Police transparency gaining momentum as political issue

News item: A Honolulu Police Department internal investigation starts after reports of a cheating scandal at the police department’s training academy.

News item: FBI arrests former Kauai Police “Officer of the Year.”

News item: HPD sergeant pulled over, smelling of alcohol, given “courtesy ride home.” Later arrested for DUI.

And last year, a bill regarding police misconduct described another aspect of police problems.

“Between May 2013 and September 2014, the Hawaii State Commission on the Status of Women received approximately 38 separate complaints from women who said officers with the Honolulu Police Department did not respond appropriately to allegations of abuse,” Senate Bill 497 read.

The bill, which did not pass, would repeal the prohibition on revealing the names of police officers guilty of misconduct.

Criticizing the police is something politicians usually don’t do. For most, hoping for a future in office, the benefits in “speaking truth to power” do not equal the value of a politically powerful police union endorsement.

As Ewa Beach Democrat Sen. Will Espero says, “All of us grew up believing the police and law enforcement are the good guys.”

Espero, then, is the outlier, a successful, longtime politician who is highlighting Hawaii’s law enforcement problems as he pushes forward with public statements, a series of bills and resolutions urging accountability and repeatedly raising police performance as a public issue.

“It is getting national and local attention because of police misconduct, bad behavior and shootings, all involving law enforcement,” Espero, who is also Senate vice president, said in an interview.

“Sadly there has been an uptick in officers being charged with crimes,” Espero said.

“The most recent case is an officer charged with DUI. His colleagues brought him home and instead of charging him, they in essence looked the other way in an attempt to protect him until they found out he was involved in an accident and he had to be charged.”

Espero is the political sort who looks at the Legislature issue buffet as time to load his plate.

He crusades for the Hawaii fashion industry, he sponsored legislation to make Hawaii “an international destination for culture and the arts,” and even backed legislation for a tattoo exposition.

Before his concern about police discipline and performance, Espero was the Legislature’s go-to guy for Hawaii’s not yet embryonic space tourism industry.

But, the police issue resonates. It is important governmental stuff even though saying you want the cops to shape up is a political risk.

Espero looks at the performance of Honolulu Police Chief Louis Kealoha, who is facing his own federal criminal investigation, and says he should at least temporarily step aside.

“I would replace him temporarily,” Espero said.

“There have been a plethora of negative situations, bad press, criminal activity and misconduct that has gotten to the point where many residents are openly wondering what is going on in the department,” said Espero.

The message appears to be picking up momentum. This year, for instance, five of 29 bills sponsored by the Hawaii Women’s Legislative Caucus deal with issues regarding the reforming the county police commissions, imposing police standards, and police conduct.

Asked about Espero’s work, former Gov. Ben Cayetano, who first appointed him to a legislative vacancy in 1999, said he is working well.

“I think he is doing the right thing. Of late, some issues relating to the police department have emerged that need to be aired and addressed publicly,” Cayetano said.

For Espero now, he will have to convince fellow lawmakers that encouraging a competent, professional, honest police force makes not just civic sense, but political sense.

Richard Borreca writes on politics on Sundays, Tuesdays and Fridays. Reach him at rborreca@staradvertiser.com.