Kealoha to retire as HPD chief in wake of federal probe
Star-Adv Jan 6, 2017: ...The decision was announced early this afternoon by Police Commission Chairman Max Sword at the Honolulu Police Department’s Beretania Street headquarters after a closed-door meeting on the chief’s fate. Sword said the seven-member commission, which has the authority to hire and fire the chief, came to “an agreement in principle” with Kealoha on his retirement.
A police spokeswoman said Kealoha was not at today’s closed-door meeting as was expected.
“We are working the details out and we’ll have the final approval by the commission on the meeting on … Jan. 18,” Sword said after the hour-long meeting….
HPD issued a written statement, saying, “Under the leadership of Acting Chief Cary Okimoto, HPD will work to ensure seamless continuity of the essential functions that make Honolulu one of the safest major cities in the country. The safety and security of our community has always been, and will continue to be, HPD’s top priority.”….
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Star-Adv Jan 7, 2017: Among the questions left unanswered was whether Kealoha would be eligible for benefits and would be paid through the end of his term. The commission gave him a second, five-year term in 2014 that was to run through Nov. 27, 2019. Also unknown is the status of at least one lawsuit that Kealoha and his wife, Deputy Prosecutor Katherine Kealoha, had filed against the city.
Kealoha, who makes $190,408 annually, had been expected to answer the commission’s questions at Friday’s closed-door meeting, but he did not appear….
Kealoha’s term…was also marked by a long string of news stories about illegal activity, abuse of power, spousal abuse and other indiscretions by HPD officers from among different ranks….
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Mayor reacts to police chief’s pending retirement
News Release from City and County of Honolulu January 6, 2017
Honolulu – Mayor Kirk Caldwell issued the following statement after today’s announcement that Honolulu Police Chief Louis Kealoha will be retiring:
“I thank the Police Commission for taking decisive action on this matter. I believe the Commission made the right decision to accept Chief Kealoha’s retirement, and he made the correct decision for the sake of the police department and the thousands of officers who serve with integrity, respect and fairness. I thank Chief Kealoha for his more than 30 years of dedicated public service.
Today’s announcement allows the Honolulu Police Department to move forward. I have full confidence in Acting Police Chief Cary Okimoto and the thousands of officers who put their own well-being on the line every single day to keep us one of the safest big cities in the United States. I thank them for their perseverance through this difficult chapter.”
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