'Health issues' noted at Chinatown station

By Peter Boylan
Advertiser Staff Writer

The state police union is asking Honolulu police to transfer all officers out of the Chinatown substation because of possible lead, asbestos and mold problems.

A letter to the Honolulu Police Department from Norman Kato II, general counsel for the State of Hawai'i Organization of Police Officers, states that the union has "become aware" of "serious health and safety issues" at the Chinatown police substation, on the corner of Maunakea and North Hotel streets.

The substation is used by four officers, but the department said detectives from other stations often use offices on the second floor. The department did not know how many people visit the substation in any given day.

Yesterday, an investigator with the state Department of Health conducted a preliminary investigation at the substation and determined that there was no immediate need for officers to leave, said health department spokeswoman Janice Okubo.

Okubo said the investigator's formal report will be filed at the end of the week. She said that the investigator visited the substation at the request of HPD.

Capt. Frank Fujii, HPD spokesman, said all asbestos was removed from the building in 2000 and that the department plans on asking the city to have a contractor come in and test the air-conditioning system for mold.

"Employee and public safety are the department's top priorities and we do not believe that anyone is at risk at this time," he said.

Fujii said the department has no plans to move officers or close the substation at this time.

The letter from SHOPO was written in response to lead paint that was detected on the second floor of the substation about two weeks ago, police said.

Lt. Alexander Garcia, chairman of SHOPO's O'ahu chapter, said a lieutenant from the substation tested some paint from a hole in the wall that was opened during renovations.

Using a test kit from a local home improvement center, the officer found that the paint tested positive for lead. The detectives using the room cleared out and have not returned to the space, he said.

Garcia said the lead paint test was one of the reasons SHOPO sent the letter. He said the union wants to be sure that the first floor as well as the ventilation system are not contaminated.

"There may be nothing there, but until we test it we don't know," he said.

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