Delay HPD chief pick, commissioners should quit

I write to express my concern that City and County officials are downplaying the problems with the Honolulu Police Department that the federal indictment of ex-chief Louis Kealoha demonstrates. Some, in particular the acting chief and the police union SHOPO, wish to portray the corruption detailed in the indictment as the acts of a “few bad apples.” They express their general concern, then simply state that it’s “time to move forward.”

My response is an emphatic “no.” This is an important moment in Hawaii law enforcement history and in the history of Honolulu’s government. This is an historic moment when we must examine how HPD functions, how HPD is supervised, and make necessary corrections from what we learn.

It is not a time to “move forward” without critical examination of what occurred, and why it occurred without being noticed, by those empowered and entrusted to oversee HPD. Such historical moments and opportunities are rare and, when they come, must be taken advantage of in order to make real, long-lasting, and meaningful change.

The crimes detailed in the federal indictment describe more than the acts of a few “bad apples.” Instead, they reveal a systemic problem not only within HPD, but with those entities of city government charged with oversight of HPD. As stated by Acting San Diego U.S. Attorney Alana Robinson, the investigation into corruption at HPD is ongoing. It’s possible that this indictment is just the beginning.

As it is, it seems that much of the Criminal Intelligence Unit (CIU) was somehow involved in assisting the alleged conspiracy. And as stated at the news conference by HPD acting Chief Cary Okimoto, it does not appear that much has changed in how CIU, a black-ops unit within HPD solely accountable to the chief, operates.

And this indictment does not address the many other problems concerning the conduct of HPD reported by the press over the past several years, such as police officers involved in domestic abuse and physical assaults on citizens.

The Police Commission is set to select a new chief. Yet three members of that commission, two of whom are voting on the new chief, repeatedly gave the highest marks to ex-Chief Kealoha during his tenure, renewed his contract a year before his first term was up, paid him $250,000 to leave, and allowed him to “retire” rather than be fired for cause.

Moreover, these three commissioners did absolutely nothing to learn the facts behind the allegations that have been at the center of the pending federal case for the last two years. Even after Officer Niall Silva pled guilty and admitted there was, in fact, a conspiracy to frame Gerard Puana, uncle of Kealoha’s wife Katherine (she’s now a co-indictee). Even after Chief Kealoha received a target letter.

I have no doubt these commissioners are good people. However, we judge people by their actions. And here, their actions demonstrate that these remaining commissioners should not be involved in the selection of a new chief. All three of these commissioners should immediately resign or be asked to step aside by the mayor. They should not vote in a new chief as their last act as commissioners, given their track record. To allow them to do so would be a disservice to the public and the trust we, as citizens of Honolulu, placed in them.

Regardless, the selection of a new chief should be delayed so it can be done after examining the mistakes that were made and addressing those mistakes so they aren’t repeated. Moving forward simply for the sake of moving forward is irresponsible.

I urge others to speak out. Now. This is a moment in history where real change for good can be accomplished. Let’s not miss it.