Police panel could suspend chief
Honolulu Police Commission Chairman Ron Taketa said Wednesday that the commission can suspend Honolulu Police Chief Louis Kealoha if he is indicted after a federal grand jury investigation into alleged corruption.
His comments came after a regular Police Commission hearing where Kealoha told the commission behind closed doors that he does not expect to be indicted.
A federal grand jury is investigating possible corruption or wrongdoing involving Kealoha, his wife, Deputy Prosecutor Katherine Kealoha, and other law enforcement officers, said the Kealohas’ attorney, Myles Breiner.
Grand jury proceedings are secret, and federal prosecutors are conducting a broad investigation without clear boundaries, and he doesn’t know who might be indicted, Breiner said.
First Assistant Federal Public Defender Alexander Silvert has linked the grand jury investigation to a federal case involving the alleged theft of the Kealohas’ mailbox. That case was dropped by the U.S. Attorney’s Office in 2014 and handed over to the FBI for investigation of obstruction by officers.
Taketa said the City Charter says the commission can hire and fire the chief, but remains silent on whether the commission can suspend the chief.
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He said because the commission can fire the chief, it also has the authority to impose lesser forms of discipline besides discharge.
In March, however, the Charter Commission passed a rough version of a proposed Charter amendment clearly stating that the commission has the power to suspend the chief. A final version of the amendment will appear before voters in the general election in November.
Taketa said the proposal just clarifies the commission’s powers. He said if Kealoha were indicted, he would not be automatically suspended, but the commission would take action against the chief if evidence of wrongdoing were discovered.
“It would depend on what kind of evidence comes forth from the grand jury proceeding,” he said. “We have all the options, we just don’t know what the appropriate measure is right now because we have no evidence to base it on.”
Taketa acknowledged that the grand jury investigation has been a distraction, but added that the police department continues to function well.
Breiner said Kealoha continues to receive support from the mayor, the Police Commission and the community. Police officers testifying against Breiner’s other clients, who are suspects in unrelated cases, also tell him they support the chief, he said.
“I’m getting a lot of positive reaction from the community about representing the chief and his wife,” he said.
He said pressure is being put on the Kealohas by someone leaking stories to the media about the secret grand jury proceedings.
“What are the allegations against the chief?” he asked. “There are none. All you have is innuendo.”
“He’s being tried and pilloried in the public without the benefit of knowing what he’s accused of and by whom,” he said.
21 responses to “Police panel could suspend chief”
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“Breiner said Kealoha continues to receive support from the mayor, the Police Commission and the community. Police officers testifying against Breiner’s other clients, who are suspects in unrelated cases, also tell him they support the chief, he said.”
I guess this is what they mean about a culture of backscratchers … they rush to support one of their own. What makes for a really bad situation is when the culture is also one of incompetence. And Hawaii government has not been immune from that malady.
The big island politicians also rushed to the side of Kenoi.
“Breiner said pressure is being put on the Kealohas by someone leaking stories to the media about the secret grand jury proceedings.”
The only person talking to the media about the secret Grand Jury proceeding is Mr Breiner himself.
I guess that’s what lawyers do, but he looks pretty silly acting outraged about his own leaks.
Remember the brothel feds nabbed story recently? Owner asked for similar terms as another. So… what was she referring to? HPD? I’m guessing so.
Brothel mama probably couldn’t crack HPD integrity so she went to bribe feds. Lol.
Taketa is the one needs to go.
lespark” so right!
Since Taketa is the PRP Chairman, Caldwell will never get rid of him. Caldwell has to go first.
Controversial as all heck! Hearing being conducted means an allegation(s) of creditable consequences must have been committed? Old adage, where there is smoke there must be a fire. No matter what, a family feud erupting into a scandal? Auwe!
Agree the adage where there is smoke there is fire applies here…what is further disappointing is that the Police Commission does not feel compelled to do some investigation themselves. They come across as the Chief’s greatest advocate when they are supposed to be protecting the public. Broken process here.
When Kealoha is absolved I hope the media apologize. Selling newspapers is like running a brothel. You need the nasties front and center.
I agree
From the very beginning the case of the alleged stolen mailbox stunk. Why would you take the entire box instead of only its contents which would have been easier and faster? And why would you do this late at night or early in the morning long after the mail had been delivered and retrieved?
Makes sense. It was probably done as a diversion to deflect the attention away from the Chief and his wife to make them look like victims.
Taking down Hawaiians, all the way down!. Genocide. I bet I know what kind of people is behind this, BUT I wont say. Here’s a clue: Pearl Harbor
And you think you have even a smidgen of chance to win a seat in Congress? Too much anger, too many ugly comments; sorry. People remember things like that when they go into the voting booths.
“Ariyoshi screwed everything up for Hawaii and it’s people”, as continued GENOCIDE, the prisons are filled with Hawaiians, the foster system tears our families apart, this is called GENOCIDE of the Hawaiian people, at the hands by those who bombed our Pearl Harbor. And now they are nuking our planet mother earth. Thank you!
Wow. From one Hawaiian to another. Why so bittah?
Dis not the first time Kealohas have controversy. Where there’s smoke…
…there is a imu…what’s in the imu?
The Police Commission is a joke. Appointed by our lame Mayor. There is no way they will do anything and it does not matter
if they have the authority to do so or not. Look at what the Mayor said when asked if Chief Kealoha should step down.
He told the reporter to ask that question to Chief Kealoha. What does that tell you.
HPD and its upper echelon are legends in their own minds. Meanwhile, the general public is losing confidence and trust
in HPD.
suspension? fat chance.
Methinks nothing going happen.