Letter, photo
trip prison guard

Complaints of favoritism
were ignored consistently until
the anonymous note got to
the prisons chief

By Craig Gima
Star-Bulletin

Through the years, more than 100 complaints of favoritism, mostly from inmates, were lodged against a Halawa prison guard.

But the longtime adult correctional officer, a sergeant, apparently was so good at the job that no one investigated what the officer was doing until after an anonymous letter, accompanied by a photograph, was sent to Public Safety Director Keith Kaneshiro.

"Whenever people wanted things done, the officer was the first to volunteer, the first to help in a particular program, and would accomplish every single task," Kaneshiro said.

"This particular officer did good work and as a result of doing good work avoided the scrutiny of supervisors. I think the officer was pretty cagey in doing that. If you do what people want you to do and you do work and you do it well nobody's going to scrutinize your function and you can have free access to do whatever you want in the facility, and that's what happened."

When the prison began its internal investigation of the guard on May 23, investigators were surprised at what they found.

The guard had keys to several storage rooms that held a treasure trove of computer equipment, cooking supplies, shoes, books, paintings, craft supplies, a videocassette player with aerobics videotapes, compact discs, even a bed and makeshift shower.

The computers and computer equipment apparently were stolen from Gov. Ben Cayetano's "Computers for Schools" program. The computers were donated by local businesses and are being repaired and upgraded by prison inmates.

Among the items seized was a homemade tattoo machine constructed by using a computer hard drive.

Investigators also recovered a "stenophone" that can monitor all prison radio communication, a confidential manual that detailed the procedures for the prison's special unit team, and a kitchen knife.

All of the items are potentially serious breaches of security if inmates had access to them.

Kaneshiro said the guard is also suspected of abusing prison overtime.

He said the correctional officer supplemented a $35,000 yearly salary with $37,000 worth of overtime in fiscal year 1997.

The guard under investigation apparently persuaded inmates to do favors and was able to take the inmates to the rooms the guard controlled.

Inmates who questioned what the guard was doing were punished and transfered.

"There is no place in this facility for favoritism or unfairness," Kaneshiro said. "This administration will not tolerate the integrity of its facilities being compromised by anyone, including adult correctional officers."

The correctional officer's name is not being released because the investigation is considered a personnel matter and is confidential.

The guard is on paid leave pending an administrative hearing. The guard could face suspension or termination. The investigation also could lead to criminal charges.

Kaneshiro said it is not known whether the guard profited from the enterprise or whether other guards are involved.

He believes the guard was able to operate for years because "once you do favors for people, people will do favors for you."