should be handled through “proper channels.”

The lawsuit also details an incident in January 2024 when Blangiardi expressed frustration over allegations contained in a lawsuit that he learned about through media reports. The lawsuit was filed by a bystander who said he was beaten by multiple officers while he was standing near the scene of an officer-involved shooting on New Year’s Day 2024.

Blangiardi accused Logan of withholding information, “despite Chief Logan’s truthful explanation that he was not aware of the allegations in the lawsuit.” 

Logan claims Blangiardi tried to “micromanage” the police department on multiple occasions.

In one instance, the mayor said he wanted to pick the department’s new public information officers because Logan didn’t have the qualifications to know who would be good for the job. Blangiardi, who had a career in media and formerly worked as general manager of Hawaiʻi News Now, said Logan didn’t have 40 years of media experience like he did. 

Blangiardi also opposed the release of an internal police department survey conducted in March 2024, the lawsuit says. The survey was released in August of that year and exposed serious complaints among the ranks, including poor communication by leadership, outdated equipment and low morale.

After city lawyers determined the survey had to be released, Blangiardi was “extremely upset” and told Logan, “If you had asked me, I would have told you not to do such a survey.”

Blangiardi at the time spoke to reporters about the disconnect between the negative survey and the overwhelmingly positive review police commissioners had just given Logan. Blangiardi said at the time that he didn’t know anything about the survey until police commissioners told him about it on Aug. 7, 2024.

Forced Retirement

Logan says in the lawsuit that Blangiardi threatened him during a meeting on May 28 between the two men and the city’s managing director Michael Formby.

Blangiardi told Logan, “I am telling you to resign or I will make it very difficult for you and your family, and you know I can,” the complaint says. 

Logan took this as “a clear threat against himself and his family and became distraught causing severe emotional distress,” according to the lawsuit. 

Logan tried to push back, but later texted three Honolulu police commissioners to tell them the mayor was forcing him out and he didn’t want the department “dragged through the drama.” 

Two days later, before Logan made a final decision, Blangiardi contacted Hawaiʻi Police Chief Ben Moszkowicz to ask if he wanted to serve as interim chief in Honolulu, the lawsuit says. 

On June 2, Logan met with the mayor to tell him he would retire but asked if he could stay until a new chief was selected or until Aug. 1. Blangiardi said no. 

The mayor also arranged for TV cameras to be present that day when Logan left Blangiardi’s office, causing Logan to be “shocked and humiliated,” the lawsuit says. 

Blangiardi held a press conference later that day, stating that Logan had made the decision to retire after many conversations with the mayor. Blangiardi during the press conference described their final meeting as amicable. He also recommended Moszkowicz for the interim chief job.

But it is the Honolulu Police Commission, not the mayor, that has the power to select the chief. Moskowicz submitted a letter of resignation to his department. The Hawaiʻi County Police Commission later voted not to allow him to withdraw it. 

“Two counties in the state of Hawaiʻi lost their police chiefs,” the lawsuit says. “These actions have decreased the public confidence in the government of the City and County of Honolulu and in effect have reduced public safety.” 

Honolulu police Assistant Chief Rade Vanic is currently serving as interim chief of the department. 

Rosenbaum refused to answer many questions from the media on Friday, repeatedly directing reporters to the complaint. He also said neither Logan nor his wife would make any comments, despite being present.

He said the lawsuit had not yet been served to Blangiardi and the city. Blangiardi is on an eight-day trip to Japan to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the bombing of Hiroshima.

Rosenbaum said forcing Logan out of his role was a matter of public safety.

“I believe any time the chief of police is removed from his position, it leaves a void,” he said. “So public safety concerns are obviously paramount.”