Good choice
Congratulations to our next chief of police, Benjamin Moszkowicz, and to the Police Commission who chose him.
My wife and I and some interested friends attended multiple commission hearings, and we testified in support of a new chief.
More than ever, we need a chief of police who can stand up for our rare and precious personal freedoms and individual rights, and we think we have one.
We all felt respected and heard by the commissioners, and the hearings seemed open, fair and small-town friendly.
Major Moszkowicz looks to be sincere, professional, courteous and approachable.
He speaks highly of the Bill of Rights and the Constitution. We look forward to his successful tenure as our next chief of police.
Roger Christie
Hilo
Preposterous comments
As a retired police captain, I want to comment on statements attributed to Thomas Fratinardo in the Dec. 13, article as reported by Tribune-Herald reporter John Burnett, in covering the final four applicants for police chief — in particular what was reported about the “culture” of the Hawaii Police Department.
The article insinuates the actions of Detective Albert Pacheco and Sgt. Kenneth Mathison in the deaths of their wives are linked to a police “culture,” and that police are “murderers.”
These actions happened at the hands of individuals acting on their own and not involving any other police officers.
There are many dedicated and caring police officers in our community, but like in any other occupation, there are a few that do not conform to the expected standards of their choice of employment.
To say that “police officers are murdering their wives in Hawaii” and there is an “epidemic” is preposterous. As a lifelong resident of the Big Island, these are the only times I can remember such tragedies happening.
Saying this is an “epidemic” and “culture” — should my wife be afraid that I will harm her, or that all wives of police officers are in imminent danger from their husbands? I certainly think not!
Police officers, in my opinion, are loving, caring, compassionate, dedicated and willing to serve the communities in which they live.
The article insinuating that there exists a murderous culture within the department is an unfair statement and an insult to all of our police officers, active or retired.
Lawrence Balberde
Hilo
