Task force would target visitor holdups

By Vicki Viotti
Advertiser Staff Writer

More criminals who rob banks, armored cars and tourists may face federal prison terms as a result of a task force teaming Honolulu police with federal authorities.

Under the Honolulu Violent Incident Crime Task Force, a police lieutenant and seven detectives and sergeants will be deputized to act as federal agents. Lt. Raymond Quon, who heads the police robbery detail, said federal background checks on some of the team must be finished first, so the start date is uncertain.

The task force also will employ two FBI special agents — one full time and one part time — and an assistant U.S. attorney on a part-time basis.

The task force is being formed largely because terrorism threats since Sept. 11 have strained federal law enforcement, said Dan Dzwilewski, special agent in charge of the FBI office in Honolulu. No additional money is being allotted to any of the participating agencies, according to an agreement adopted by the City Council in April.

"FBI divisions have had to reallocate bodies toward the terrorism fight," Dzwilewski said. "Most of that movement of resource had to come from criminal programs."

These are the programs that investigate bank robberies, cases of bank extortion and violations of the Hobbs Act, a federal law targeting those who hurt or potentially hurt interstate commerce. It also is applied sometimes to crimes victimizing tourists or companies with interstate ties.

For example, suspects charged in March and April robberies that targeted pizza delivery workers are being prosecuted under the Hobbs Act.

Once the police officers are deputized, they will take over such cases, gathering and presenting evidence to the federal prosecutors, Quon said.