Episode 167: New HPD Chief David Lazar on leadership, safety on our roads, and staffing

On this week’s episode of the One O‘ahu Podcast, the Honolulu Police Department’s newest Chief of Police, Chief David Lazar joins host Brandi Higa to talk about his new leadership position, preventing traffic deaths, and department staffing.

The new Chief of Police

David Lazar is the 13th Chief of Police of the Honolulu Police Department (HPD), bringing more than 33 years of law enforcement experience including 24 years in combined police management and executive roles.

“It was really inspired by my mom,” said Chief Lazar. “She was a 911 dispatcher.”

For more on Chief Lazar’s background, please visit https://www.honolulupd.org/organization/chief-of-police/

Safer Roads, Together

Driven by a shared goal to protect every life on our streets, “Safer Roads, Together,” is the Honolulu Police Department’s comprehensive traffic safety initiative.

“We need to be thinking in terms of we’re going to have zero fatalities on our island,” added Chief Lazar. “That’s accomplished by what I call the three E’s. It’s education, it’s enforcement, and it’s engineering.” Chief Lazar goes on to explain this concept on this week’s episode of the One O ‘ahu Podcast.

HPD’s “Safer Roads, Together” campaign bridges the gap between proactive community engagement and strategic enforcement to address the critical issues facing our roadways. Learn more at https://www.honolulupd.org/safer-roads-together/

Staffing up the department

Even before being sworn-in as the new Chief of Police Chief Lazar acknowledged that staffing and retention are already on his radar. If staffing was graded like a report card, the Chief says he would give it a “C-.”

“We have to make sure there are enough officers on the road to keep all the officers safe,” explained Chief Lazar. “That’s what keeps me up at night. Are our officers safe? And do we have enough staff?”

The HPD Staffing and Retention Task Force published a report in 2025 on HPD’s staffing issues. It found that there are 450 current officer vacancies, and that there has been a steady increase in vacancies every year since 2021.

Chief Lazar goes on later in the podcast to discuss his plans for hiring and retention.

Interested in joining the department? Head to https://www.joinhonolulupd.org/ for more information.