Atkinson still
head of SHOPO

By Harold Morse
Star-Bulletin

Honolulu Police Lt. Bennie Atkinson says he's still president of the State of Hawaii Organization of Police Officers.

Atkinson says he can't provide details on a closed meeting yesterday of the SHOPO board on whether he will remain SHOPO president. "We discussed legal issues."

Asked whether it appears he will stay on as president, Atkinson replied: "I can't tell you anything about what goes on in executive session. I'm still the president."

The SHOPO office staff also said no comments will be made on the closed deliberations.

An internal investigation began after a SHOPO member accused Atkinson of mishandling more than $64,000 of union funds.

Earlier, a SHOPO board member said the board would present Atkinson with its investigative findings in the meeting at union headquarters in Kalihi Kai and that if charges were to result, Atkinson would have 30 days to respond.

Detective Alex Garcia said last month that he had investigated the case and told the union he found matters of "great concern and of serious nature." Garcia recommended Atkinson be removed as SHOPO president and the matter be referred to the U.S. attorney's office.

Accusations stem from SHOPO found written to a Los Angeles man, the owner of an ad agency with ties to a retired Honolulu police officer. The funds were allocated for creating newspaper and television commercials supporting SHOPO-endorsed candidates in the 1998 Hawaii general elections.

Two of the three ad packages were not completed and that portion of the funds was returned to SHOPO.

The Los Angeles man also received money to create the union newsletter.