2 top officers Two high-ranking Honolulu Police Department officials were indicted yesterday in a theft scheme that diverted funds to feed rack of lamb and prime rib to police officers, including top officials.
accused of theft
An HPD assistant chief and
major are accused of diverting
funds intended to buy food for
inmates in the cellblock'It hurts' Chief Lee Donohue says of
the indictments against his fellow officersBy Debra Barayuga and Rod Antone
dbarayuga@starbulletin.com
rantone@starbulletin.comThe money was meant for feeding arrested persons at the main police cellblock instead, and its misuse is a violation of departmental policy, according to HPD.
"It hurts," said police Chief Lee Donohue when asked to respond to the indictments yesterday.
The grand jury charged Assistant Chief Rafael Fajardo Jr., 59, and Maj. Jeffrey Owens, 50, each with one count of second-degree theft. Police believe Fajardo is the highest ranking police officer ever indicted for a crime in the department's history.
From 1995 to 2000, both men were alleged to have authorized food purchases that included rack of lamb, prime rib and breakfast items, such as bacon and eggs, for consumption by uniformed officers, higher-ups and other department employees who came through the receiving desk.
"The city had expended funds for the purchase of food for prisoners when in fact the food was used to feed police officers," said Honolulu Deputy Prosecutor Randal Lee.
Among those officers was Chief Donohue, who admitted eating the food in question, though not on a "regular" basis.
"Myself, I think Chief Nakamura and many others, we had no idea it was coming from the cellblock," Donohue said.
Former Chief Michael Nakamura said, "I remember having breakfast there twice. It was bacon, eggs, Portuguese sausage -- no rack of lamb or anything like that."
When asked if he knew where the food came from, Nakamura said: "Fajardo had some sort of ties with a restaurant in Waikiki, and I assumed that the food was from his partner who ran Angelica's off of Nimitz. I used to go to Angelica's and had breakfast there, and it was the same kind of food, so I assumed it was from the same guy."
Lee would not say if either Fajardo or Owens personally benefited from the scheme.
Donohue said both Fajardo and Owens were stripped of their police powers and have been assigned to desk duty.
The state takes this case seriously, particularly because it deals with the misuse of taxpayer money, Lee said.
"We don't think it's any laughing matter. It was inappropriate and was illegal," he said.
Besides the theft of funds, the practice clearly violated departmental policy.
According to guidelines in the Central Receiving Desk operations manual: "Consumption by HPD employees of any food purchased with city funds for detainees is prohibited.
"Food and supplies obtained for detainee meals are to be used only for the purpose of supplying meals to detainees."
Lee would not say how much money was involved, but second-degree theft involves property or services valued at more than $300 and up to $20,000. It is a felony punishable by a five-year prison term and a $10,000 fine. Donohue said last year's cellblock budget for food was about $55,000.
Fajardo, promoted to assistant chief in September 2000, has 36 years in the department. Owens, now a major in the Traffic Division, has 22 years on the force. A warrant was issued for both their arrests, but the state does not believe they are a flight risk and did not ask for bail.
Howard Luke, Fajardo's attorney, and Darwin Ching, Owens' attorney, declined comment on the indictment at this time.
Other people are expected to be charged in the investigation and are cooperating, said Lee, who declined to comment in detail on the allegations.
Two food service employees were arrested in May in the investigation. No charges were ever filed against them. Suspects held at the receiving desk are fed mainly prepackaged items such as canned Beanie Weenies or Cup-o-Noodles that require only heating in ovens.
The operations manual for the Central Receiving Division indicates that meals will consist primarily of canned or other prepared foods. Breakfast is one pre-made sandwich. Lunch and dinner consist of a hot entree, two scoops of rice, a scoop of canned vegetable and, if available, a piece of bread. Food service workers are prohibited from cooking in the kitchen and are only supposed to reheat prepared foods and serve meals to the arrested persons.
The diversion of funds allegedly took place while Fajardo was a major in the Central Receiving Division and Owens a captain and later a major.
The investigation initially stemmed from a complaint filed by now-retired Maj. Gordon Young, who took over from Owens when Owens left the division to command the Traffic Division, a position previously occupied by Fajardo.
Last November, Young acknowledged he reported the practice to the department's Internal Affairs Division, which conducted its own investigation. Capt. Dan Hanagami, who also investigated the theft of city funds from Ewa Villages and other city projects, was assigned the case.
Others also came forward with information. The department turned over its findings to city prosecutors who substantiated the charges. Young retired in May this year after 34 years.More than two dozen witnesses, including Young, testified yesterday before the grand jury.