The Honolulu Police Commission voted this week to find new leadership for the state's largest law enforcement organization, the most important function the panel performs.

The commission decided it needed a full five-year commitment to the job as outlined in the city's charter, a provision that wisely attempts to maintain continuity at the helm of the Honolulu Police Department. Outgoing Chief Boisse Correa indicated he was unlikely to serve five years.

Correa's tenure saw a reduction in crime to a 35-year low, full accreditation for the department and measurable boosts in patrols of the Chinatown and Waikiki districts. His successor needs to sustain and build on those gains.

But Correa also had a troubled relationship with some among the rank-and-file officers. Maintaining the respect of the force at all levels is no small matter for a police chief, especially at a time when budgets are tight and staff are often asked to do more with less.

The commission will meet June 3 to settle on a process for its selection of the next chief (Correa will serve through Aug. 27). It should seek ways to allow the public to meet at least the finalists in the search.

But the most crucial part of the job comes right at the start: discussing the characteristics needed for success by Honolulu's top police officer.

Someone who recognizes the value of "people skills" will be better positioned to command the strict discipline that is essential to a police force.

Typically this is an appointment made from within; HPD officers follow a career track that prepares them for advancement to the upper echelons. A national search would cast a wider net; many officers with Hawai'i ties have pursued careers in other states and may ultimately apply.

But it's imperative that the new chief understands O'ahu's cultural and social complexities. The chief directs the police force but needs the respect and trust of the community as well.