Posted on: Friday, January 17, 2003

HPD officers can exercise federal powers

By Rod Ohira
Advertiser Staff Writer

Honolulu police officers cross-deputized as federal agents have broadened the scope of investigation and prosecution of robbery suspects.

"Right now, we have the best of both worlds because we can charge cases at both the state and federal levels," said Lt. Ray Quon, head of HPD's Robbery Detail.

Recent federal indictments against Ted Esteban and Jay Young Kwon for a total of 10 armed robbery cases in December, as well as several separate state robbery cases against the pair, are examples of what the broader HPD investigative powers represents in robbery cases.

Since the arrests of Esteban and Kwon, police have seen "at least an 80 percent drop-off in robberies," Quon said.

The cross-deputization of police officers resulted because the FBI is concentrating its manpower on homeland defense and terrorism. It is also because of President Bush's commitment to the Safe Neighborhood project to address firearms used in the commission of crimes. In establishing a Violent Crimes Task Force last year, some HPD officers were cross-deputized as federal agents to assist federal prosecutors and the FBI.