Honolulu Police Staffing Task Force Backs Bonuses, Housing Stipends

A Honolulu City Council task force empaneled to help the Honolulu Police Department recruit and retain officers is recommending housing stipends, retention bonuses and other incentives.

HPD vacancies in July and police departments and law enforcement agencies nationwide have struggled with recruiting and retaining officers.

As of July 1 there were 465 vacancies for uniformed officers and 189 civilian openings—and 228 officers eligible for retirement. Eighteen officers have retired, 16 resigned, two were fired and four others were discharged.

Last year, 74 police officers, one reserve officer and 18 civilian employees retired.

In 2023, 68 officers and 10 civilian employees retired ; in 2022, 68 officers, three reserve officers and 20 civilian workers retired.

Those numbers were down from the COVID-19 period that saw 93 officers and 36 civilian employees retire in 2021, and 81 officers, one reserve officer and 11 civilian employees retire in 2020.

The 26-page final report from the Honolulu Police Department was released Tuesday, providing a more “comprehensive review of the Honolulu Police Department recruitment and retention challenges, ” according to a news release.

The report was formally submitted to the Honolulu City Council by Task Force Chair and Council Vice-Chair Andria Tupola.

“This report outlines a clear plan to increase and maintain HPD’s workforce.

"I look forward to working with the Council’s Budget Chair and the Mayor’s administration to follow the task force’s guidance,” said Tupola, in a statement.

The city pays $2, 000 to employees who refer candidates who are hired and complete “early service milestones ” according to the findings.

“Personal networks are a low-cost, high-yield source of applicants; structured bonuses formalize and scale what already happens informally, ” according to the report.

The Tampa Police Department operates a similar referral system.

Paying police officers and civilian personnel a monthly housing stipend of $500 would help offset Honolulu’s high housing costs, which are the “most frequently cited cause of recruitment failures and voluntary departures,” according to the report.

The Atlanta Police Department offers up to $850 a month to officers as a “residency and retention tool.”

Other recommendations included increasing the county contribution to health care costs, and creating parking incentives of up to $200 a month for civilian employees were also recommended. Uniformed HPD officers park at no expense.

Another recommendation would give bonuses to senior officers to keep them on the job.

The task force suggested offering up to $25,000 in retention incentives paid as $5,000 /year for five years to “uniformed officers and civilian personnel with 25+ years of service.”

“The goal is to delay retirement, preserve institutional knowledge, and avoid the steep cost of backfilling experienced roles,” according to the findings.

The Dallas Police Department uses a tiered retirement-deferral bonus of up to $40,000.

“I am grateful for the collaboration and the diverse perspectives contributed by every member of the task force, ” said HPD Major Parker Bode, in a statement. “Our collective work has resulted in a report that will support HPD’s recruitment and retention efforts now and well into the future.”

The report found that HPD faces a “structural and persistent vacancy problem.”

“Recruitment increases alone have not been sufficient to stabilize the workforce,” read the findings.” Without additional measures to retain existing officers and strengthen leadership continuity, vacancy growth is expected to continue.”

Interim Honolulu police Chief Rade K. Vanic told the Honolulu Star-Advertiser in a statement that the department remains fully committed to providing “consistent, effective public-safety services for our community.”

“While we continue working with city leadership, bargaining units, and community partners to strengthen our ranks, I want to highlight the strength of the officers and civilian employees we do have,” said Vanic. “They work hard every day to keep Honolulu safe. We’re actively improving recruitment, training, and support for our team so they have the resources they need to serve our residents at the highest level.”

On Nov.4, the City Council unanimously approved the collective bargaining agreement that officials hope will improve staffing and retention.

The total compensation package followed an arbitrator’s September decision after 18 months of statewide contract negotiations with the State of Hawaii Organization of Police Officers.

The contract gives most SHOPO members an increase of more than 27.5%.

That includes base wages, step increases for years of service and a $1,800 retention bonus July 1, and continued employer contributions covering 60% of health premiums, and 100% of life insurance coverage. Overtime rates increase with base pay.

The task force was made up by Tupola, city Deputy Managing Director Krishna F. Jayaram, Vanic, Assistant HPD Chief Aaron Takasaki-Young, Bode, city Department of Human Resources Director Nola N. Miyasaki, Acting Assistant Director Sarah Hirakami, SHOPO Vice President Jonathan Frye, John Higgins, senior outreach agent for the Hawaii Government Employees Association, Honolulu Police Commission Chair Kenneth Silva, and Thomas Kekoa Carvalho, a Background Investigations Supervisor with the Portland Police Bureau.

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