Honolulu Police Department Addresses Overtime Costs and Staffing Shortages with Patrol Redeployments
Honolulu Police Chief David Lazar is implementing operational adjustments to manage the department's budget and address severe staffing shortages across Oahu. The Honolulu Police Department (HPD) has an annual budget of approximately $400 million, with 85% allocated to salaries and personnel costs. This fiscal year, Lazar estimates a $34 million deficit, attributing it to funding cuts, unexpected raises, and hiring. In the first quarter, the department spent $13 million on overtime, double its budget. To counter this, Lazar announced plans in September to reassign about 100 officers back to patrol duties, a move that took effect on November 1. Approximately one-third of these reassigned officers came from administrative and specialized units, with the remainder being new recruits. The goal is to reduce overtime expenses and ensure patrol divisions are adequately staffed without further inflating taxpayer costs.
