HPD recalls The Honolulu Police Department has grounded all 81 of its three-wheeled Go-4 patrol vehicles for repairs after an accident earlier this month sparked concern over their safety.
patrol carts for
repairs
The HPD's entire fleet of
Go-4s may be out of service
for a monthBy Rod Antone
Star BulletinHonolulu police officials would not discuss details about the accident other than that the officer involved did not suffer major injury.
The Go-4s are four-cylinder vehicles that look similar to HPD's older-model, four-wheeled Cushmans. Go-4s are most heavily used in Waikiki, where officers use 10 per shift.
"The officers like using them, and they are a lot more convenient getting around traffic," said Waikiki Lt. David Eber. "They can park those right along the sidewalk if they have to."
On Thursday an internal police memo informed officers that if they sense a shaking in the rear suspension or smell burning rubber, they should discontinue use of their Go-4s.
Around 6 p.m. that day, HPD Chief Lee Donohue informed officers starting their evening shifts to discontinue using Go-4s until further notice.
While the majority of the Go-4s are being stored in the Vehicle Maintenance Section of HPD's Beretania Street headquarters, others are just being kept at their respective stations.
"We were told that they were grounded. Nobody said why," said a sergeant in Kailua.
Police say the problem has been identified as the "control arm," which affects either the Go-4's steering or suspension. According to department officials who have been briefed on the problem, the manufacturing of the part is defective and needs to be brought up to safety standards.
"It's only on a temporary basis," said HPD Vehicle Maintenance Supervisor William Rhoden.
Police officials said they wanted to take officers off the road before any more incidents occur.
The Go-4s cost between $22,000 to $24,000 each and are made by Canadian company Westward Industries Ltd., based in Portage la Prairie, Manitoba, Canada.
Police said the company has informed the department that a local distributor here should be able to replace the parts and fix the problem. Police estimate repairs could take up to one month.
"This is the first that's come to light," said Pearl City Sgt. Clayton Chung. "Took us by surprise. They've been operating fine prior to this."
In the meantime, officers in areas of heavy Go-4 use say they will adapt by increasing foot patrols, using patrol cars from other districts and, in some cases, assigning more than one officer to a car.
"Waikiki does not have enough of its own patrol cars to do patrol," Eber said. "But whether it's two to a car or more foot beats, we are going to have the same amount of officers responding to calls."
City officials said the problem is limited to the police department and does not affect other city departments that use similar vehicles.
City spokeswoman Carol Costa said facilities maintenance uses four-wheeled Cushman vehicles, and the city does not believe they share the same problem as the Go-4s.
Emergency Medical Services also uses four retrofitted Cushman vehicles that once belonged to the police department.
EMS Assistant Chief Donnie Gates said, "We got the old ones and have not received any word regarding any recall or any problems with our Cushmans."