Former Honolulu police Chief Arthur “Joe” Logan filed a civil lawsuit Thursday accusing Mayor Rick Blangiardi of micromanaging the department, issuing illegal orders and threatening to “make it very difficult” for him and his family if he refused to step down.
The 15-page complaint filed in Oahu Circuit Court is the latest fallout from Blangiardi’s attempt to replace Logan with former Hawaii Police Chief Ben Moszkowicz.
Moszkowicz tried to rescind his resignation from the Hawaii Police Department after realizing that Honolulu police commissioners were not all aboard Blangiardi’s plan.
He lost his job when the Hawaii County Police Commission declined to let him withdraw his retirement letter. The Honolulu Police Commission selected Rade K. Vanic to serve as interim chief.
On Friday, Logan and his wife, Gaylene, sat next to Logan’s attorney, Joseph T. Rosenbaum, in Rosenbaum’s 20th-floor conference room on Alakea Street. Logan did not take questions from reporters nor did he issue a statement.
“The lawsuit alleges whistleblower retaliation for Joe Logan’s opposition to the mayor’s request for certain illegal conduct related to policing,” said Rosenbaum, speaking to reporters. “The complaint asserts that Joe Logan was forced out of his position based upon threats and under duress from threats made by the mayor against himself and his family. We believe that once the evidence comes out, that Mr. Logan will prevail in this matter.”
The illegal conduct that “violate federal and state law and constitutional requirements” alleged in the complaint cites several issues where Blangiardi allegedly ordered Logan to make changes that Logan refused.
Restoring news media access to first responder radio traffic, conducting homeless sweeps in Chinatown and Waikiki, and refusing to bring HPD’s public information officers to Blangiardi’s office for performance evaluations.
Logan argues that restoring access to first responder radio traffic reveals personal information in an illegal manner.
If police conduct homeless sweeps, the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals decision in Martin v. Boise opens the door for lawsuits against individual officers that could cost them their homes, according to the complaint.
Logan believes employee performance discussions should be handled “through proper channels as these were civil servants and laws govern their employment and discipline.”
The threats that were outlined in the complaint were threats against both Logan and his family.
“The threats that we understood were threats that he would make up, and create stories and provide the media false narratives regarding the chief (Logan),” Rosenbaum said.
The lawsuit names the city, unnamed city officials and Blangiardi individually and in his official capacity as mayor.
It alleges that on May 28, Blangiardi “summoned” Logan to what was supposed to be a regular weekly meeting, instructing him to “come alone,” and later added the city managing director to the meeting.
The lawsuit alleges that Blangiardi told Logan, “You knew this was coming, I am telling you to resign, or I will make it very difficult for you and your family, and you know I can.”
Logan took this as a “clear threat against himself and his family and became distraught causing severe emotional distress,” the lawsuit says.
Logan alleges that Blangiardi told him that he didn’t “want to drag the department and yourself through the drama.”
Blangiardi said in a statement today that he was “deeply disappointed that former Chief Logan has chosen to file this meritless complaint against the City.”
“He voluntarily stepped down as Chief and had every opportunity to rescind his resignation if he has changed his mind over the last two months,” Blangiardi said. “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.”
Logan countered Blangiardi’s demand and made a case for him to remain in charge of the largest law enforcement organization in Hawaii.
Blangiardi allegedly told Logan his pitch to keep his job was “very persuasive” but stated, “I’ve made up my mind, you need to resign,” according to the civil complaint. The mayor allegedly told Logan that he was to “resign, not retire.”
Logan told the mayor he would speak to his family about resigning/retiring and walked out of the meeting.
Immediately after the meeting with Blangiardi, Logan “texted, called, and spoke” with three Honolulu police commissioners and told them Blangiardi was “forcing him to resign by threatening him and his family” and that Logan wouldn’t want the department dragged through the drama, the suit says.
Logan also told his personal secretaries at HPD that the mayor was forcing him out.
On June 2 , Logan told Blangiardi he would step down and asked to stay on until a new chief was selected or until Aug 1. Blangiardi allegedly told him, “No, it has to be the end of June.”
Blangiardi announced that Logan was “retiring” and that Moszkowicz would be the interim chief at a news conference.
Logan accused Blangiardi of having a Hawaii News Now camera team set up and ready to film him walking in and out of Blangiardi’s office on June 2, leaving him “shocked and humiliated.”
The lawsuit also alleges that Blangiardi organized Logan’s ouster with the help of the State of Hawaii Organization of Police Officers.
The mayor could “use the police union to create false claims” about Logan, the complaint alleged.
In a statement to the Honolulu Star-Advertiser, Jonathan Frye, SHOPO Honolulu Chapter chair, said that Logan “demanding hundreds of thousands of dollars” for the final two years on his contract is “shameful.”
“Those are funds that could be invested in after-school programs for kids, better preparing our island for disaster, or fixing the police retention crisis that Logan ignored before he voluntarily retired and left his post.
“This behavior is especially disappointing because the men and women of the Honolulu Police Department, sworn and civilian, as well as the community, deserve the opportunity to rebuild the HPD in an environment free from outside chaos and trauma,” said Frye. “All Logan’s selfish actions do is create more turmoil and delay progress.
“The suggestion in the lawsuit that we would fabricate claims is an absolute falsehood and a cheap shot, designed only to increase his ability to take taxpayer money from our community.”
The reality is that SHOPO repeatedly tried to work cooperatively with former Chief Logan on this department’s most pressing needs, including the officer retention crisis, said Frye.
The Honolulu Police Commission released a statement Friday saying the commissioners respect Logan’s right to “seek legal recourse.”
“Our job as volunteer commissioners is to support the Honolulu Police Department and its mission under Interim Chief Rade Vanic and to conduct a thorough and thoughtful search for the permanent chief,” read the statement.
Blangiardi’s administration will introduce a charter amendment giving the Office of the Mayor the power to hire and fire the police and fire chiefs. Right now, only the police and fire commissions may hire or fire their chiefs. Commissioners are appointed by the mayor.