Maui patrolman apologizes for hoax, dragnet

By Timothy Hurley
Advertiser Maui County Bureau

WAILUKU, Maui — The patrolman whose self-inflicted gunshot wound led to an intense islandwide manhunt owned up yesterday to his deception and apologized to the public.

In a letter published in The Maui News, Officer Donald B. Nakooka called his Dec. 4 actions on a lonely stretch of highway in Kapalua "a very big mistake.''

"There is no justification for the offensive behavior that was carried out on that afternoon," he wrote. "I hope that any distress or hardship that this situation has caused will end shortly as I never intended to offend anyone."

Reached for further comment at his Makawao home, Nakooka said an attorney had advised him to not discuss the matter pending the outcome of an upcoming department hearing or any other proceedings that grow out of the internal police investigation.

In addition, the county's prosecuting attorney is reviewing possible criminal charges against the 32-year-old patrolman, who remains on paid leave.

Maui Prosecutor Richard Bissen said Nakooka could be charged or could have charges dismissed, depending on the terms of an agreement being negotiated to try to settle all aspects of his case.

On Dec 4, Nakooka told investigators he was wounded by an armed driver whose sedan he had pulled over on Honoapi'ilani Highway in Kapalua.

Police launched a manhunt that lasted nearly a week before investigators concluded that the officer, who was wearing a bulletproof vest, had parked in an isolated area, shot himself in the abdomen, then drove to the highway and lay down on the pavement to await passing motorists.

In yesterday's letter — his first public statement since the shooting — the 10-year department veteran said it was not his intent to offend the Filipino community by saying the suspect was of Filipino descent, "especially as there was no suspect to begin with.''

In addition to telling the community he was sorry, the patrolman specifically addressed his apology the Maui Police Department and Chief Thomas Phillips, the Maui Fire Department and Chief Clayton Ishikawa, and Dave (and Patti) Chevalier, owners of Blue Hawaiian Helicopters — all participants in the manhunt.