Posted on: Wednesday, October 8, 2003

EDITORIAL
At least we know the police dog didn't eat it

There are times when it is completely appropriate for the Honolulu Police Department to pay for legal representation for officers accused of a crime.

Probably the most common case would be when an aggrieved citizen sues an officer or accuses him of a crime committed in the course of doing his duty.

This makes some sense.

But we have to agree with the Honolulu Police Commission's decision to reject paying legal fees for Officer Robert Fu, who has been accused of felony theft for allegedly stealing money from a drug bust.

Fu, who has been cooperating in an internal investigation in this matter, says he didn't steal the money and was simply doing his job.

The shoebox of money, Fu's lawyer explained, was lost when Fu accidentally flushed it down the toilet.

Don't you hate it when that happens?