The search for new leadership is underway in two very different corners of the country, as Honolulu prepares to find its next police chief and the University of Louisiana at Lafayette embarks on its hunt for a new president. Both processes, though distinct in their context and stakes, highlight the growing demand for transparency, community involvement, and clear communication in public leadership appointments.
On Oʻahu, the wheels are finally turning for Honolulu’s top cop job. According to Civil Beat, a police headhunter will be on the island later this month to begin the search for candidates to replace former chief Joe Logan, who retired in June 2025 after roughly three years at the helm. The Honolulu Police Commission has inked a $121,900 contract with California-based Public Sector Search & Consulting Inc., a firm specializing in law enforcement executive hiring. Their task? To present three to five candidates for the seven-member commission to consider, with a new chief expected to be in place by May or June 2026.
This search comes on the heels of a somewhat checkered recent history for the Honolulu Police Department. Since Louis Kealoha’s promotion to chief in 2009, the department has weathered scandals, abrupt resignations, and public criticism. Kealoha’s tenure ended in disgrace after a federal corruption investigation led to his conviction and imprisonment, along with his wife, a deputy county prosecutor. The fallout from that case, which also ensnared several other officers and city officials, left a mark that the department is still trying to shake off.
Kealoha was succeeded by Susan Ballard, who herself stepped down in 2021 following scrutiny over her management practices. Joe Logan, a former adjutant general with the Hawaiʻi National Guard, was then selected through another search firm process, but that round was widely criticized for its lack of transparency and insufficient community engagement. Many in the community and even some commission members felt the process was too insular, with too few opportunities for public input or meaningful feedback.
This time, the commission is determined to do things differently. "I want us to over-communicate," said Commission Chair Ken Silva, emphasizing the need for openness throughout the process. According to Civil Beat, the new contract with Public Sector Search & Consulting Inc. includes provisions that prevent the consultant from withholding information about candidates. This means the public will have access to candidate dossiers and the results of surveys conducted among stakeholders, police employees, and the broader community—a significant shift from previous searches, where much of this material was deemed proprietary and kept under wraps.
The commission is also planning to hold more public forums than in the past, aiming to bring the selection process out of the closed-door conference rooms and into local neighborhoods. Public forums for community feedback are expected to begin in mid-April 2026, with the hope that these sessions will allow residents to voice their priorities and concerns directly to the decision-makers.
One major stakeholder in this process is the State of Hawaiʻi Organization of Police Officers (SHOPO), the statewide police union. The contract requires the search firm to involve SHOPO early and often, including interviews with as many rank-and-file members as possible and listening sessions at district police stations during shift changes. SHOPO President Don Faumuina welcomed this approach, telling Civil Beat, "Honestly, we haven’t always felt heard in decisions that directly affect the day to day policing and the direction of the department."
SHOPO recently surveyed about 600 officers and civilian staff to identify what they want in their next chief. The results? A leader who will "publicly stand up for our officers, defend them when they get it right, and stand up for HPD and ensure officers have the resources that we need to protect our community," Faumuina said. The union also stressed the importance of patrol staffing, retaining good officers, and selecting someone with real street-level experience—not just a career spent behind a desk.
Once the search firm presents its shortlist of finalists, the Police Commission will take the reins, organizing public forums and seeking feedback from the community before making a final decision. Silva has indicated that the commission wants to partner with neighborhood boards to determine the best locations for these forums, ensuring that a broad cross-section of residents get a chance to weigh in. Moving meetings out of the downtown headquarters and into local communities is itself a big step toward greater engagement.
Meanwhile, nearly 4,000 miles away in Louisiana, the University of Louisiana at Lafayette is also gearing up for a leadership transition. On January 14, 2026, the university’s Presidential Search Committee convened its inaugural meeting at the Picard Center, located at 200 E. Devalcourt Street. The session, which was live streamed on the UL System YouTube Channel, was designed to gather input on the desired qualities for the next president, accept the committee’s charge, and approve the search timeline.
Information about the search is being made readily available through the UL Lafayette Presidential Search webpage, reflecting a commitment to keeping the university community informed and involved. During the meeting, representatives from various university constituencies shared their perspectives on what kind of leader the institution needs at this pivotal moment. As with Honolulu’s police chief search, there is a clear emphasis on transparency and stakeholder engagement—a trend that appears to be gaining traction in public sector hiring across the country.
Both Honolulu and UL Lafayette are facing the challenges that come with leadership transitions head-on, recognizing that the stakes are high not just for the organizations themselves, but for the communities they serve. In Honolulu, the scars of past scandals and the need for a chief who can restore trust and stability loom large. In Lafayette, the university is seeking a president who can navigate the complexities of higher education in a rapidly changing world.
What ties these two searches together is a growing recognition that leadership is not just about resumes or interviews behind closed doors. It’s about listening—really listening—to the people most affected by the decisions being made. Whether it’s police officers on the beat, university faculty and students, or residents concerned about public safety and community values, their voices are shaping the criteria for what comes next.
As both processes unfold, all eyes will be on how well these institutions deliver on their promises of transparency, engagement, and accountability. The outcomes will not only determine who leads, but also set the tone for how these organizations interact with the communities that depend on them. If nothing else, the message is clear: the era of secretive, top-down leadership searches is giving way to something more open, more inclusive, and—hopefully—more effective.
Leadership transitions are never easy, but by opening the doors and inviting the community in, both Honolulu and UL Lafayette are taking important steps toward building trust and ensuring their futures are shaped by the people they serve.
