Off-duty Big Isle police officer accused of assaulting neighbor, 72
HAWAII COUNTY POLICE
Jami Harper
Hawaii County prosecutors have charged a 39-year-old police officer in the assault of a 72-year-old neighbor in Kailua-Kona.
Police said officers responded 11:14 p.m. Friday to a disturbance at an apartment building on the 75-5600 block of Kuakini Highway.
They learned through investigation that Jami Harper, an off-duty Kona patrol officer, had confronted the older man, who lives in the apartment above him.
Harper’s neighbor was taken to the Kona Community Hospital, treated for facial injuries and released Saturday.
Harper was taken to the same hospital Saturday for treatment of an undisclosed medical condition. He was then transferred to Hilo Medical Center, where he remained until Wednesday. He was then released and arrested and taken to the Hilo police cellblock while detectives investigated.
Harper was charged today with second-degree assault. His bail was set at $2,000, and remained at the cellblock.
If he does not post bail, he will make his first court appearance Thursday in Hilo District Court.
The Hawaii County Police Department’s Office of Professional Standards will conduct an internal administrative investigation into the assault, according to a news release. Harper was placed on administrative leave without pay pending the outcome of the investigation.
17 responses to “Off-duty Big Isle police officer accused of assaulting neighbor, 72”
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“They learned through investigation that Jami Harper, an off-duty Kona patrol officer, had confronted the older man, who lives in the apartment above him.” Confronted??? Hmmm… How about “stuck” or “assaulted” the older man?
A confrontation is not necessarily a physical touching. A confrontation may LEAD to an assault or other physical engagement, but to suggest that the story should have used “struck” (which is what I assume you meant instead of “stuck”) or “assaulted” is misplaced. There is insufficient information provided thus far in this breaking story.
This article makes it sound like the cop is guilty. He is still innocent until proven otherwise, if even that.
A 39 yr. old cop hit a 72 yr old man? Sounds like another out of control cop on a power trip. A common tale indeed.
Nothing more incompetent than Big Island cops. What a disaster that island is under the imbecilic Billy “the fraud” Kenoi.
Big island cops must be smoking the coffee leaves.
Just maybe the 72 years old is too much of a threat, probably because the older one being wiser and smarter than the young inexperienced cop! Just trying to find some semblance of justification for the young vibrate young man with a badge assaulting an elderly person!
Vibrate? You mean da guy stay buzzing?
I stay buzzing. And the batteries that keep on going and going, and going…
Oops! Meant vibrant! Thanks!
Some neighbors deserve a wake up. But at least, can we keep the drama out.
What’s happening on this Island? Is everyone on Crystal-Meth? Maybe the drinking water needs to be tested? This is happening much too often! Maybe we need to ask Dr. Hew Lin to conduct Ho’o’pono’pono? Enough already!
Ho malei malei. Work in harmony.
Big Fat Bully.
Upstairs neighbor could have been an annoying and noisy individual that aggravated the the resident in the lower unit. We live on the second floor of a 3 story condo with underground parking. Have had quiet and noisy neighbors in the 23 years we have lived in our unit. Some can be annoying and others very neighborly. Had to report a neighbor to security for curfew violations. Multi-storied building have curfew for noise abatement during the evening hours of 10PM to the morning hours of 7:00AM. Activities must be kept at minimum during the curfew hours.
Mr Jami Harper should have just called 911, and let the on duty police handle the 72 year old fellow. He, Jamie Harper should have known better than to approach the guy and to take matter’s into his own hand’s. What’s funny is they transferred him to Hilo station…WHY? He is still in lock up because he never had $2000 dollars to bail him self out…WHAT!!
Cheif Kubojiri will not stand for BULLIES on his force.
Good luck to Mr Jamie Harper in his future job hunting, maybe DLNR is looking for a few used up ex-cop’s.
Wrong move………