Theft plea against police detective deferred

By William Cole
Advertiser Courts Writer

A veteran Honolulu police detective who received numerous commendations but who pleaded guilty this year to theft for unauthorized extradition trips for Big Island police — often while on the clock with the Honolulu Police Department — will get a chance to have his case dismissed.

James Kawakami was ordered to pay $41,004 in restitution and perform 200 hours of community service. Advertiser library photo

Circuit Judge Richard Perkins granted the deferral, which means the case will be dropped if Kawakami abides by conditions similar to probation for five years.

Kawakami pleaded guilty in January to first- and second-degree theft in connection with interisland and Mainland extradition trips — escorting prisoners from one place to another — between October 1994 and last June for Big Island police.

While prosecutors did not seek jail time for Kawakami as part of the plea agreement, they did oppose the deferral. First-degree theft carries a maximum 10-year prison term.

Deputy Attorney General Christopher Young said Kawakami, a 29-year veteran who retired last September, traveled 187 times over a six-year period on the extraditions.

He never had authority from the Honolulu Police Department to do so, and in some instances, kept airline tickets and per diems for a second officer when he escorted prisoners alone — in violation of department policy, Young said. On some trips he brought one of his sons or his wife.

Kawakami's attorney, Scott Collins, told Perkins his client came from the "old school" of policing, and just wanted to "cut through the red tape to get the job done." He also noted extraditions were actually completed in all cases.

"He took on those extra extraditions because Hilo needed help," Collins said. "Granted, there would have been a better way to do it."

Kawakami said he was very sorry for what happened. "As a man, I take full responsibility for what has occurred," he said.

But Young said the case was not about simple procedural violations. "This is a case about violating the trust imposed on him as a Honolulu police officer and stealing funds that didn't belong to him," Young said.

In deferring the guilty plea, Perkins agreed Kawakami violated department policy and created a risk for the public. Young had said in addition to sometimes escorting prisoners by himself, Kawakami did not carry restraints and sometimes did not notify airline officials a prisoner was on the flight.

But Perkins also took into consideration numerous commendations and letters of support Kawakami received from fellow police officers, citizens, and lawyers.

Named police officer of the year in 1997, Kawakami was an "exceptional" officer who once pulled a child from the back seat of a burning car and year after year had perfect attendance, Perkins said.

"I don't think we can disregard that," said Perkins, adding he did not think Kawakami would have retired had it not been for the charges against him.