Twenty-three police officers punished this year
By Peter Boylan
Advertiser Staff Writer
Twenty-three Honolulu police officers were punished by the department this year for breaking the law or department regulations, the lowest number in at least eight years.
None of the officers disciplined was fired. Five officers were suspended for 20 days, one for 10 days and two for five days.
The number of officers disciplined represents about 1 percent of HPD's force of nearly 2,000 officers.
"The selection and hiring of the right individuals for the job and the continuation of proper training, supervision and development of leadership skills contributes (to the low number of incidents)," Police Chief Boisse Correa said.
The statistics come from a report submitted each year to the Legislature. The report covers disciplinary action up to Dec. 3. The number of officers disciplined has steadily declined, from 63 in 2000. Fifty-six officers were disciplined in 2001, 40 in 2002, 49 in 2003, 33 in 2004, 36 in 2005 and 30 in 2006.
Police do not release details of the cases, and the identities of disciplined officers are kept confidential under state law and the counties' contract with the police union.
The State of Hawai'i Organization of Police Officers would not discuss specific discipline cases, citing confidentiality laws.
In the most severe cases, police officers were punished for a variety of infractions including:
Some of the suspensions meted out in Honolulu last year may have stemmed from infractions as far back as five years. The process of appealing a suspension, filing a grievance with the union, and the investigation of a case can take a long time.
Reach Peter Boylan at pboylan@honoluluadvertiser.com.
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