IF you like reality-based series like "Cops" and true-to-life drama as in "Rescue 911," be plopped in front of the TV set this Wednesday night at 9:30, when the newest installment of "HPD: Inside 801" will premiere on K5 The Home Team. It's an informative and enlightening and darned interesting half-hour show -- featuring a catchy theme song by Brother Noland -- about what goes on behind-the-scenes at the Honolulu Police Department. Honolulu’s finest are
stars of TV showEspecially don't miss this episode if:
You or someone you know is a HPD officer thinking of moving to the Pacific Northwest.
Sgt. Robert Imoto and Detective Bernie Campbell co-host this HPD-produced program, which comes out every other month (financed by much-appreciated federal funding) to improve the overall image of Honolulu's finest and to help in recruitment efforts.
But it's not schlocky PR jive. It's more like watching "60 Minutes."
For example, one of its two segments on Wednesday takes a surprisingly balanced look at how more and more local officers are going to the mainland to accept better-paying jobs on police forces in more affordable states.
There are the expected interviews with former local cops who are effusive about their brand-new lives in Washington and Oregon. One has a mainland home which cost him well under $200,000, but which looks like those lining the ritzy roadways in Waialae-Kahala!
But those who know warn that such decisions have profound professional and personal consequences. Acclimation won't be easy or short-term, because everything is different: the environment, weather, food, culture, people. Furthermore, the mainland "recruits" must go back on probation when starting their new postings, thereby putting at risk their current seniority and job security at HPD.
Is it worth it? Maybe yes, maybe no.
Definitely worth it is HPD's continued effort to help victims of domestic violence, as is detailed in the other segment of Wednesday's "Inside 801" (the number is significant because HPD is headquartered at 801 S. Beretania St.).
Women victims recall their injuries and "war" wounds, the effect their beatings had on them and their children, and the answer to the often-asked question, "Why doesn't she just leave him?" There is also a blunt round-table discussion among detectives in HPD's family violence and child abuse units who know what make abusers lash out, and phone numbers for good-to-know resources in the community.
One of these is Pu'uhonua, in which crisis counselor Jackie Ries goes on actual patrol in Waianae with HPD officers responding to domestics. While the police talk to the batterers, Ries talks to the battered -- telling the victims what options are available, where they can get assistance and how they are far from alone.
THIS is all valuable stuff that shouldn't be ignored. Oh, all right, if you must absolutely miss the premiere of "HPD: Inside 801", the episode will be rebroadcast on Thursday at 7 p.m. on K5, and on Saturday, Dec. 5, at 5 p.m. on NBC Hawaii News 8.
Take a bow, Chief Donahue, for being gutsy enough to tackle the mainland recruiting issue in such a high-profile way, and for backing up your edict that domestic violence will be a top priority of your administration.
And now, a standing ovation for the real "stars" of the show...
Diane Yukihiro Chang's column runs Monday and Friday.
She can be reached by phone at 525-8607, via e-mail at
DianeChang@aol.com, or by fax at 523-7863.