Union leader under
fire for criticizing
police chief

SHOPO officials refuse to
comment on specific discussions

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By B.J. Reyes
breyes@starbulletin.com

Faced with criticism over his comments calling for the resignation of Honolulu Police Chief Lee Donohue, an Oahu police union leader met for nearly three hours yesterday with union board members.

Alex Garcia, president of the Oahu chapter of the State of Hawaii Organization of Police Officers, had said Donohue should step down after two high-ranking HPD officers were indicted last week for allegedly spending money budgeted for prisoner meals on food served to officers.

Dennis Kunitake, SHOPO president, said nothing was decided at yesterday's meeting. He declined comment on specifics of the discussions.

"The state board wasn't able to resolve it because a lot of members have other commitments, so we deferred it to a later date," he said. He would not say what "it" was.

Garcia also declined comment after the meeting. Before the meeting at SHOPO's Oahu headquarters, Garcia had said he was there to "put out the fire."

Other board members either declined comment or referred questions to Kunitake.

The 10-member board met a day after a retired police officer called for Garcia's resignation.

Steven Burke, vice president of Hui Ana O Makai, an organization of retired HPD officers, said Monday that many officers were unhappy with Garcia's comments about Donohue. He added that this is not the first time Garcia had gone to the media without first following proper grievance and union procedures.

Also Monday, Garcia said he was waiting to hear from other board members on his request for a vote of no confidence for Donohue. Neither Garcia nor Kunitake would comment on that.