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Kokua Line
June Watanabe
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HPD needs details prior to raid
Question: Is there any way to find out if police are following up on tips regarding a drug house on our street? Many neighbors have (reported) this house several times over the years and we keep reading about other homes being raided, but this house never has been raided. Is there a certain level of activity that needs to happen before the police consider it worthwhile to investigate? The sad part is they have kids from high school to elementary who are growing up with these guys as role models. ... They always have a steady stream of business and sometimes they're pretty open about what they're doing. It's also amazing that they have family members who are released from prison and are allowed to come here to live. Let us know if we're just wasting our time reporting this house.
Answer: The Honolulu Police Department was reluctant to reveal specific information about any investigation for obvious reasons.
Even if you called in a tip and try to follow up, you may not be able to find out what's happening.
The nature of drug investigations require that much of the information be kept confidential, said HPD spokesman Capt. Frank Fujii.
People also have "to realize that these types of investigations take a long time. ... We need to have specific information in order for a judge to authorize a search warrant."
Each complaint is taken seriously, he said, but the extent of any investigation depends in part on the information received.
As HPD explained to us previously (Kokua Line, April 18, 2004), the best help is to provide as many details as possible, including times and dates of suspected transactions, description of suspects and vehicles, etc. Vague information is not sufficient.
But, Fujii emphasized, "We do need the public to call us to inform us" of any suspected illicit activity.
He also noted that large drug seizures and arrests, such as recent cases on Kauai, do have an impact on neighborhood drug houses. In one case, five Kauai residents were arrested in September for allegedly cultivating nearly 6,000 marijuana plants on state land, while last week, a dozen people were arrested for allegedly operating a crystal methamphetamine drug ring.
Meanwhile, HPD encourages citizens to find out about what's going on in their neighborhoods by joining Neighborhood Watches and/or attending community meetings, Fujii said.
Any fabric scraps?
We received several responses to a Kokua Line reader's offer of free fabric scraps (Kokua Line, Oct. 24). If there are any other readers -- or vendors -- with fabric to spare, the following groups can use them to help others:
» Calvary Chapel West Oahu's Sewing Ministry helps families in need, as well as the homeless. Scrap fabric is used to make patchwork quilts and lap blankets. Call Debbie, 697-8179.
» The Waimanalo Senior Club uses fabric to make quilts for elderly residents of Lunalilo Home. Call Nellie at 259-0596 or Hyenie at 259-5040.
» Harris United Methodist Church's sewing group has made quilts for children at the Institute for Human Services, as well as to raise money for the church. Call Jade, 595-2188.
Got a question or complaint? Call 529-4773, fax 529-4750, or write to Kokua Line, Honolulu Star-Bulletin, 500 Ala Moana Blvd., No. 7-210, Honolulu 96813. As many as possible will be answered. E-mail to
kokualine@starbulletin.com.
See also: Useful phone numbers