A veteran law enforcement executive who retired to Honolulu last year is being considered by the City Council for a position on the Police Commission, bringing decades of experience to a city grappling with ongoing police leadership turmoil.
Christopher Magnus, who served as police chief in three different cities and most recently as U.S. Customs and Border Protection Commissioner, reached out to Mayor Rick Blangiardi with policing advice after watching a previous commission nominee's lackluster performance. According to Honolulu Civil Beat, Magnus so impressed the mayor that Blangiardi nominated him to the seven-member commission instead.
"I had three prior attempts to try to put somebody with police experience (on)," Blangiardi said last week. "Unable to do so. And then along comes a guy like Chris, and it just sort of jumps off the paper."
Four Decades in Law Enforcement
Magnus brings a distinguished 45-year career spanning multiple states and roles. He previously served as chief of police in Fargo, North Dakota; Richmond, California; and Tucson, Arizona, before President Joe Biden appointed him as CBP Commissioner in 2021. As detailed by U.S. Customs and Border Protection, he began his career in Michigan with the Livingston County Sheriff's Department before achieving the rank of captain with the Lansing Police Department.
The nomination comes at a critical juncture for Honolulu police oversight. Former Chief Joe Logan retired last month, roughly two years before the end of his five-year term, amid what Civil Beat reported as allegations that Mayor Blangiardi forced him out.
Progressive Policing Philosophy
Throughout his career, Magnus became known for implementing community-oriented reforms and emphasizing accountability. His progressive approach garnered national attention in December 2014 when he was photographed holding a Black Lives Matter sign at a protest, which he described as happening spontaneously during a community engagement effort.
Magnus has identified intellectual humility and good communication skills as top priorities for Honolulu's next police chief. He believes in "finding creative ways to communicate, bringing in diverse groups of people to talk about issues on a regular basis, not just relying on the same echo chamber," according to Civil Beat.
Controversial CBP Tenure
Magnus's tenure at CBP ended after 11 months amid political pressure in October 2022. Biden administration officials complained that he was unengaged and unequipped to manage the scope of his agency and had repeatedly missed White House meetings, leading to his resignation during a period of rising border crossings.
On his LinkedIn profile, Magnus acknowledged he "left CBP after a year for multiple reasons," but appreciated working with dedicated personnel and continues to support comprehensive immigration reform.
Vision for Commission Reform
Magnus has outlined several ideas for improving the Police Commission's effectiveness, including better training for commissioners, more follow-up on officer discipline, and meeting in more approachable spaces for community members who might feel uncomfortable entering a police station. He noted that the commission's power to hire and potentially fire the police chief is "very rare across the country" and believes the commission should have "maximum credibility with the people," as mentioned on Honolulu Civil Beat.
Leadership Crisis Context
The nomination occurs amid significant upheaval in Honolulu's police leadership. Logan has sued the city and Mayor Blangiardi for $780,000, alleging whistleblower retaliation. As reported by the Hawaii Tribune-Herald, the lawsuit claims the mayor threatened Logan and his family before forcing him to resign.
The mayor's attempt to replace Logan with Hawaii Police Chief Ben Moszkowicz backfired when Moszkowicz tried to rescind his resignation from the Hawaii Police Department after realizing Honolulu commissioners weren't supportive, resulting in him losing his Big Island position.
Next Steps
Council members will question Magnus at a Public Safety Committee meeting Thursday afternoon. If they vote to advance his nomination, a full council vote could come as soon as September. If approved, Magnus would fill the slot currently held by Police Commissioner Doug Chin.
Magnus currently resides in Mānoa and has been living in Hawaii since retiring from federal service in 2023. The Police Commission faces the challenge of conducting a search for a new police chief that commissioners acknowledge will take at least eight to nine months to complete.
