In the Name of the Law: What the Public Isn’t Being Told About Police Misconduct

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Part 1 of a 5 part series:

In the Name of the Law: What the Public Isn’t Being Told About Police Misconduct
By Nick Grube and Patti Epler 02/25/2013

In 1997, Honolulu police officer Russell Won went to federal prison for his involvement in beating an inmate at the Pearl City police station.

A year later, he was back in Honolulu — and back in police work. The federal prison sentence didn’t cause the Honolulu Police Department to fire him. Instead, he was put on leave without pay while he did his time.

When his sentence was over he was assigned to train new recruits at the academy. He kept his gun and badge and went on to become a detective with a long career at HPD.

Won was one of three officers indicted and convicted at the same time for mistreating prisoners in their custody at the Pearl City station. In a plea bargain, Won eventually was convicted of a misdemeanor and sentenced to a year in federal prison.

More: http://www.civilbeat.com/articles/2013/02/25/18393-in-the-name-of-the-law-what-the-public-isnt-being-told-about-police-misconduct/

for CivilBeat

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1. Database:

http://www.civilbeat.com/articles/2013/02/25/18403-database-a-compilation-of-honolulu-police-misconduct/

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2. Part #3

State of Hawaii Organization of Police Officers members attend an election event for Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell.
Nathan Eagle/Honolulu Civil Beat
In the Name of the Law: Hawaii Police Union 'Outguns' Students
By Nick Grube 02/27/2013

Part 3 of a 5-part series

Even before Hawaii Circuit Court Judge John Lim unequivocally championed the public interest in police disciplinary actions and ruled against the State of Hawaii Organization of Police Officers, SHOPO had a Plan B — get the Legislature to do what the courts would not.

SHOPO had reason to believe this would work — and it did. Hawaii is a union-friendly state, and the police had recently convinced lawmakers to narrow public disclosure of misconduct to officers whose transgressions occurred while they were on-duty.

Cops are different from other people, the union argued. Stress and high-pressure situations force snap decisions that sometimes result in a mistake, and officers and their families shouldn’t be publicly humiliated in addition to whatever discipline the department hands down, SHOPO said.

In 1995, the Legislature voted overwhelmingly in SHOPO's favor. Police disciplinary records would be off limits to the public, but the county police agencies would have to file annual summaries with the Legislature so lawmakers could be assured serious misconduct was being dealt with effectively.

More: http://www.civilbeat.com/articles/2013/02/27/18395-in-the-name-of-the-law-hawaii-police-union-outguns-students/

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3. SHOPO 1995 "Training Video" -

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4. Part #4

In The Name Of The Law: What The Police Commission Isn't Doing About Misconduct
By Nick Grube 02/28/2013

Part 4 of a 5-part series

On a Wednesday just before Christmas, Chief Louis Kealoha addressed the Honolulu Police Commission.

The police commission meets twice a month, its primary role to watch over the police department, keep track of the police chief and hear citizen complaints.

But on Dec. 5, the Honolulu chief didn’t update the commission in open session on conduct in his department, pending investigations or any disciplinary actions taken against officers.

Instead, Kealoha sat at a conference table inside HPD headquarters, flanked by other uniformed officers, and touted an upcoming holiday event that he was especially proud of.

More: http://www.civilbeat.com/articles/2013/02/28/18396-in-the-name-of-the-law-what-the-police-commission-isnt-doing-about-misconduct/