Off the News: Public on hook to defend Kealoha

Public corruption is bad enough for the severe damage it does in eroding public trust in our government institutions, processes and officials. But add to that: the damage it does to the public purse.

That’s becoming increasingly evident in the convictions of Louis and Katherine Kealoha, the former Honolulu police chief and ex-deputy prosecutor, respectively. Even as it tries to claw back $250,000 severance from the ex-chief, the city may well be on the hook to pay his legal fees — plus possibly millions more in civil lawsuits due to the Kealohas’ corruption. And sadly, “the city” means Oahu taxpayers, which means you and me.