An internal Honolulu police investigation involving as many as 50 officers is focusing on allegations that some of them placed bets on illegal cockfights on O'ahu's North Shore, according to law enforcement sources familiar with the probe.

Other alleged violations include the sharing of access codes to electronic criminal history databases among officers, which is a violation of internal department rules, said the sources, who did not want to be identified because the probe is ongoing.

The internal investigation is administrative and not criminal in nature. Police spokesman Capt. Frank Fujii yesterday declined to comment on specific elements of the probe, citing a department practice of not commenting on such investigations.

"Our investigation is an administrative investigation focusing on violations of policies, procedures, and standards of conduct," Fujii said. "We're going to be sure that the investigation is conducted thoroughly."

The internal police probe was announced in April in the wake of a two-year federal corruption investigation that resulted in indictments of five officers. The FBI probe focused on whether officers were providing protection for the cockfights.

One of the officers who allegedly bet on the cockfights was indicted by the federal government, but others were not indicted because the evidence was insufficient to bring federal charges, the sources said. For example, an officer may have been heard on tape placing a bet on a bird, but no evidence of an exchange of money could be found, the sources said.

Calls to the local FBI office and the U.S. attorney's office here seeking comment were not returned yesterday.

The FBI turned over evidence gathered during the probe to police, including transcripts of wiretaps. That evidence could not be used in a criminal case, in part because evidence gathered from federal wiretaps is inadmissable in state courts, according to police officials.

The evidence could be used, however, to mete out administrative punishments ranging from verbal reprimands to termination. Gambling in Hawai'i is illegal and thus prohibited under department rules.

Police officers are now being questioned by internal affairs investigators about specific violations of the department's code of conduct and are being asked to respond in writing, the sources said.

The State of Hawai'i Organization of Police Officers has taken issue with the probe, claiming that administrative action against officers has to be taken within a year of the alleged violation.

"They're calling guys in (and interviewing them) and they're violating their rights, basically, and if they do we'll file the proper grievances," said Detective Alex Garcia, SHOPO O'ahu chapter chairman.

In April, three officers were indicted by a federal grand jury for allegedly tipping off leaders of a North Shore cockfighting ring to HPD raids. A fourth officer was indicted for possessing an illegal firearm, and a fifth officer was indicted for hiding evidence of cockfighting.

The federal probe began in 2003 over allegations that officers were helping set up, run and protect illegal cockfights.

A quality assurance team within Internal Affairs was established after the indictments to seek out problem areas and employees, particularly those involved with covert police work. Policies regarding rotations, transfers and promotions will be revised.

Reach Peter Boylan at pboylan@honoluluadvertiser.com.