A federal judge has ordered that a GPS monitoring device be removed from the ankle of a former Honolulu police major facing extortion charges. 

Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas Muehleck says Carlton Nishimura’s motion to remove the device for medical reasons was granted during a hearing today.

Nishimura faces federal charges of extortion, lying to investigators, witness tampering and drug possession. He is awaiting trial.  

Federal Public Defender Peter Wolff’s motion asked that GPS monitoring be eliminated because of a doctor’s letter saying it’s contributing to a condition that requires medication, which has a negative effect on Nishimura’s cognition.

The motion claims he needs to eventually get off medication to prepare for trial.

Muehleck opposed eliminating GPS monitoring, noting that he’s already allowed to leave his parents’ Waianae home for special reasons.