Neighbor Island briefs

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BIG ISLAND

Big Island police review officer's trial

HILO, Hawaii — Big Island police officials haven't decided whether acquitted Officer Warren Ke will return to work.

A Circuit Court jury last week acquitted Ke of three misdemeanor charges of unlawfully restraining and abusing 21-year-old Kiana Dempster while he briefly was living with her family last March.

Ke, a Ka`u patrol officer, has been on paid administrative leave pending the trial and a separate investigation by the department's internal affairs office.

Maj. Charles Chai said Chief James Correa hasn't decided yet whether to reinstate Ke. Chai said Correa needs to review the trial verdict and the pending administrative investigation.

The investigation also involves Dempster's allegations that Ke and Officer Danny Freeman sexually assaulted Dempster in separate incidents. Chai said Freeman also remains on paid leave and that his case also is still under review.

Last month, District Judge Joseph Florendo Jr. lifted a temporary restraining order against Freeman saying Dempster's testimony against him wasn't credible.

Library in Waimea to be closed today

WAIMEA, Hawai'i — The Thelma Parker Memorial Public & School Library will be closed today.

The closure is being caused by electrical work on the Waimea Elementary and Middle School campus, which will result in a loss of power.

The book drop will remain open today and the library is scheduled to reopen tomorrow at 9 a.m.

For more information, call the library at 887-6067.