Correa defends HPD handling of palace takeover
| • | Grounds reopen today; 'Iolani Palace to reopen Wednesday |
Advertiser Staff
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| Audio: HPD call taker |
| Audio: 'Iolani security to call taker |
Honolulu Police Chief Boisse Correa today defended the conduct of his department in reaction to the forced occupation of 'Iolani Palace grounds by a Hawaiian activist organization late Friday.
Correa told reporters that police were first notified by Gary Moniz, head of the Department of Land and Natural Resources security "a little bit before 6 p.m." A sergeant was sent to assess the severity of the events occurring there, the chief said.
"We didn't know what was happening at the palace," Correa said. Once police officials knew that an unidentified Hawaiian activist organization had taken over the grounds and locked people out, about 25 HPD officers were sent to the scene to assist state law enforcement officers who were also gathering there, he said.
Eventually, state and HPD officers arrested 23 people from a group identifying itself as the Kingdom of Hawai'i.
Correa declined to discuss the actions of a police sergeant who, according to several witnesses including a Honolulu Advertiser reporter, refused to assist a woman who had been assaulted, claiming the palace was the jurisdiction of DLNR.
The chief said all officers are sworn to protect the public and that there are no jurisdictional issues involving the palace.
Following Correa's press conference, the police department released to the news media copies of 911 calls made in the course of the Friday event.
The chief said he, Gov. Linda Lingle, Mayor Mufi Hannemann and others are scheduled to discuss the matter tomorrow.
