Panel makes no decision on Honolulu police chief’s fate
BRUCE ASATO / JAN. 2012
The Honolulu Police Commission met for the first time since Chief Louis Kealoha surrendered his gun and badge and went on paid leave. Kealoha took leave after being notified he’s the target of a federal investigation.
After discussing Police Chief Louis Kealoha’s job status behind closed doors for two hours today, the Honolulu Police Commission chose not to make a decision on his fate but agreed to continue meeting until Friday.
Commission Chairman Max Sword told reporters after the meeting that the commission did agree to affirm the request made by Kealoha to put himself on leave with pay, but extended it indefinitely. Kealoha placed himself on “restriction of police authority” status for a month on Dec. 20 after the FBI sent him a letter informing him that he is the target of an investigation.
“We’re his boss,” Sword said.
Deputy Chief Cary Okimoto has been acting chief since Kealoha left Honolulu Police Department headquarters.
Sword declined to discuss what types of options are being discussed by the seven-member panel.
During the portion of the meeting that was open to the public, state Sen. Will Espero (D, Ewa Beach, Iroquois Point) and Brian Black of the Civil Beat Law Center for the Public Interest criticized commission members for choosing to hold their discussion on Kealoha’s fate in executive session.
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30 responses to “Panel makes no decision on Honolulu police chief’s fate”
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This police commission is an embarrassment to the community and has not done anything since Kealoha was asked to surrender his badge and handgun. Waiting for the feds do their job for them instead pushing forward to relieve the chief? Enough is enough, this chief has been sponging on the taxpayers long enough.
agree. He was a bad choice to be chief in any case. Even before his legal problems, which are very serious, it was clear he was over his head in this important job. We desperately need a new start and a much more intelligent and experienced chief. The public must trust their police and that has eroded the past few years. Very scary really.
No surprise here. Just as usual.
Aloha Kealoha…
This guy should have been removed long ago.
“The commission is expected to discuss Kealoha’s status during an executive session Wednesday that’s closed to the public.”
I guess they finally found the missing mailbox? Boy, I’m glad that it’ll take only 15 more years to solve the crime with 50 HPD full time investigators assigned to the case! LOL
For 4 straight years the Police commission rated Chief Kealoha as excellent. A few years ago, my wife and I met Chief Kealoha in person at a function. He showed a lot of Hawaiian spirit that I missed growing up in the housing area in the late 1950’s. The same Hawaiian spirit is lacking in our politicians and those who never lived in Hawaii long enough to understand the Aloha you’ll find in a Hawaiian person.
I hope Chief Kealoha stays on as Chief of the Honolulu Police Department.
ill-informed statement. Chief played you hon.
Exact same way UH bureaucrats in charge play their students to think they have professional management supporting them.
Then we find out just how backwards, incompetent UH management is.
Your telling me A Hawaiian was faking the built in Hawaiian Spirit? Your statement sounds that you are a mainland transplant or have not experience the Hawaiian Spirit that only comes from a Hawaiian.
Hawaiian Spirit has nothing to do with religion or sound like “voodoo.” Its plain old Hawaiian hospitality that you hardly find in Hawaii because of the changing population. Local people are moving to the West Coast because of the high coast of living caused by the Democratic party in control of Hawaii government. The locals leave, and the mainland haoles move here.
Really, so since he since he showed the Hawaiian spirit, he must be a good guy? How many so called “good guys” turn out to be bad guys. So far he has created a federal investigation trying to frame his uncle in law, used HPD resources to both commit the crime and then use HPD again to cover it up, and the icing on the cake : mentions aprwvious incident about the uncle which he well knew was improper to get the case thrown out. He needs to go.
You playing us with your career UH Student crap
The Chief disrespects and abuses the rights of those that he doesn’t like. He disrespects the law and has no aloha for those he doesn’t like.
He is not a Robin Hood who can decide who gets the service of the police dept and who gets punished. That’s not aloha.
What happened to the “sunshine” clause? When the commission goes “secret”, nothing good comes out. That means the news and uninformed public gets shut out. First time this happened.
It’s a personnel matter. The chief has rights too.
Kealoha put himself on leave with pay. Isn’t that what a “vacation” is?
Can we have a list of the police commission?
Placed on leave with pay indefinitely?…..seriously?
“On leave with pay…indefinitely.” Seems to be the norm in this State. Not only at HPD.
This news shows “business as usual”. Big surprise!!
CORRUPTION … at every level of HPD and city government.These people are Caldwell’s “Yes” men, ultimately it is he that is responsible for this fiasco. Honolulu voters deserve this type of treatment by city officials for re-electing a known crook with a poor track record of accomplishments.If Djou had been elected, both Kealoha’s would be history by now.
“No decision”. Ahhhh, Hawaiian Life at its best.
Kinda like “yes, with reservations…”
“Panel makes no decision on Honolulu police chief’s fate”
Great job guys!
Just look at the new Ron Taketa “our” mayor Krookwell appointed…
What a JOKE and waste of TX$ – fire the guy – send his sorry ass to prison > save money!
Being Hawaiian and having the Aloha spirit has nothing to do being accountable, competent, having character and integrity and living up to the standards that was sworn in and promised.
Being Hawaiian and having the Aloha spirit does mean much more good is expected of you. Not only was the Kealoha name tainted, you tried to taint the Puana name as well.
It hurts every proud Hawaiian, Hawaiians at heart and those rooting for our success as a people.
What makes this worse is this was for petty greed. No shame. Both Kealoha’s signed a sworn affidavit to uphold all laws. Both signed contracts that were broken and everyone should be okay with that?
The City Prosecuting Attorney is ok with this? The Mayor is ok with this?
Yet, homeless people are harrassed and jailed because their homeless!
Will I Aint should shut his grandstanding and work on prison drugs,ot,and guards abuse of sick leave. Watch what happens during the Superbowl. Civil beat should cover the inept State leader.
Did we expect anything different from the police commission? Might as well disband them and quit the shibai.
The police commission’s integrity is questionable…
Who knows, the panel maybe vulnerable to coercion by Chief Kealoha and is wife. The police commission members/panel probably owe the chief a few favors so the FBI should investigate the members of the police commission too.