Friday, March 29, 2024
Hawai'i Free Press

Current Articles | Archives

Monday, February 24, 2020
Ethics: DOCARE Officer Paid to Work Both Sides of Table
By News Release @ 8:13 PM :: 3646 Views :: Ethics, Law Enforcement

State Ethics Commission Resolves Charge Against Patrick Chong Tim, Conservation and Resources Enforcement Officer

From Hawaii State Ethics Commission February 24, 2020 (excerpts)

a) Respondent Chong Tim was, at all times relevant herein, employed by the State of Hawai‘i DLNR as a CREO III for DOCARE.

b) Prior to early-2019, Respondent Chong Tim was assigned to District 4, which encompasses Windward O‘ahu. His duties included enforcing state laws and regulations, investigating complaints, and conducting field observations and inspections as required. …

d) Respondent Chong Tim was also employed at iWaterman LLC (“iWaterman”), which is a private for-profit company formed in 2014. iWaterman trains law enforcement officers, military personnel, and other individuals on the use of marine reconnaissance vehicles, such as jet skis. Respondent Chong Tim became a paid trainer for iWaterman in 2015.

e) From 2018 to present, Respondent Chong Tim has also been a paid trainer for the Big Wave Risk Assessment Group, LLC (“BWRAG”), which is a private business whose activities include educating and training surfers in ocean risk management, safety protocols, and skills.

f) Respondent Chong Tim, by taking the following actions, used his state position and resources to assist iWaterman and/or BWRAG:

i. In or around May 2016, Respondent Chong Tim used his state radio during an iWaterman training for a private client.

ii. At least four times in 2018, Respondent Chong Tim used his state email account and/or his state title to facilitate and organize iWaterman trainings. Respondent Chong Tim used his state title by signing some of his email communications as: “CREO III Division of Conservation and Enforcement Resources [sic] Department of Land and Natural Resources.”

iii. On at least two occasions in 2017 and/or 2018, Respondent Chong Tim drove his state patrol vehicle to iWaterman trainings.

iv. On or about January 29, 2018, Respondent Chong Tim used state sick leave at DOCARE to attend and be paid for two days of a private iWaterman training.

v. In or around April 2018, Respondent Chong Tim utilized his state title in an email requesting additional space for “DLNR/iWaterman” to store items at Marine Corps Base Hawaiʻi (“MCBH”). He stated that MCBH could proceed “with the use under DLNR as a partnering agency.” Respondent Chong Tim was not authorized to request additional storage space on behalf of DLNR, and his use of his state title and reference to DLNR falsely created the impression that he was requesting additional space on behalf of DLNR instead of iWaterman.

vi. On two occasions in 2018, Respondent Chong Tim utilized his state patrol vehicle to travel to and/or from the airport to attend BWRAG training events.

g) In or around 2018, Respondent Chong Tim assisted iWaterman in obtaining a Marine/Ocean Event Permit to allow it to operate in offshore Oahu waters from October-December 2018. Respondent Chong Tim personally met with officials from DLNR’s Division of Boating and Ocean Recreation regarding the permit, and thus represented iWaterman before his own state agency for pay.

h) In or around June 2018, Respondent Chong Tim took action as a state employee by discussing an official DLNR press release regardingiWaterman with a DOCARE official prior to its release. At the time of that discussion, Respondent Chong Tim was also a paid employee of iWaterman….

Given the violations of the State Ethics Code, the Commission believes it is reasonable, fair, and in the public interest to resolve the Charge by (1) issuing this Resolution of Charge, (2) requiring Respondent Chong Tim to pay an administrative penalty of $10,000 to the State of Hawai‘i, and (3) referring this matter to DLNR/DOCARE for further action as appropriate. …

read … Full Report  

HNN: DLNR supervisor fined for using state equipment for private employers

Links

TEXT "follow HawaiiFreePress" to 40404

Register to Vote

2aHawaii

808 Silent Majority

Aloha Pregnancy Care Center

AntiPlanner

Antonio Gramsci Reading List

A Place for Women in Waipio

Ballotpedia Hawaii

Broken Trust

Build More Hawaiian Homes Working Group

Christian Homeschoolers of Hawaii

Cliff Slater's Second Opinion

DVids Hawaii

FIRE

Fix Oahu!

Frontline: The Fixers

Genetic Literacy Project

Grassroot Institute

Habele.org

Hawaii Aquarium Fish Report

Hawaii Aviation Preservation Society

Hawaii Catholic TV

Hawaii Christian Coalition

Hawaii Cigar Association

Hawaii ConCon Info

Hawaii Debt Clock

Hawaii Defense Foundation

Hawaii Family Forum

Hawaii Farmers and Ranchers United

Hawaii Farmer's Daughter

Hawaii Federalist Society

Hawaii Federation of Republican Women

Hawaii History Blog

Hawaii Homeschool Association

Hawaii Jihadi Trial

Hawaii Legal News

Hawaii Legal Short-Term Rental Alliance

Hawaii Matters

Hawaii's Partnership for Appropriate & Compassionate Care

Hawaii Public Charter School Network

Hawaii Rifle Association

Hawaii Shippers Council

Hawaii Smokers Alliance

Hawaii State Data Lab

Hawaii Together

HIEC.Coop

HiFiCo

Hiram Fong Papers

Homeschool Legal Defense Hawaii

Honolulu Moms for Liberty

Honolulu Navy League

Honolulu Traffic

House Minority Blog

Imua TMT

Inouye-Kwock, NYT 1992

Inside the Nature Conservancy

Inverse Condemnation

Investigative Project on Terrorism

July 4 in Hawaii

Kakaako Cares

Keep Hawaii's Heroes

Land and Power in Hawaii

Legislative Committee Analysis Tool

Lessons in Firearm Education

Lingle Years

Managed Care Matters -- Hawaii

Malama Pregnancy Center of Maui

MentalIllnessPolicy.org

Military Home Educators' Network Oahu

Missile Defense Advocacy

MIS Veterans Hawaii

NAMI Hawaii

Natatorium.org

National Christian Foundation Hawaii

National Parents Org Hawaii

NFIB Hawaii News

No GMO Means No Aloha

Not Dead Yet, Hawaii

NRA-ILA Hawaii

Oahu Alternative Transport

Obookiah

OHA Lies

Opt Out Today

OurFutureHawaii.com

Patients Rights Council Hawaii

PEACE Hawaii

People vs Machine

Practical Policy Institute of Hawaii

Pritchett Cartoons

Pro-GMO Hawaii

P.U.E.O.

RailRipoff.com

Rental by Owner Awareness Assn

ReRoute the Rail

Research Institute for Hawaii USA

Rick Hamada Show

RJ Rummel

Robotics Organizing Committee

School Choice in Hawaii

SenatorFong.com

Sink the Jones Act

Statehood for Guam

Talking Tax

Tax Foundation of Hawaii

The Real Hanabusa

Time Out Honolulu

Trustee Akina KWO Columns

UCC Truths

US Tax Foundation Hawaii Info

VAREP Honolulu

Waagey.org

West Maui Taxpayers Association

What Natalie Thinks

Whole Life Hawaii

Yes2TMT