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HPD lieutenant
By Debra Barayuga
had second job at
time of alleged
overtime abuse
Star-BulletinA police lieutenant was apparently working a side job at the Mililani Golf Club when he allegedly put in for overtime with the Honolulu Police Department, prosecutors say.
This was just one of several abuses of overtime that resulted in recent theft charges against 19-year police veteran Timothy Mimaki.
Yesterday, Mimaki pleaded no contest to charges of second-degree theft and attempted second-degree theft, averting a trial.
Mimaki, most recently assigned to desk duty in the Waianae/Kapolei district, resigned Monday, the department confirmed.
The overtime abuse allegedly occurred in March and April 1999 while Mimaki was assigned to the East Honolulu district.
Mimaki is accused of submitting six overtime cards between March 8 and March 31 for hours he didn't work and was paid in excess of $600.
He also is accused of submitting four overtime cards between March 12 and April 3 and later trying to rescind them. He would have received in excess of $400 if paid.
Mimaki said he had preprinted the overtime cards and had submitted them in error with no intention of defrauding the department, said Deputy Prosecutor Susan Won.
Mimaki's attorney, Darwin Ching, did not return calls for comment.
Mikaya Saito, general manager at the Mililani Golf Club, confirmed Mimaki worked for them about a month last year as a cart boy lining up golf carts, but no longer works there.
Mimaki faces at least five years imprisonment on each of the counts at his sentencing June 22. But those terms could be extended to 10 years each if he is sentenced as a multiple offender, Won said.
Mimaki has indicated he will seek a deferral of his plea, meaning his conviction could be stricken from his record if he complies with terms and conditions ordered by the court.
Won said the state expects to oppose any deferral in light of the number of times Mimaki attempted to get overtime pay for work he didn't do.
Mimaki's case sends a message that it doesn't matter who you are -- if you commit a crime and get caught, you will be prosecuted, Won said.
His is not the first case of a police officer prosecuted for overtime abuse.
Officer Wayne Akina was granted a deferred acceptance of his no contest plea 2 years ago after he complied with the terms of his sentence.
Akina had received five years probation and was ordered to pay restitution and complete 100 hours of community service.
Akina was terminated from the department after he pleaded no contest to submitting overtime cards for court appearances he never made.
