Posted on: Thursday, January 27, 2005

HPD parking violations probed

By Peter Boylan
Advertiser Staff Writer

The Honolulu Police Department's Internal Affairs Division is investigating possible parking violations at HPD headquarters, including allegations that top-ranking officers failed to make parking payments to the city.

In addition to the administrative investigation, the division initially opened a criminal probe, but it was closed after Honolulu Prosecutor Peter Carlisle declined the case. Carlisle declined to comment yesterday.

Michelle Yu, an HPD spokeswoman, confirmed the administrative investigation yesterday but declined to elaborate because it is ongoing. Assistant Chief John Kerr, who oversees all departmental investigations, has acknowledged the probe, but also declined to comment. Maj. Donna Andersen, head of the Internal Affairs Division, said she could not comment about ongoing investigations.

Parking at HPD is free of charge for officers up to the rank of lieutenant. Captains and those of higher rank pay $50 a month to the city.

There are 16 majors and 18 captains who are supposed to have the $50-a-month fee deducted from their paychecks.

Any discipline meted out will be confidential.

Internal Affairs investigators have walked through HPD's employee parking lot and checked parking stickers on officers' personal vehicles, and several department heads have been questioned in the two-week-old case.

Internal Affairs investigations are seldom made public. Criminal proceedings would be made public if arrests are made or indictments are handed down.

Police do not release details of administrative investigations, and the identities of disciplined officers remain confidential under state law and the county's contract with the police union, the State of Hawai'i Organization of Police Officers.

Reach Peter Boylan at pboylan@honoluluadvertiser.com or 535-8110.