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Officer claims
prisoners’ food is
going to police staff

The complaint is being investigated,
starting with a review of
purchase orders

---

By Rod Ohira
Star-Bulletin

The Honolulu Police Department's Internal Affairs Division is investigating allegations by a police major that some of the food ordered for detainees at the main station cellblock is being served to others.

"I saw something that needed looking into and reported to Internal Affairs," said Maj. Gordon Young, who was appointed Central Receiving Division commander in September.

Lt. Gregory Poole, who heads the criminal investigation section of Internal Affairs, said the complaint is being investigated, starting with a review of purchase orders dating back three years.

"We're looking into improprieties about the procurement of food, the type of food being ordered and who the food is going to," Poole said.

Unlike its old Pawaa station, the cellblock area at the 8-year-old police headquarters is not equipped with a kitchen. A vender provides airline-type meals for Central Receiving at the Alapai station.

There are reports that foodstuffs such as bacon, eggs, rice, toast and coffee were ordered and consumed by some uniformed employees.

"There's no constitutional mandate for exactly what inmates should be fed, but my understanding is that when we moved to the new station and got rid of the cooks, we were basically serving airline food," Poole said.

"The food services handlers are civilians. Still, somebody has to order the food and authorize the purchase."

The investigation could result in first-degree theft charges if the amount of money spent for unauthorized purchases exceeds $20,000.

Young previously headed the HPD's Finance Division and Patrol District 8 (Ewa-Kaena Point) before assuming command of Central Receiving.

He succeeded Maj. Jeffrey Owens, who was reassigned to Traffic Division when Rafael Fajardo Jr. was promoted to assistant chief in September. Before heading the Traffic Division, Fajardo commanded Central Receiving.

Chief Lee Donohue is attending an international police chiefs conference on the mainland, and HPD spokeswoman Jean Motoyama declined comment.

All public records concerning Central Receiving purchases have been turned over to Internal Affairs and are unavailable for review, said Motoyama.

Young's complaint is the second case in the past five days alleging corruption in the Police Department.

Last Thursday, veteran Det. Kenneth Kamakana filed a federal lawsuit alleging that he was reassigned from the Criminal Intelligence Unit for being a "whistle blower" by alerting federal officials to misconduct on the part of some administrators, supervisors and officers.

Since Oct. 3, Internal Affairs has also been investigating two sexual-assault complaints filed against two officers, a fatal shooting involving an officer in Waikiki, and a fatal traffic collision on Pali Highway involving an off-duty officer, who may have been driving drunk.