Chief Ben Moskowitz

The other thing to consider is this. If we had made the decision to arrest Mr. Laurel on July 19th, then his name, his identity would have been made public several days before he ultimately decided to commit suicide.

The other thing to consider is this. If we had made the decision to arrest Mr. Laurel on July 19th, then his name, his identity would have been made public several days before he ultimately decided to commit suicide.

I can't imagine, if he had been arrested, that within 48 hours, as required by Hawaii Revised Statute, that the prosecutor's office or any state agency would have authorized us levying a charge, which means that within 48 hours, Mr. Lora would have been released, and all of you would have been standing in his driveway to welcome him home. Because it's a story, right? It's important.

I can't imagine, if he had been arrested, that within 48 hours, as required by Hawaii Revised Statute, that the prosecutor's office or any state agency would have authorized us levying a charge, which means that within 48 hours, Mr. Lora would have been released, and all of you would have been standing in his driveway to welcome him home. Because it's a story, right? It's important.

So there were parts and there were pieces of the investigation that we held close to the vest. But we did that on purpose. As I mentioned, what I feel would have been the best evidence in this case would have come from Mr. Laurel. Unfortunately, we're not in a situation where we can get that from him now.

So there were parts and there were pieces of the investigation that we held close to the vest. But we did that on purpose. As I mentioned, what I feel would have been the best evidence in this case would have come from Mr. Laurel. Unfortunately, we're not in a situation where we can get that from him now.

My name is Ben Moskowitz. I'm the Chief of Police for the Hawaii Police Department. I've been here about a year and a half. Before joining the Hawaii Police Department, I was a major in Honolulu, in the Honolulu Police Department, and I worked there about 22, 22 and a half years.

My name is Ben Moskowitz. I'm the Chief of Police for the Hawaii Police Department. I've been here about a year and a half. Before joining the Hawaii Police Department, I was a major in Honolulu, in the Honolulu Police Department, and I worked there about 22, 22 and a half years.

I appreciate the opportunity because it's very difficult to squeeze a kind of a freshman-level constitutional law class that a lot of people don't have or don't understand into a 20-second soundbite that is not going to translate well. And that's why this is perfect, and I appreciate the opportunity.

I appreciate the opportunity because it's very difficult to squeeze a kind of a freshman-level constitutional law class that a lot of people don't have or don't understand into a 20-second soundbite that is not going to translate well. And that's why this is perfect, and I appreciate the opportunity.

In the criminal justice world, when police get sent to a case or there's some sort of report of some sort of crime, we determine that a crime has occurred or we have probable cause to believe that a crime has occurred. The threshold for us to apprehend a suspect, to issue a citation, like for driving without a license, for instance, or to make a physical arrest

In the criminal justice world, when police get sent to a case or there's some sort of report of some sort of crime, we determine that a crime has occurred or we have probable cause to believe that a crime has occurred. The threshold for us to apprehend a suspect, to issue a citation, like for driving without a license, for instance, or to make a physical arrest

is that we need to have probable cause. So the law in Hawaii defines probable cause as evidence that would lead a reasonable person to believe that a crime has been committed and that the suspect committed the crime. That differs significantly from the level of evidence that we would need to convict someone. So in order to convict someone, the Constitution sets forth a much higher burden, right?

is that we need to have probable cause. So the law in Hawaii defines probable cause as evidence that would lead a reasonable person to believe that a crime has been committed and that the suspect committed the crime. That differs significantly from the level of evidence that we would need to convict someone. So in order to convict someone, the Constitution sets forth a much higher burden, right?

A burden of proof beyond a reasonable doubt.

A burden of proof beyond a reasonable doubt.

So in this particular case, in order to arrest a suspect, whether it be issue a citation in lieu of physical arrest or physically arrest them, which would mean bring them to the station, take their fingerprints, take their picture, and at that point, take a criminal investigation and confer that case with the prosecutors and let the prosecutors decide, are they going to accept the case?

So in this particular case, in order to arrest a suspect, whether it be issue a citation in lieu of physical arrest or physically arrest them, which would mean bring them to the station, take their fingerprints, take their picture, and at that point, take a criminal investigation and confer that case with the prosecutors and let the prosecutors decide, are they going to accept the case?

Are they going to send the case back and want more investigation? Are they not going to accept the case? That conferral process happens after this decision by the investigator, is there probable cause or not for an arrest? So again, because each crime contains multiple elements often, we have to be able to establish probable cause for each element.

Are they going to send the case back and want more investigation? Are they not going to accept the case? That conferral process happens after this decision by the investigator, is there probable cause or not for an arrest? So again, because each crime contains multiple elements often, we have to be able to establish probable cause for each element.