HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – Honolulu’s interim chief of police says assaults on police officers are on the rise and calls the trend “deeply concerning.”
According to the Honolulu Police Department, assaults on police officers rose 20% from January through October compared to the same time last year.
Within the past week alone, police arrested two suspects in separate cases of alleged assaults on officers.
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“Assaults on officers are a complex issue driven by multiple factors — including mental health crises, substance abuse and increased confrontational behavior,” said interim Chief Rade Vanic.
Police said these assaults commonly happen during routine responses, including domestic incidents, intoxication calls, and mental health-related cases.
The department said that it’s safer for officers to work together, which is why the public may see multiple officers at one arrest.
Vanic reminded the public that it is a felony under state law to cause bodily injury to a law enforcement officer intentionally.
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“Our officers expect that suspects who assault them will be held accountable,” Vanic said.
HPD said it is taking steps to address officer safety, including:
- Expanding training and protective protocols for high-risk calls.
- Increasing coordination with mental health and substance abuse response partners.
- Reviewing deployment strategies to ensure the best use of available resources.
- Continuing to invest in officer wellness and resilience.
Vanic added, “Reducing these incidents requires a whole-of-community effort, not just more officers.”
Hawaii News Now reported on previous incidents of officer assault within the last four months, including:
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