Posted on: Wednesday, June 23, 2004
Demoted officer to return to homicide
By Curtis Lum
Advertiser Staff Writer
A high-profile police lieutenant who was demoted for his role in an arrest that led to the shooting death of Officer Glen Gaspar last year will be reinstated Aug. 1.
The five officers were members of the Career Criminal Unit that conducted an undercover operation to arrest fugitive Shane Mark at the Kapolei Shopping Center March 4, 2003. Gaspar, a member of that unit, was shot and killed by Mark during a struggle for Mark's gun.
Mark was convicted of second-degree murder and awaits sentencing.
The State of Hawai'i Organization of Police Officers filed a grievance on behalf of Kato, calling the punishment "excessive and unfair."
Recently, the union reached an agreement with the department and city that would allow Kato to return to the homicide detail, but not challenge the demotion.
Neither Kato nor police Chief Lee Donohue could be reached for comment yesterday.
But Alex Garcia, chairman of the O'ahu Chapter of SHOPO, said: "The settlement agreement allows Lt. Kato to return back to the Homicide Detail. He's not appealing the six-month demotion and he's accepted some responsibility as the supervisor of that incident."
Reach Curtis Lum at 525-8025 or culum@honoluluadvertiser.com.
Lt. Bill Kato headed the homicide detail department until Feb. 1 when he was demoted to sergeant for six months and assigned to the Central Receiving Desk. Kato and four other officers were disciplined following a review by HPD's Administrative Review Board for violating procedures, including not wearing bullet-proof vests during an operation.
Lt. Bill Kato
