HPD chief can retire knowing goals fulfilled
| • | Next HPD chief likely to be promoted from within |
By Peter Boylan
Advertiser Staff Writer
Honolulu Police Chief Lee Donohue surprised the law enforcement community yesterday by announcing his retirement effective July 1. He spent six years as the city's top cop in charge of more than 2,000 officers.
Jeff Widener • The Honolulu Advertiser
Donohue, 61, will step down from his $110,000-a- year-job more than three years before his five-year term expires.
Police Chief Lee Donohue announced his plan to retire July 1, which marks the 40th anniversary of his date of hire.
He said it was time to move on with his life and that he felt he had accomplished everything that he set out to when he took the job. He also mentioned his age and a shaky health history, including a heart attack.
"I was very fortunate(to survive the 1999 heart attack)," he said. "It (health) is always a concern when you get up in years."
He said he will focus on his martial arts and is looking forward to spending more time with his family.
"This job is not for the faint of heart," Donohue said. "Just like in coaching, you want to go out on top. I've accomplished all of my goals."
July 1 will mark the 40th anniversary of his date of hire.
Donohue's announcement surprised many in the law enforcement community who hailed the chief as a strong, low-profile leader who cared deeply for his officers.
"That is a very, very difficult, stressful, hard job and he has handled it with grace, dignity and ability," city Prosecutor Peter Carlisle said.
Landmark accomplishments
• Born — Honolulu. • Education — Graduate of McKinley High School; Chaminade University 1977 with general studies degree. • Career — Joined the police department in 1964; spent most of his career in field patrol. As a major, he commanded operations from Pearl City to Wai'anae for six years. He worked in records and identification, communications, narcotics-vice and internal affairs. He served as senior deputy chief for 2 1/2 years until being appointed chief. • Chief tenure — Named police chief in 1998, reappointed to a five-year term in April 2003 • Family — Wife, Lucille; daughters Darlynn and Leanne; sons Lee Jr., a Honolulu police officer, and Steve. • Hobbies — Karate, golf, fishing, reading. • Accomplishments — Served as chief when his department expanded security in the wake of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks; guided the department through national accreditation process, earning the designation in July 2003; revamping recruitment practices to increase the number of officers by more than 200.
Donohue's tenure as chief was marked by several accomplishments but was not without controversies. He presided over the department at a time when his officers were forced to deal with a statewide ice epidemic and increased security responsibilities after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.
LEE DONOHUE
He also guided the department through a national accreditation process that resulted in what he called a landmark accomplishment. In July 2003, the department became one of 600 departments of 17,000 police agencies in the nation to be accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Law Enforcement Agencies, a commission that recognizes excellence in law enforcement service.
The Honolulu Police Department is the fourth-largest police department to become accredited by the agency, and one of 57 major city police departments to undergo the process.
In addition, Donohue revamped recruiting practices, a move that steadily increased the number of officers in the wake of retirements and vacancies.
Donohue said the worst part about his time as chief was losing officers in the line of duty or to suicide. "These were the tough ones," he said.
But Donohue also faced controversies ranging from allegations of wrongdoing in a federal lawsuit, which was recently settled, against him and other officers by veteran officer Kenneth Kamakana to the police cellblock food scam case involving an estimated $21,000 that was supposed to purchase food for detainees that was spent on meals for police officers.
Donohue said the dilemmas did not factor into his decision to step down.
"Although they affect you, they didn't weigh in at all (when it came time to decide whether or not to retire)," he said. "I'm going out on my terms."
As news of Donohue's decision rippled through the law enforcement world yesterday, officers and members of other agencies lauded his tenure and expressed sadness at his departure.
"I supposed I'm just as shocked as anyone else," Michael Lucas-Medeiros, a police officer for the past 14 years, said. "He was an awesome boss. I'm sorry to see him go, and I wish him all the best in whatever he chooses to do."
'Always for the officers'
Officer Paula Nakamura, a 12-year HPD veteran, said she was sad about the retirement. "Chief comes from patrol, which is why he's always been concerned about the safety of officers," she said.
Sgt. John Chinen, also a 12-year veteran with HPD, said rank-and-file officers like Donohue because "he's always for the officers."
"The one big thing he did was brought us the 3-12 (working three days a week for 12 hours at a time) schedule," Chinen said. "That really brought morale up."
Officer Philip Camero said achieving national accreditation raised the level of pride in the department. "Chief's biggest legacy is helping the department get accredited," Camero said. "It raised the department to a higher standard and in the final analysis, it will allow us to serve the community in deeper and better ways."
"He's an officer's chief," Officer Anthony Matchen said. "He takes time to talk to you, and we know that he puts us first."
Charles Goodwin, special agent in charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation in Hawai'i, said Donohue called him yesterday morning and told him about the announcement.
"I'm glad for him," Goodwin said "When I first got here he was one of the first people I met with. I thank him for making me feel right at home here in Hawai'i and for the cooperation he gave me. He has gone out of his way to introduce me to his command staff and treat me like a friend."
Tenari Maafala, president of the State of Hawai'i Organization of Police Officers, was also surprised at his chief's decision. "We're losing a good man and a good leader. I just wish him the best in his future endeavors," he said.
Others who dealt with the department also praised the chief.
Mayor Jeremy Harris yesterday said his administration has worked closely with Donohue. He praised the chief for his "excellent leadership."
"He has brought crime way down on O'ahu and made our city one of the safest of its size in the nation," Harris said in a written statement. "He leaves the Honolulu Police Department well prepared to respond to any homeland security issues. Not only do they have the best equipment and technology, they are the best-trained officers in the nation."
State Public Defender Jack Tonaki said his office has had a good relationship with Donohue and the department over the years, despite several tough cases that pitted the two. The most recent case involved the March 2003 shooting death of Officer Glen Gaspar by Shane Mark, who was represented by Tonaki's office.
"Even in a very tough case like that for the police department where they lost one of their own, they understand our role in the system and they respect that role, and we appreciate that," Tonaki said.
"It's when you get an administration or leadership that tries to subvert our role, that's when you get problems, and I did not see that at all with Chief Donohue's administration."
Tonaki said Donohue also has done a good job guiding the department through some tough times, including 9/11 and the deaths of seven officers in the line of duty.
"I can't think of a time when more officers were lost, so in that respect he's provided a lot of comfort and stability to the department," Tonaki said. "Those are the toughest times, and then you add 9/11, where they really had to step up security and being vigilant, it's been a very eventful term for him."
Advertiser staff writers Curtis Lum, David Waite and Rod Ohira contributed to this report. Reach Peter Boylan at 535-8110 or pboylan@honoluluadvertiser.com.
