Kealohas’ lawyer expects indictments
The criminal defense attorney hired by the Honolulu police chief and his prosecutor wife said he expects a federal grand jury to return indictments in the ongoing investigation surrounding possible wrongdoing within the Honolulu Police Department.
But Myles Breiner, who was retained by Police Chief Louis Kealoha and his wife, Katherine Kealoha, a deputy prosecutor for the city, stopped short of saying he expects his clients to be indicted.
He said the special prosecutor for the U.S. Attorney’s Office is looking at more than just the Kealohas, and a dozen or more police officers thus far have been subpoenaed to testify before the grand jury.
Given the resources that have been devoted to the monthslong investigation, “my sense is the special prosecutor is not going to leave town without an indictment,” Breiner said. “They’re simply not going to spend that kind of money” and not get an indictment.
The investigation is being headed by Michael Wheat, a federal prosecutor from San Diego. In the grand jury process, prosecutors present evidence to jury members, who decide whether the material is sufficient to warrant criminal charges. But the suspects are not there to defend themselves.
Breiner told the Honolulu Star-Advertiser on Thursday that the Kealohas hired him because they were concerned that they were targets of an unfair investigation, have been pilloried by leaks to the media from what is supposed to be a secret process and have not been given the opportunity to address any allegations.
Don't miss out on what's happening!
Stay in touch with breaking news, as it happens, conveniently in your email inbox. It's FREE!
“They feel they’ve been convicted in the media,” Breiner said. “And as far as I’m concerned and they’re concerned, they have done nothing wrong.”
Mayor Kirk Caldwell told reporters Thursday that he was confident the Honolulu Police Commission will “take immediate, strong, forceful and appropriate action” if any indictments are handed down.
Caldwell said he would be concerned if evidence indicated that HPD was not being well managed. But he said Honolulu continues to rank as one of the safest big cities in the country, and “I think that speaks to the management of the department at all levels.”
Asked whether he thought Kealoha should step aside at least temporarily given the distraction of the ongoing investigation, Caldwell said, “I think you’ve got to ask the chief that question.”
Breiner said Kealoha should “absolutely not” step down, even if he’s indicted, because the indictment subsequently could be dismissed. “He’s entitled to his day in court, just like anyone else.”
Breiner said he has spoken to attorneys representing some of the officers who have been called before the grand jury, including several who invoked their right to remain silent.
Officers who invoked that right subsequently had family members subpoenaed, according to Breiner, who interpreted the tactic as a way for prosecutors to try to pressure officers into testifying.
As a criminal defense attorney, Breiner has represented clients who have sued the police department.
———
Star-Advertiser reporter Gordon Y.K. Pang contributed to this report.
29 responses to “Kealohas’ lawyer expects indictments”
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.
A police chief should be beyond reproach, and should be setting an example of honorable service to the public. But the stench stink of wrongdoing emanating from Kealoha is so strong, it’s amazing that he can show his face.
Obviously he doesn’t care about the department. Only himself.
RESIGN SCUMBAG!!!
Agree…But my concerns about Kealoha have less to do with the pending indictment than it does the alarming deterioration of HPD under his lack of leadership. That is scary. He should have been removed by the weak police commission long ago.
If the Feds are going to indict the Kealohas, then they must be guilty of some charges. He should resign as chief and his wife as prosecutor when it happens.
Both are to proud to step down.
Another scandal in Hawaii nei. HPD was always corrupt and now even worse. Kealoha will have his day in court and with God. Remember God don’t sleep, he know everything and he sees it all. What you do will come back to face you, face to face. If the Kealoha’s can sleep at night knowing what they have been doing is wrong, they are good, but judgement day will be here soon.
If indictments truly come forward, the chief and his wife should at least temporarily step down. If not, the police commission and the city prosecutor should act quickly to temporarily remove them. Its called doing the right thing.
Honolulu Police Commission. LOLOLOLOLOLOLMFAO!!!!!
agree
This mess is on Caldwell and his police commission
No this mess is on the Kealoha’s for their actions.
Nope, they knew the game and played it well. Now its end game.
When any police officer gets indicted for a crime, they get their police powers rescinded until they are convicted (then fired) or the charges are dismissed. So is the Police Commission and Caldwell going to do the right and procedural thing and ROPA (Rescinding of Police Authority) the Chief after he is indicted? Guess we shall see if they have the cajones.
How can someone who allowed an already bloated $5 BILLION dollar public transport project swell to almost $7 Billion with no end in increases in sight, “do the right thing”? A troubled PD is inconsequential compared to a few billion dollars being squandered.
Where there is smoke, there’s a fire somewhere? Or,smoke is always associated with fire? Question, questions??
In any other State or country, the police chief would step down in order not to taint the police dept. but only in Hawaii where we have criminals, yes, I know, he has not been indicted or charged, but just the fact that he is under suspicion is sufficient for him to step down and that goes for his incompetent prosector wife.
“In any other State or country, the police chief would step down in order not to taint the police dept.”
Not necessarily. Hubris, arrogance, money and power are amazing motivators for someone to not recognize doing the “right thing”.
Ah, Myles Breiner, you just want the publicity!
Good for da kine resumé and ads
All da Honolulu prosecutors have his name card….jus in case, yeah?
What exactly is there crime or crimes?
If I remember correctly, on the news they said, if they are indicted, they would be removed from their positions and assigned somewhere else.
Any good defense attorney like Breiner would naturally advise the Kealoha’s not to resign or agree to removed/suspended as this would almost be tantamount
to admitting wrongdoing. Given the scope of this Federal investigation, it seems likely that the Kealoha’s and others will be indicted.
Historically here, the most effective prosecutions of police or politicians have been at the hands of the Feds and not the City or State which seems to indicate
how deep the corruption and no say nothing philosophy goes here.
yawn…….get rid of these people already
The article reads “possible wrongdoing within the honolulu police dept.” Hire retired Major Tom Fujii who used to be on the news all the time as the spokesman for the police dept. as police chief. Our favorite cop.
Another public employee doing a lousy job. Maybe they should just switch them around every once in awhile to minimize the damage they can do. Let’s put Norm Chow in charge of HPD and Gib Arnold can manage the rail project. How much worse could it get?
I got robbed, at 3pm in the afternoon ON A SATURDAY, on Atkinson Drive fronting Ala Moana Hotel, by three bike riding thieves. I have been told that this happens FREQUENTLY to tourists as well as locals. I would love to live the life of a politician, insulated from real world troubles and pretend to be in touch with “the people”. Honolulu may be safer than other cities across the nation, but it is nowhere near as safe as it should be.
Breiner said “Kealoha should “absolutely not” step down, even if he’s indicted, because the indictment subsequently could be dismissed. – Double standard, Double standard – never mind waiting for an indictment, Officers that are even under investigation get put on leave as standing department policy. Apparently that policy only applies to the rank and file. Kealoha and the police commission should all resign. Caldwell doesn’t have the balls to push Kealoha out because Shopo still supports him and he’s not willing to go against a public worker union. They apparently like a weak corrupt chief that lets them drive policy for HPD.