Posted on: Tuesday, February 3, 2004

HPD names acting head of homicide unit

By Rod Ohira
Advertiser Staff

Detective Cliff Rubio has been named acting lieutenant in charge of Honolulu police homicide investigations.

Criminal Investigations Division Maj. Mark Nakagawa yesterday confirmed Rubio's appointment.

Lt. Bill Kato, who previously supervised the six-member homicide unit, and four members of the Career Criminal Unit were notified last week of penalties imposed by HPD's Administrative Review Board. The penalties were related to procedural violations in an enforcement operation last March 4 in which police officer Glen Gaspar was killed, according to a police union official.

The penalties were scheduled to take effect Sunday.

Kato was demoted to the rank of sergeant for at least six months and has been assigned to the Central Receiving Division. Detective Bruce Swann, who was also demoted, retired yesterday. All five officers plan to file grievances.

Rubio is the senior-ranking homicide investigator in terms of years of service. Thirteen of his 28 years with HPD have been spent in homicide investigations.