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HPD officer fatally injured while training on a solo bike

By Gordon Y.K. Pang

POSTED: 03:58 p.m. HST, Jul 23, 2012
LAST UPDATED: 07:27 p.m. HST, Jul 23, 2012

An on-duty Honolulu police officer was killed in an accident during a motorcycle training exercise in front of Mililani District Park about 11:40 a.m. today.

He was identified as Officer Chad Morimoto, 39.

Morimoto joined HPD in April 2004 and served as a Waikiki patrol officer before becoming a motorcycle patrolman in 2010, Police Chief Louis Kealoha said.

Chad Morimoto

Police investigators are still looking into the details of the crash on Lanikuhana Avenue. But Kealoha said it is believed Morimoto's motorcycle slid out from under him and struck a curb. He was taken in critical condition to Pali Momi Medical Center where he died a short time later.

"His commander described him as a positive and happy officer who was always smiling and loved to ride," Kealoha said.

Raheim Flores, an 18-year-old regular at the Mililani District Park skateboard park, said Monday was the first time he had seen police officers cone off Lanikuhana for a motorcycle exercise.

Flore said about five or six officers were in front of the park training when he arrived about 8:30 a.m. and were there when he some friends went to a nearby store to get some lunch. When they returned, they saw the officer on the ground and other officers around him.

Morimoto is the third Honolulu police officer to be killed while on-duty in a year. In January, Officer Garret Davis died after his patrol car was hit from behind by a pickup truck. In September, Officer Eric Fontes was killed when he was hit by a vehicle while assisting another officer with a traffic stop on Farrington Highway near Ko Olina.

Morimoto, of Salt Lake, leaves behind a wife, a son and a daughter.

---

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Larry01 wrote:

That should be "en route," not "on route."

on July 23,2012 | 12:57PM

allie wrote:

I am so sorry. I pray he recovers

on July 23,2012 | 01:04PM

squidman22 wrote:

That would be a miracle and a heck of a story!

on July 23,2012 | 02:32PM

silvangold wrote:

to allie: do you actually know how to read?

on July 23,2012 | 01:18PM

Kealii wrote:

yes she does, she's just a disgusting, no-class troll whom enjoys irritating others

on July 23,2012 | 01:39PM

control wrote:

name calling already and in such an inappropriate place? You people need to get your head examined.

on July 23,2012 | 03:59PM

kahu808 wrote:

"allie" aka "alice" on the Honolulu Topix Forum, has been know to make outrageous statements concerning the members of certain professions, including HPD. Some people are sick and tired of her/his (we have doubts about allie's gender) postings which can be very vicious.

on July 23,2012 | 05:00PM

EMS wrote:

Add Euphrosyne to the list of handles.

on July 24,2012 | 12:35AM

csdhawaii wrote:

Yes, it's true. She's a troll and just needs to be ignored.

on July 23,2012 | 05:21PM

Compassionate_Cat wrote:

So sad. May He rest in peace. God Bless his family and friends...

on July 23,2012 | 01:21PM

cojef wrote:

Ditto. Sad day for the family and "TheDepartment". Much condolences.

on July 23,2012 | 01:42PM

inverse wrote:

Hope more details come out soon as the first question is what type of HPD motorcycle training was he undergoing that resulted in his death?

on July 23,2012 | 01:42PM

inverse wrote:

I answered my own question by going to KGMB's website. I wasn't going to come to any conclusions as I had a feeling what they were doing, but sure enough the SAME tragedies that HPD motorcycle officers experienced in the past has happened AGAIN. According to KBMB's website, they motorcycle officers where practicing escort training exercise where motorcycle officers take turns accelerating as fast as they can on city streets so they ride up ahead of a dignity's caravan to block cross traffic or whatever. Officer Favela died in the same manner in Presdent Bush's motorcade in 2006 when he was in Hawaii. MANY motorcycle officers on the mainland have died as well on such escort detail, although NOT in a practice session.

on July 23,2012 | 02:00PM

Lowcal_Boy wrote:

Today I got stopped at the intersection of Lanikuhana Ave and Kamehameha Hwy for this escort training exercise. I watched the solo bike officers going through the intersection at about 60 to 70 MPH... maybe faster. There was a bump on the Ko‘olau side of Lanikuhana where I thought a couple of the riders were going to fly off their bikes. The bump definitely caught them by surprise. It gave me chills watching... and now to hear of the accident... so sad.

on July 23,2012 | 02:21PM

soundofreason wrote:

Just don't see the necessity/ real world practicality of this practice.

on July 23,2012 | 08:19PM

inverse wrote:

Read some eyewitness accounts from the other website, and some posters stated they saw HPD motorcycle officers driving 50mph on Millilani Sts with a speed limit of only 25mph, without sirens or blue lights, including cutting off cars at high rates of speeds. Yes, this is tragedy, however initial accounts are inferring that this death was avoidable and brings into question who of the Officer in charge who were running these "exercises". Even though it is early, early indications show a thorough investigation is needed on this death.

on July 23,2012 | 02:21PM

engineersoldier wrote:

You're right on. How well was this planned and executed, who will be held accountable. Will the HSA follow this up? We will probably never know. Accountability seems to go against the grain here in Hawaii.

on July 23,2012 | 05:17PM

Publicbraddah wrote:

Condolences to his HPD ohana and his family.

on July 23,2012 | 02:09PM

IkaikaAnderson wrote:

Our sincerest condolences to the officer's 'ohana and to the officer's colleagues at HPD- may God bless and be with them during this time.

on July 23,2012 | 02:10PM

MakaniKai wrote:

Aloha and prayers to Officer Morimoto's Ohana and the department. Blessings to his family during this very sad and difficult time. May you find comfort in Akua. Aloha.

on July 23,2012 | 03:22PM

ippikiokami wrote:

Another sad day in Hawaii. My sincere condolences to HPD Officer Chad Morimoto's family, friends and loved ones.

on July 23,2012 | 04:32PM

cmoribe wrote:

Rest in peace Ofc Morimoto. My thoughts and prayers are with your family.

on July 23,2012 | 05:33PM

Papakolea wrote:

Thank God for those brave men and women who are willing to put their lives on the line to protect us. Deepest condolences to Officer Morimoto's family and friends.

on July 23,2012 | 07:04PM

Bothrops wrote:

Time to forget motorcycles for HPD. The casualty rate is too high. They don't actually use the bikes for speed enforcement or anything else, it is just to escort visiting mucketymucks. Let's get real: let's end the carnage and the high cost to the taxpayers.

on July 23,2012 | 08:42PM