HPD Admits It Withheld Arrest Info About New Police Chief’s Son
The police department put a “do not post to the media alert” on Zane Logan’s arrest until after they spoke to his father.
The Honolulu Police Department withheld a media report regarding the recent arrest of the newly appointed police chief’s son until after his father was notified, raising concerns about departmental transparency amid a shift in leadership.
Zane Logan, newly chosen Police Chief Joe Logan’s 36-year-old son, was arrested on suspicion of assault Tuesday evening at Ala Moana Beach Park.
But information about the case was not immediately shared with the media until after Logan was contacted, Interim Chief Rade Vanic said Wednesday during a news conference.
The press conference came just two days after Joe Logan, a retired major general with the military, was selected from among four finalists to be the Honolulu Police Department’s next police chief following a nearly yearlong search.
The police department generally posts “highlights” including information about arrests shortly after they are made, except for cases involving minors, sexual assaults or sensitive materials.
Vanic said that due to the “timing” of the incident, a commander at the department did not immediately release any information to avoid compromising the investigation, although Vanic did not elaborate on how the arrest information could have affected the investigation.
“I can tell you that this case was handled as we would handle any normal case,” Vanic said, calling allegations that the investigation was handled in a special way “completely false.”
Vanic said that it was not “completely unusual” for a suspect’s family to be contacted before details of the arrest are released. Vanic explained that Logan was notified of his son’s arrest before the media to confirm that the suspect was his son.
“But he wasn’t given any other information other than the fact that they were trying to determine if he was related to the individual that was arrested,” Vanic told reporters. No active investigations into whether the case was handled correctly were underway, he said.
Zane Logan remains in custody. Vanic said the department is pursuing felony charges after Logan allegedly assaulted another person with a hand tool.
“Based on the prosecutor’s review of the case we’ll move forward with charges as appropriate,” Vanic said.
Logan must still be medically cleared before being sworn in. He said he does not know the HPD policy regarding “do not post to the media” alerts on arrest information because he has been out of the department for 20 years.
Logan said HPD’s Criminal Investigation Division will be conducting the investigation into the allegations against his son and he will not be involved or be kept apprised of developments.
“By me coming forward and letting you know and hearing it from me, that shows you that I want my son to know that he is accountable for his own actions,” Logan said. “And number two, to the media, that I will treat everyone the same. I’m not giving any preferential treatment to my son.”
In the lead-up to his appointment, Logan told members of the police commission that he wants to build the public’s trust in the department, as well as increase recruitment and address officer wellness. The police chief earns an annual salary of more than $200,000.
Following the commission’s decision, Logan said he planned to talk to Vanic about making him his third-in-command as a deputy chief.
