Letter: Caldwell ignored signs of deception at HPD

Mayor Kirk Caldwell insulted the citizens of Honolulu with his blithe comment that it’s “time to move on” from the Kealoha conspiracy convictions.

These crimes, their coverups, and the passive complicity of the Prosecutor’s Office all occurred under his watch.

Caldwell also was cozy with Ron Taketa, then chairman of the Honolulu Police Commission and head of the carpenters’ union. Caldwell benefited from the $3 million the union spent via its advocacy group, Pacific Resource Partnership, to help him win the 2012 mayoral election.

Why did Caldwell ignore all of the screaming signals of dysfunction and deception at the Honolulu Police Department? And the conflicts of interest rampant at the Prosecutor’s Office?

In Hawaii, one refrain remains true through the ages: Follow the money.

Jahan Byrne

Berkeley, Calif.

Click here to read more Letters to the Editor.