Major convicted of domestic abuse turns down HPD’s offer of promotion

Embattled Honolulu police Maj. Ryan Borges, a 30-year veteran, has declined a promotion to assistant chief, HPD’s third highest-ranking position, following weeks of controversy because of his history of domestic abuse.

In making the announcement Wednesday, Chief Louis Kealoha said Borges made the decision after the two talked.

“He has decided not to accept the upcoming promotion. He said that he does not want the recent controversy to continue to be a disruption and detract from the positive work that the department does.

“Although I still believe that Maj. Borges would make an excellent assistant chief, I respect and understand his choice.”

Kealoha, who also met with Mayor Kirk Caldwell, said he is working to find a replacement.

Commenting on Borges’ decision, Caldwell said Wednesday: “Domestic violence is not acceptable in our community and in law enforcement. Maj. Borges made the right decision to decline the promotion.”

State Sen. Will Espero and others opposed the officer’s Feb. 3 appointment because Borges was convicted in 1994 of a domestic violence incident. Borges pleaded guilty to second-degree terroristic threatening for threatening his wife with a handgun, and received probation.

Borges “has been honest and open about his past,” Kealoha said. “We’ve all made mistakes in our lives, but what’s important is what we do afterwards.”

However, Espero said the promotion sends the wrong message about how the department views domestic violence.

Espero (D, Ewa Beach-Iroquois Point) said he also was concerned about a 2014 case involving a temporary restraining order against Borges. Allegations of threats brought by the former boyfriend of Borges’ daughter were dismissed in court, said Borges’ attorney for the case, Richard Wurdeman.

Borges also was criticized because he sought letters of support from community leaders after his appointment was announced.

Espero described a letter addressed to “Brothers and Sisters in Christ” as unbecoming of an officer in a high management position because in it Borges called Espero “the enemy” and Borges maintained that he was under “a spiritual attack.”

An internal affairs investigation was started by police after Borges’ solicitation efforts were made public.

However, HPD Deputy Chief Marie McCauley said in a statement Tuesday that “at this time it appears that the letter from Maj. Borges was sent out after the decision to promote him had been made.”

“If that is the case,” she continued, “the departmental standard that prohibits (seeking to influence) personal preferment would not apply.”

Sixteen letters of support were posted on HPD’s Facebook page on Friday. Among them were letters from former Lt. Gov. Duke Aiona, Honolulu City Council Chairman Ernie Martin, Honolulu Fire Chief Manuel Neves, Hawaiian activist Walter Ritte and retired Judge Michael Town.

Martin said Wednesday that the decision to decline promotion must have been a rough one for Borges and his family, adding that he had worked years to move up HPD’s ranks.

“In hindsight, it was probably the best decision, maybe not for himself, personally,” Martin said. “But with all the controversy surrounding his promotion, I think ultimately, knowing the major the way that I do, he put the betterment of the department ahead of himself, personally.”

Martin said he got to know Borges because he has been major for the Windward District, part of which is in Martin’s Council district. “He’s a good guy.”

While Borges’ police powers were removed in 1995 for a five-year period, he was promoted to sergeant.

Gov. Ben Cayetano gave him a pardon in 2001, so that he could keep his job and he was promoted to lieutenant.

In 2014, Borges was promoted to major.

Borges was selected for promotion to assistant chief from a pool of six candidates by the chief’s panel, which consists of the chief and his two deputies. His promotion had been slated to take effect Feb. 28.

Star-Advertiser reporter Gordon Y.K. Pang contributed to this report.