Fewer police officers disciplined last year
By Scott Ishikawa
Advertiser Staff Writer
The number of Honolulu police officers suspended or fired for misconduct declined 29 percent last year, according to county police reports submitted to the Legislature.
That continued a trend of fewer disciplinary actions within the Honolulu Police Department. Forty officers were disciplined (for 46 incidents) in 2002, compared to 56 officers in 2001 and 63 in 2000.
HPD firings also fell, from six in 2001 to three last year. Eight officers were fired statewide.
The statistics are contained in reports submitted to the Legislature by the four county police departments. They've been required to do so since lawmakers passed a 1995 law stemming from a challenge by a University of Hawai'i student journalism group for more openness in police disciplinary records.
The statistics reflect departmental disciplinary actions and may not include more serious charges handled by the courts, such as drunken driving, theft or domestic abuse.
The 40 disciplined Honolulu police officers in 2002 represent about 2 percent of the force of about 2,000 officers. Only one officer last year was disciplined for one of the four major areas of misconduct: malicious use of physical force; mistreatment of prisoners; use/possession of drugs and narcotics; and cowardice. That HPD officer was given a 30-day suspension without pay for testing positive on a drug test.
Meanwhile three Honolulu police officers were fired for other actions, including getting into a scuffle with their "significant other's estranged spouse"; making a false report; and failing to properly classify a case, arrest the suspect and obtain written statements.
In his report to the Legislature, HPD Chief Lee Donohue explained that an officer with a past disciplinary record would likely receive a stiffer penalty than one whose record had been spotless.
Seven of the 46 HPD incidents involved abuses of special duty, in which officers can earn extra money by working in uniform for private companies to handle traffic control at construction sites and security at major events.
In one case, an officer received a five-day suspension for calling in sick while working a special-duty assignment.
Examples of incidents in other counties that drew disciplinary action last year included:
- Hawai'i County: A Big Island police officer was fired for working as a mechanic while on sick leave with the police department. Another officer was terminated for lying under oath.
Another Hawai'i County officer was suspended for four days for not arresting a suspect in a domestic-abuse case and for being partial toward the suspect. That officer also failed to submit a report in a timely manner.
- Maui County: Two officers were fired under the explanation "commission of a criminal act." No details were in the report.
Another got a three-day suspension for drawing his or her firearm "with no legitimate reason."
- Kaua'i County: An officer was suspended 20 days for sexual harassment. Another received a 10-day suspension for failing to take action to aid a police officer.
Reach Scott Ishikawa at sishikawa@honoluluadvertiser.com or at 535-8110.
