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HPD completes criminal probe of officer in alleged abuse case

CRAIG T. KOJIMA / CKOJIMA@STARADVERTISER.COM
HPD Chief Louis Kealoha at press conference after meeting with a group of female lawmakers.

The Honolulu Police Department’s criminal investigation into the alleged domestic abuse case involving Sgt. Darren Cachola has been completed and turned over to city Prosecutor Keith Kaneshiro, according to HPD Chief Louis Kealoha.

However, Kealoha said Tuesday that HPD has not yet completed its internal investigation into the actions by Cachola on Sept. 8 at a Waipahu restaurant and into the officers who responded to the incident but did not file a police report.

Kaneshiro’s office said the case is now under review. No charges have been filed.

Police officials stripped Cachola of his weapon and placed him on desk duty after seeing surveillance video of him apparently punching his girlfriend at Restaurant Kuni and Lounge in Waipahu.

Kealoha spoke Tuesday after meeting with seven members of the Hawaii Women’s State Legislative Caucus and two City councilwoman at HPD’s Beretania Street headquarters of HPD.

After the one-hour meeting, both sides described it as positive.

City Councilwoman Ann Kobayashi said both the police and the lawmakers were ready “to move forward … to restore trust in the department.”

 Kealoha told reporters, “The meeting was very cordial and non-confrontational.” Much of the discussion was “a renewed focus on domestic violence abuse,” he said.

Attending the meeting were state Sens. Rosalyn Baker, Suzanne Chun Oakland, Jill Tokuda and Laura Thielen; and councilwomen Kobayashi and Carol Fukunaga; and state Rep. Cynthia Thielen.

Besides Kealoha, Deputy Chiefs Dave Kajihiro and Marie McCauley and Assistant Chief Susan Dowsett represented HPD.

Cachola is an 18-year HPD veteran, who was promoted in July.

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