Fallout over police union leader's comments continues
By Johnny Brannon
Advertiser Staff Writer
A police union leader who called on Honolulu Police Chief Lee Donohue to resign met behind closed doors yesterday with the union's board of directors over controversial statements that have angered some current and former police officers.
Detective Alex Garcia, who heads the O'ahu chapter of the State of Hawai'i Organization of Police Officers, publicly called for Donohue and his command staff to resign following the indictment Thursday of two high-ranking officers on felony theft charges.
The union's board of directors has not decided how to proceed, SHOPO president Lt. Dennis Kunitake said. The board's policy is to discuss and approve all controversial public statements beforehand, he said.
Garcia declined to comment on any possible board action and said there had been no decision whether to proceed with a rank-and-file vote of no confidence against Donohue that Garcia had sought.
The accused officers, Assistant Police Chief Rafael Fajardo and Maj. Jeffrey Owens, allegedly diverted money intended to buy food for prisoners held at police headquarters between 1995 and September 2000.
Some of the money was allegedly used to purchase luxury meals served to police officers, including Donohue and top members of his administration. Donohue said he had eaten some of the meals but had no idea they were paid for with city money.
Donohue has declined to say where he believed the meals came from because the probe is ongoing. Yesterday, he declined to say whether investigators had interviewed him about the case. He said he ordered the investigation after Maj. Gordon Young raised concerns about the food purchases.
Meanwhile, Mayor Jeremy Harris said yesterday he had complete confidence that the police department can conduct a thorough investigation without bringing in an outside agency such as the state Attorney General.
"The police department has the capability to investigate itself, and the prosecutor, as in the past, has the capability to bring charges against police officers who break the law," Harris said. "The evidence, as shown by these indictments, is that the system works and the chief is on top of it."
Owens pleaded not guilty to second-degree theft on Monday. Fajardo, the highest-ranking Honolulu police officer ever indicted on felony charges, is scheduled to be arraigned tomorrow.
Donohue has relieved both officers of their police powers and command responsibilities. The theft charges carry a prison term of up to five years and a fine of up to $10,000.
Prosecutors have declined to say whether either of the indicted officers profited from any diversion of city money. But state business records show that one company that supplied food to the department is owned by the family of a former business partner of one of the officers.
J.S. and B. Catering, Inc., provided breakfasts to the police department on several occasions, said the company's president, John Miura, 24. He said he did not recall specifically when the company had supplied the food, but that it had been within the past five years.
Miura said his company had supplied meals that included Portuguese sausage, bacon and other breakfast fare. But he said it had not served more expensive dishes, such as prime rib and rack of lamb, that were allegedly served at police command staff meetings.
"We don't even carry rack of lamb," he said.
Miura is the son of Walter Miura, 68, who from 1992 to 1995 owned the Visual Memories photo studio on Kapi'olani Boulevard with Fajardo, records show.
John Miura initially said he did not know whether Fajardo had a financial interest in the catering company, then said he was sure Fajardo did not. John Miura said his father, who state records do not list as one of the company's officers, was involved in the business, however.
"He's just my dad helping us out," John Miura said.
Walter Miura declined to answer questions about the company or his business ties to Fajardo, but said his family was not involved in any misuse of police department money.
"We had nothing to do with it," he said before hanging up. He did not return subsequent calls.
A police spokeswoman said the department had no record of purchasing food from the catering company or another one that Walter Miura owned until 1995. Police officers are not allowed to accept or solicit gifts, including food.
Fajardo could not be reached for comment. His attorney, Howard Luke, said Fajardo had paid out of his own pocket for some food supplied to police department employees. He said he did not know whether the meals included breakfasts from the J.S. and B. catering company or a restaurant the company owned, Angelica's Cafe.
Reach Johnny Brannon at jbrannon@honoluluadvertiser.com or 535-2431.
